I had the quickest hunt I've ever had or will have yesterday evening. They released us early enough from work so that I could get up there and hunt the evening. I parked and gathered up my gear, checking my feeder pen before I crossed the creek. Nothing. So I went to my stand (10-foot tower), tied my stuff to the cords, and climbed up. I pulled up my stuff, and before I even got settled, I saw movement at the far edge of some mesquites, about 220 yards away. Cranked the scope up to 12 power and saw a nice, fat doe. I couldn't have seen her a week ago before some of the leaves came off. I had already decided I'd take a doe if I saw a good one. Steadied the monopod against the stand rail, and sent one her way. She did a full back flip and dropped out of sight.

Packed up and went down to get my cart. Through my special talent, I had managed to blast both front legs and the heart (she was angled toward me a bit), so I'll lose some hamburger. Couldn't get a weight because my scale broke (on the fifth time I've ever used it.)

She's hanging in a cooler now. This one will go to my friend who owns the land. If I get another one, we'll split it.

Congrats. I had a similar hunt last year. Walking to my stand, a bit late, and the spike was standing next to my stand. Just stood there. Tasted great.

Young bucks can be the stupidest. But they are tasty. I took a spike opening weekend, and it's the best tasting venison I've ever had. Partly because my processor let it hang for several days.

now thats an efficient hunt

Good stuff!

Awesome !

Congrats and nice shooting. That's heck off a lot more efficient than my hunt last week. Starting on Wednesday and officially ended Sunday morning. Hunted on avg. 8-10 hrs each day, even on Thanksgiving (got a pass from Family events as wife was traveling to pick MIL). Finally shot my buck on Sat morning. Official harvest count for the 5 days - 1 buck, 1 doe, 1 bob cat, 2 pigs.

I had one like that. One Thanksgiving afternoon, probably 10 or so years ago, it had been raining for three straight days. Temps in the 40's. I had a small 65 acre grass lease for cows that I could also hunt. I was close to home, maybe 5 miles. Well the rain finally stopped about 2 pm and I decided to go see what I saw. I drove up to a clearing in front of the stand and hand spread some corn from a galvanized pale. I was sure to rattle the pale as I went. Hopped back in the truck and parked it 100 yards away and then walked back to my cedar tree natural blind. Sat down and looked at the clearing that I just corned. Lo and behold an old 11 point was standing there eating and not 50 yards in front of me. I shot him with the .270, went and got the truck, loaded the deer up and was home by 3 pm.

Last Saturday afternoon.
My son and I get settled into the stand at 4:04.
At 4:17 we are climbing out of the stand to go look at the 10 pt that he just shot.

That will spoil him right there

One of my old stands was on a big flat just out of a creek bottom. I walked across the creek to get to it. Just as I came out of the creek I could see through brush etc. to my feeder about 400 yards away. I checked it with my binoculars and knew there were deer there. I had the wind in my favor and continued to sneak up to them. It was easy at first with large obstacles I could put between me and them, but as I got closer it was harder and harder (the property had a browse line from being overstocked with goats). As I got closer I could see that one of the deer was an 8 point and I decided if I could get to my stand without spooking him I would shoot him. I climbed the ladder and got in the stand at about 40 yards without spooking him opened the window and shot him without even closing the door. His antlers are now my rattling horns.

Congrats on a fine hunt, gotta love it on an afternoon hunt when you can finish taking care of the game before dark

3 of my biggest 8 points have been less than 10 minute hunts.

I had a quick one the Friday before Thanksgiving. I was driving to where I park to go a stand that is just off what we named Axis hwy. I had to get out to shoo a Hereford bull out of the road. About 50 yards later I see something to my left. I figured it was just another stupid cow until I saw the spots. Never even put truck in park. I reached over and grabbed my gun a nailed a 7 pt Axis at 5-10 yards. Best part was I had it quartered and in the ice chest before dark.

I tell him that all the time.
He has no idea, at his age, how fortunate he is to get to hunt a place like we do.
He does put in the time in the stand with me though.
The day before, we had hours of sitting, and only saw 3 does and 2 young bucks.