Post by osprey on Oct 12, 2015 6:44:45 GMT -5
Sika rut is ON fellas! I had a heck of an evening in the marsh Saturday. Went to one of my kayak in public spots, place was tore up with wallows and trails. Had a nubbin spike under me by 6pm, working over a small water bush. I'd taken a leak in a wallow a few yards from my stand before I climbed up and that spike went straight to it, sniffing and checking it out, before he passed directly under me and went into the next phrag patch. A few minutes later the bugling started out in the marsh. Not long after they were chasing, out in the marsh 100 yards from me, I could hear a hind mewing, a stag moaning, and was catching glimpses of them flashing through the grass and brush. Started in with some mewing calls of my own, din't take long before I had sika coming from several directions.
One was coming straight at me, could hear him breaking phrag on his way. When he stepped out 10 yards from me I saw good beams and then never looked at the antlers again. He came to 5 yards, was just turning to check out the wallow and I drove a bolt down through him. He only ran 20 yards and I got to watch him stop, wobble, and crash! Gave a few grunt/growls as he exhaled blood through the holes, then went dead. As he was doing that, another came in 40 yards behind me, could only hear that one, and I listend to him make a wallow on the other side of some brush. I just stayed quiet and let him move off, will probably try that spot again in MZ season so no use spooking anything.
When I got down there was still light to get the stag, found my arrow, and was at the kayak just as it got dark. He turned out to be a good bodied stag, but not much for antlers (and didn't look like he ever would be). 10" and 12" beams, one tiny point near the base to make him a 3 point. He had been fighting somebody, when I skinned him one front shoulder was tore up and full of yellow puss. Really fun night.
Pics when I get back to town and wifi...
One was coming straight at me, could hear him breaking phrag on his way. When he stepped out 10 yards from me I saw good beams and then never looked at the antlers again. He came to 5 yards, was just turning to check out the wallow and I drove a bolt down through him. He only ran 20 yards and I got to watch him stop, wobble, and crash! Gave a few grunt/growls as he exhaled blood through the holes, then went dead. As he was doing that, another came in 40 yards behind me, could only hear that one, and I listend to him make a wallow on the other side of some brush. I just stayed quiet and let him move off, will probably try that spot again in MZ season so no use spooking anything.
When I got down there was still light to get the stag, found my arrow, and was at the kayak just as it got dark. He turned out to be a good bodied stag, but not much for antlers (and didn't look like he ever would be). 10" and 12" beams, one tiny point near the base to make him a 3 point. He had been fighting somebody, when I skinned him one front shoulder was tore up and full of yellow puss. Really fun night.
Pics when I get back to town and wifi...
