by Mike Wash

My 2008 California deer season started out like every other year. I always purchase 2 deer tags; one to apply for one of the many premium tags California has to offer and the other for an archery only tag, my personal favorite. The archery only (AO) tag allows me to hunt with my bow for four months of the year, starting in July in with the massive A Zone and continuing thru the D Zones in August all the way till the closing of the rifle seasons in the B and D Zones. Not only does an AO tag afford me hunting for one third of the year, it also allows me to hunt varied terrains as well as the different species of deer California has to offer, black tail and mule deer. Together the A, B, and D zones cover more than 75% of the state.

My season started in the A zone with the temps in the high 90’s, perfectly normal deer hunting weather for the mid-July opener. However, it was not until late October that my season reached its conclusion. With cooler temps not really showing up in the Sierras, I started thinking about the B zones. Checking the regulations and seeing that the upcoming weekend was the close of season, I called my hunting partner, Mark, and we decided to charge up there Saturday as soon as Mark got off work.

Since it was a 4-½ hour drive from my house, we would only be able to hunt on Sunday, the last day of the season. It was a long drive for a short hunt, but what a hunt it turned out to be. I knew it was going to be a special day when a huge 4×4 buck chased a doe right in front of us about 30 minutes before we made it to camp Saturday night. I had to slam on the brakes to avoid them. The doe did a 180 degree turn and back across the road they went. Mark and I looked at each other and smiled, hoping that we were going to see more of the same in the morning.

Once in camp the only thing Mark and I could talk about was the big buck and his behavior. Could the rut be on or was it just the one doe coming in heat a little early? I could not wait for the morning so we could confirm our suspicions. Thoughts of the big 4×4 filled my head as I went to bed. Just thinking of the possibilities was better than any bedtime story.

The next morning I wished Mark good luck and we both headed off in the early morning light. I was headed up a ridge when I caught movement to my left. What I saw brought a smile to my face. A nice 3×2 was trailing a doe and she was the only thing he was thinking about. I knew right then that we had gotten lucky and the rut was on. I continued on up the hill until I was just below the ridgeline, I took off my backpack, sat down and started glassing the oaks below. I started seeing deer immediately and lots of them. It was an incredible show. It seemed like no matter where I looked there were bucks chasing does.

Of course, after I calmed myself down, I realized I had a serious problem. The deer were really moving and in no particular pattern or direction. I watched a doe move from my right to left, turn and go straight away from me. She would stop turn and come straight at me, then turn around again and run down hill and disappear in the brush, all the while being pursued by three different bucks. Crazy! But crazy good! I spotted a really nice 2×2 and decided I wanted to take a closer look so I grabbed my backpack and started working the side of the hill staying just below the ridgeline.

I went about 100 yards when I heard something coming towards me. I looked in that direction and a doe came charging right at me and on her trail was a truly awesome 4×4 buck. I knocked an arrow as they went by at a mere five yards. I came to full draw, but the buck was now 45 yards below me and moving to my right. I let down and started running parallel to the buck. After about 50 yards I was ahead of the buck and came to full draw again, but as the buck followed the doe they angled away from me at 60 yards and never came to a stop. I let down again and watched with my Swarvorski’s as this great buck trailed that doe down the mountain until they disappeared in some brush. What a sight he was.

As I glassed from my new vantage point I spotted a tremendous 3×3 buck bedded about 250 yards away. This buck had long tine length, great width and awesome mass including nice eye guards. He looked like he was napping with his chin nearly on the ground. I could feel my heart beat speed up as I planned my stalk. I love bow hunting because of the highs and lows of the sport. One minute my heart is pounding out of my chest at the sight of this buck and the next minute I’m sitting there bummed because I don’t see any cover to use to get within 60 yards of this buck. What to do?

Mark owns Bonales Archery in Ceres, Calif. and I spend a lot of time shooting my 80 lb. Bowtech Tribute at his indoor range, as well as outside. I am comfortable taking a 60-yard shot, but as I planned my stalk I just didn’t see how I was going to sneak 30 yards across a wide-open area to get within shooting distance of this deer. What little wind there was prevented me from coming up behind him. I thought maybe I would get as close as possible with cover and then wait him out. This was the best option I had so I started working my way down the mountain toward the massive 3×3.

After about 40 minutes I was kneeling behind the last bush between me and the buck, 92 yards away. From my new viewpoint I could tell the buck was definitely napping and after some arguing with myself, decided to try to sneak within range and get a shot. Now understand that I’m a big man, 6 plus feet and not on Jenny Craig, if you know what I mean. Me sneaking up on anything is like a Mack truck coming at you, but I have had my share of success so I took off my boots and away I went. I closed 15 yards pretty quickly. Too quick, I told myself and slowed it down. If only I could do the same with my heartbeat.

Inching my way forward I eventually got to 59 yards. I was in range, but with the way the buck was bedded, I didn’t feel comfortable with the shot. A root from the tree was blocking the sweet spot. I took another few steps and you guessed it, busted. The big boy turned and looked right at me. I drew, anticipating him standing up (hopefully) or bursting out of his bed. Instead the buck just looked at me and then turned his head away like he didn’t see me. Are you kidding me? Now my heart was really pounding and I just knew that the buck was going to bolt any second. Still not feeling the shot, I took another step closer and another, another, another. Finally I could see the pocket behind his shoulder. I settled my pin, squeezed the release and sent the PSE Dominator arrow with a 75 gr. Vortex Mini-Max broadhead on its flight. I knew I had made a great shot. The buck jumped up as the arrow passed thru him. He went about 10 yards fast, then slowed and walk about 25 yards, stopped and went down. So did I.

I sat down and stared at the buck with my bino’s, checking for any sign of life. Once satisfied I quickly went over and took a real good look at him. You see, I had never looked at his antlers after glassing them from 250 yards away. I knew he was a brute so once I started my stalk I didn’t allow myself to look at them. Crazy, but it works for me. When I put my hands on him I knew he was a special animal. My buck has great mass and some unique palmation off the main beam. He scored 135 1/8 P&Y placing him in the top 50 all time. He also qualifies as the number five typical black tail deer of all time in California Bowhunters Association record book. I want to thank my Uncle Ed for sharing his love of the outdoors with me and for putting that first bow in my hand so many years ago. I would like to thank my buddy, Mark, for always being ready to go and my friend, Anthony Maxwell of Wildlife Art, for insuring that my trophy will always be on my wall to remind me that some bedtime stories do come true.