Went last Thursday
Sneaking and peeking Bannister WMA, 30 miles east of Lufkin, TX.
Actually got to the campground Wednesday, after dark. Didn't bring any kind of stand or blind, planned to just poke around anything thick, looking for bedded deer.
Woke up Thurs morn, at first light. Slept inside my P/U truck, in the bucket seat layed back almost flat, wrapped in a sleeping bag. Overnight low was low 30's, full moon was so bright it woke me up several times, shining in my eyes.
Sitting in the truck eating a cold breakfast (bagel and banana), when I saw the first deer of the day - a doe - mincing along about 20 yards away, in the camp ground. I didn't have any lights on, and the motor wasn't running, so she never alerted or alarmed. She disappeared into the chest high grass growing in the dried up lake bed. We are having a bad drought, and you could walk out onto the lake bed 200 to 300 yards from the normal shore line!
Ten minutes later, driving out of the camp grounds, I saw the second deer - a small buck - running alongside the road with white flag flying, then across the road and disappeared into the woods.
Third deer was after I spent about 4 hours slowly working through the hunting area. Apparently I made too much noise walking, as it busted out about 75 yards in front of me, and kinda sneaked away (no white flag) to my right, at a right angle to my line of travel. Couldn't see the head clearly, so don't know buck/doe.
I immediately sat down on the folding stool I was carrying slung over one shoulder, and remained seated and motionless for 15 minutes. Since it had rained about 48 hours earlier, the leaves were somewhat quiet to walk through, the wind was in my favor, and the deer was seemingly not alarmed enough to run, so I figured I still had a chance at it.
After 15 minutes, I started creeping slowly at a right angle to my previous line of travel, and continued for half an hour (moved about 50 yards), until I came to a creek. The creek was oriented north/south (with a lot of twists and turns), and it had 10 to 20 foot tall banks, and mostly dry. About every 50 yards I would find a bathtub sized puddle of water.
So, I continued northward, along the creek bank, still hoping to find the deer I had spooked earlier.
Never did happen.
About 3:30 pm, I reached the north boundary of the WMA, turned west, and sneaked quietly along the boundary fence about 100 yards. Found a tuft of deer hair caught on a barb of the lowest strand of barbed wire fence. It indicated the deer had traveled from the private land onto the WMA.
Turned South, realizing that I had that north wind (5 to 10 MPH) at my back, now. That meant that the only deer that wouldn't scent me were those to my right (west), or far left. Since I am a leftie, my natural rifle carry and shooting direction is muzzle right of my line of travel.
About 100 yards south of the north border, I decided to sit, back to a very large oak tree. After sitting about 15 minutes (enough time for the woods to get still after me moving around), I decided to use my rattle bag and grunt tube.
After about 2 minutes of combined rattling/grunting, I stopped and waited. All was quiet, nothing stirring.....THEN.....there HE was, trotting out of the high weeds from the west. High stepping...almost prancing...ears forward...head held high....on alert....ready to whip some butt!!
Stopped 20 yards away.
SOMETHING wrong. Didn't know what.
Eight point. Perfectly symmetrical. Beautiful. Calendar pose!! Broadside!
2 1/2 years old.
We have antler restrictions in most East Texas counties. Inside spread must be beyond the tips of the ears in the alert position.
Due to the terrible drought this year, along with 90 summer days at 100 degree and more temps, this grand young buck's inside spread was EVEN with his ear tips.
"Well, Mr. Game Warden, he sure LOOKED legal to me, don'tcha think?"
"Gimme that rifle....put on these handcuffs!"
Goodbye, young buck - See 'ya next year! Oh, by the way, is your Dad around here somewhere? How about Grandpaw?
He did teach me two things, though.
1. ALWAYS "brush in" when you don't have a blind to sit in.
2. NEVER lay your rifle down in your lap and relax after a rattle/grunt tube session.