The season has drawn to a close here in Michigan, and looking back, it has been one of the best seasons ever ! Even though the total number of deer was way down in my area , there was an ample population of decent bucks. Read on to see how my nephew Mike, brother-in-law Stan, and myself fared !

In October, I returned to Texas for Venado Loco's third annual Great Texas Bowhunt 2000. A week was spent in the desert-like west Texas Hill Country, chasing those wily Texas whitetails. Lots of nice bucks were seen by the five bowhunters on the hunt, but only one nine pointer was taken. I will be adding a complete page, devoted to just this hunt.... so check back in a while ! Here is a picture of Don Beckwith, with his West Texas whitetail:

When I returned from Texas, I started hunting hard behind my house. The bucks were really starting to rut, and I was surprised by the number of new rubs and scrapes. The bucks had really been busy while I was away ! I had my CamTrakker camera set up while I was gone, and after developing the film, I saw that there was a large number of different bucks traveling through my lease. (Click HERE to see these pictures.) There was a nine pointer, a ten pointer, a 14 pointer, and a half dozen other smaller bucks, scraping along the edges of the standing corn fields. I was pumped !

After a week of bowhunting, I had seen several of these deer , but couldn't get a shot at any of them. I had the pleasure of watching the 14 pointer and a nine pointer in a knock-down drag-out battle, but they were way to far for a bowshot. Finally, during the first wek of November, I had a small buck come right into me. I had my video camera set up in my tree, and the little six pointer strolled right in and started feeding 20 yards broadside to me ....as if to say "SHOOT ME!" Well .... I've always wanted to get a bowkill on video, and here was my chance. I drew back .... took my time as I aimed right behind his shoulder....and let it fly ! CRACK ! The arrow hit him square in the shoulder bone, much higher than my point of aim. Three quarters of the arrow was protruding as he ran away. How could I have shot so poorly ??? Since it was a marginal hit, I decided to let the buck go overnight. At best, I could only have gotten one lung....and I didn't want to push him into the next county if he was still alive.

When I got back to the house that evening, I hooked up the video, and watched the tape. I was shocked to see how much that buck had ducked and turned before the arrow got to him. The arrow was heading straight for where I aimed, but the rascal "jumped the string"! The next morning I returned to look for my deer. He had run about 250 yards before laying down and expiring. No trophy for sure .... but a good freezer buck just the same !

I had high hopes for shotgun season. I had seen several decent bucks, but I was hoping to cross paths with the "Phantom" one more time. The Phantom was a buck that has lived next to my house for at least the last three years. He had a narrow rack, but really tall tines. He was almost completely nocturnal, but during the peak of the rut, he might just make a mistake. Well..... he did ..... but unfortunately he was with a hot doe on the property behind mine, and another lucky hunter put his tag on him.

The first two days were pretty uneventful, with only a little spike horn coming in range. On the third afternoon, just as the sun was setting behind me, I noticed a deer moving through the thick tag alders. I saw a decent rack, and when he stepped out into the open, I took my shot. I hit him at the base of the neck, dropping him instantly. When I got down out of my stand I was pleased to see that it was the 14 pointer that I had seen so many times during bow season. He wasn't a big deer, but had a basic nine point rack, with double brow tines, and three stickers on the bases. (Not visable in this picture) All in all .... I didn't get any wall hangers this year, but it has to go down as one of my greatest seasons ever !

STAN'S Y2K DREAM SEASON

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