Saturday evening, right at sunset, I was unloading some lumber from my truck on my buddy's farm. My dog started growling and mumbling, and I looked up and saw a doe and two bucks run across the farm lane about 50 yards from me. The bucks were grunting non-stop, and chased the doe out into the marsh, where they crashed around in the 10 foot tall phragmitis for about 20 minutes. I took off running through the woods, trying to see what the bucks looked like. They were making so much noise in the marsh, only about 15 yards from the woods edge, that I was able to ease right up to the edge. The deer were grunting and fighting, and I kept hearing them snort-wheezing at eachother. The tops of the reeds were crashing and waving all around, they were going crazy in there, and less than 50 feet from me. I started trying to imitate the grunts and snort-wheezes with my voice ( ) and after a few minutes one buck started easing towards me, to where I could see it. It was dark by then, but the moon was already up and was behind me. The deer came to within about 10 feet, and started thrashing the reeds and briars with his antlers, and looking around. I was hunkered down, and there were some briars between us. I took out my leatherman tool and opened the knife blade, for whatever good that was gonna do, and watched him. He finally turned and started walking back down a trail through the marsh, and I jumped through the briars to where he had been, with the dog right behind me. I stood there for a minute, then did that snort wheeze as loud as I could. The buck suddenly reappeared, about 15 feet away. He was huge, way bigger than anything I've shot. Had a really tall rack, maybe 20" wide, but great tine length and a lot of mass, from what I could see in the moonlight. I snort wheezed again, and the buck put his head down and charged at me. This was way more than I had bargained for, I yelled at him and went to try and sidestep. He slammed on brakes at about 6 feet, and then ran back the other way. Dog and I chased him across the marsh and up into the woods, then went back to the truck, shaking and pumped. I called a couple buddies and told them about it, and finished unloading the lumber. That deer was still in the woods when I finished, I grunted and snort wheezed a couple more times at him (.38 in hand) and I could hear deer moving around, maybe 40 or 50 yards back in the woods. That's the best deer encounter I've ever had, I couldn't believe how close I got, and am probably pretty lucky he didn't get me. But it was like messing with a snake or something, you just can't help but see how close you can get or see what he's gonna do. So, I bought a primos buck roar call yesterday, and guess where I'm hunting tonight?

 

never had an encounter quite like that but this time of year the bucks are very aggresive. the full moon this week really kicked off the rut.

 

We had one walk up within 10 feet of us one time whole squirrel hunting. This was about 10 years ago on Managed Hunting area out by the Elk River.

Odd part was we could hear it coming for about 10 minutes as it made it's way though the reeds. I swear I thought we would eventually see someone appear dragging a small, flat bottom boat (thats how LOUD he was). They get careless in Rut, I guess that coupled with the crazy amount of noise the reeds make when they move through them. I've never been so close to one in my life. We were as un-stealth as possible too, no camo on, chewing tobacco, and on the ground at eye level with him.

Funny how that works when you are NOT hunting them!

 

not sure about the primos buck roar...but the MADD'S outdoors buck growl is AMAZING. ive seen the videos and that sound really sparks a strong emotion in deer as is the sound a dominant buck makes when about to mount a hot doe to chase off other bucks.

one guy got a video of a big 11 point picking up and tossing a dead hot doe's body after the guy shot the doe. he was mad and wanted to breed her but she was dead...when he started to growl (not grunt) at least 6-7 other bucks came running to investigate. i couldnt believe my eyes watching the video of all the bucks.

i just wish i had some better places to bowhunt. the place i hunt now has huge bucks but they are hit and miss on when they are coming thru. no patterns. depends on who is hunting...if there is a guy on top the hill we see nothing, he runs them all off on his way in etc.

 

sooo...after he charged at you, you grunted AGAIN?!?! LMAO! i woulda done the same thing. ive been told i cant leave well enough alone. LOL. out at my folks' place, the deer have been kinda "tamed" and will eat right out of your hand. even bucks, although this time of year we leave the bucks alone. we've had them get aggresive at the dog before and even stomp at the chickens. LOL. theres very few things funnier than watching a POed doe chase the hell out of a dog. reminded me of a rodeo clown LOL

 

Wow, simply wow Good story

 

There was a recruit that was attacked by a doe in the middle of the day on a PT field here at PI... No lie!! The kid came to medical, beat up a little bit. Two years I've been here, and I've never heard that one. I thought I'd seen it all.

 

Crickeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy look how he's snorting mate. He's an angry bugger. Maybe I should get closer and irritate him.

 

I almost shot my sweet tea out my nose. That's a good one! That's pretty much how it went too, you know how it is. Just gotta see what he'll do. Now that we've met, I'll probably not see him again til after the season.

 

Can that even be said through a SCUBA apparatus?


Awwww, okay.............. I'm tasteless.

 

Well, I didn't see him tonight. Just his girlfriends. But I was prepared. It was tough work carrying my bow, deer stand, pitch fork, baseball bat, brass knuckles and pepper spray through all those briars without making any noise, but I did it. Maybe I'll catch up with him tomorrow.

 

You need a video when this brawl actually does happen.

 

All wrong!!! You've gone into the woods looking for a fight, he wants a date. Fighting is optional. Go ahead and take your toys with you if you want but, you'd do allot better if you would do your grunt, wheeze thing with a little hot doe urine behind your ears. Not to much, you don't want him to think you're a tease. Pleeeease let me know how your date goes. LOL

 

The pitchfork and all was just for protection until I could get up the tree, he's a mean thing, wouldn't want to have to fight him off in the dark with just an arrow.

The buck roar call is great. I like it a lot, sounds just like those deer did, the grunts and the snort wheeze too. I'm not making those sounds anymore unless I'm up the tree or I've got my 10 gauge.

You know, I do have a deer decoy. Maybe I'll put it out there and try to snort wheeze him in. I've never used it before. Hmmmmm...

Anybody ever had any luck using the Can doe bleat call? I've got one somewhere, maybe I should try it.

 

Good Lord Agnus, what do you guys do for real excitement?

I've got a buddy you'd like to run with! He had a python in his basement in a cage. He opened the gate to feed "her" (her name is Erma) a live rabbit. She apparently moves towards the heat to find food. Ended up with him and not the rabbit. Wrapped around him and nearly killed him before he got loose. Broke his teeth biting her!!

He had his video camera set up on a tri-pod to capture his feeding her, but never go the camera on that time. He probably could have made an easy $10 G's from one of those TV shows.

Man, be careful!