BrockJ
FNG
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2026
- Messages
- 6
This hunt that I had during the 2025 rut is still on my mind so I thought I’d share.
Like I said, it’s the rut. I’m archery hunting for whitetails on public land. It’s a crisp, clear 25 degrees. In the morning I set up on the edge of a cut corn field. After a few hours and no action I decide to move. Walking down the edge of the field I’m coming up to the crest of the field. There is a little patch of cover approximately 30 yards into the field where I can get a good view of the next drainage I will be walking into. I go for it, it’s just a 30 yard walk with no cover across an open field, right? Roughly halfway to the patch of cover, ~15 yards from the woods edge, I can now see over the crest of the field.
I set my bow down and grab my binos to glass what I can see of the next drainage. Immediately, I see a doe. I drop to my knees to get down behind the crest of the hill. Now I glass again and I see a shooter buck chasing around a little buck. This is what I’m out here for! This is just as picturesque as you can hope for! A nice buck chasing around a little buck and a doe. As he is breathing heavily, I can see the steam coming from his nose. At this point I guesstimate they are 300 yards from me. After snapping a picture for proof, I decide I’m going to try to get closer.
Since I’m on my knees, I decide the quietest and quickest way to turn back around is to sit on my butt, brace myself with my hands and rotate my torso. As I’m on my butt, facing away from the woods line, in the middle of a wide open field, 15 yards from any hope of cover, I hear a crack… As I turn just my head, there is another shooter buck staring me down from the woods, just 15 yards away. A chip shot by all means. Yet here I am, sitting on my butt facing away from it, bracing myself with my hands, no cover at all. I don’t know why I decided this plan was a good idea in the first place. Absolute rookie move. So, this buck states me down for another couple minutes, then promptly trots down the field edge towards the other deer. As this second buck enters the mix, all the deer make their way onto a piece of private and out of my life.
I’m constantly replaying this in my head. Maybe next time
Like I said, it’s the rut. I’m archery hunting for whitetails on public land. It’s a crisp, clear 25 degrees. In the morning I set up on the edge of a cut corn field. After a few hours and no action I decide to move. Walking down the edge of the field I’m coming up to the crest of the field. There is a little patch of cover approximately 30 yards into the field where I can get a good view of the next drainage I will be walking into. I go for it, it’s just a 30 yard walk with no cover across an open field, right? Roughly halfway to the patch of cover, ~15 yards from the woods edge, I can now see over the crest of the field.
I set my bow down and grab my binos to glass what I can see of the next drainage. Immediately, I see a doe. I drop to my knees to get down behind the crest of the hill. Now I glass again and I see a shooter buck chasing around a little buck. This is what I’m out here for! This is just as picturesque as you can hope for! A nice buck chasing around a little buck and a doe. As he is breathing heavily, I can see the steam coming from his nose. At this point I guesstimate they are 300 yards from me. After snapping a picture for proof, I decide I’m going to try to get closer.
Since I’m on my knees, I decide the quietest and quickest way to turn back around is to sit on my butt, brace myself with my hands and rotate my torso. As I’m on my butt, facing away from the woods line, in the middle of a wide open field, 15 yards from any hope of cover, I hear a crack… As I turn just my head, there is another shooter buck staring me down from the woods, just 15 yards away. A chip shot by all means. Yet here I am, sitting on my butt facing away from it, bracing myself with my hands, no cover at all. I don’t know why I decided this plan was a good idea in the first place. Absolute rookie move. So, this buck states me down for another couple minutes, then promptly trots down the field edge towards the other deer. As this second buck enters the mix, all the deer make their way onto a piece of private and out of my life.
I’m constantly replaying this in my head. Maybe next time
