Scott Heatley's 2009 OH Archery Buck


I arrived here in Adams County Ohio on October 20th to hunt, scout and help Brad hang tree stands etc. We hunted one farm until October 25th, leaving the other 3 farms fresh for clients who arrived on the 25th. We only saw a handful of deer during those hunts and we had a quick glimpse of a 130 class buck who was beyond bow range.

While the clients were here I helped Brad guiding and we continued to scout other areas while the clients were on stand. It was an unseasonably warm week and deer movement was very slow. One of the clients saw a shooter in bow range but was unable to get a shot. With the warm weather and lack of deer sightings the clients left a day early and were disappointed. Those of you who have hunted with me in the midwest during those warm weeks in the fall know that I, along with you, can relate to their disappointment.

Friday, October 30th the high was 83 degrees! That day, Brad and I set a new stand along a creek bottom that had fresh buck sign along it. It sure didn't feel like bow hunting season that afternoon! Friday night into Saturday we had a good rain storm and got about an inch and a half of rain, and needless to say we did not hunt Saturday morning. We set that new stand Saturday night and did not see a deer. Sunday morning we awoke to a heavy frost and 31 degrees. The temperature had dropped over 50 degrees in 36 hours! Now it felt like bow hunting weather! We knew we were also having to deal with the full moon, but we were prepared to sit all day.

We got into the stand before daylight and I placed my Montana doe decoy in front of us and on the edge of a large, semi swampy, pasture. Just in case we saw a deer on the other side, and if we made any calls, they would see a deer if they looked towards the creek. By 8am Brad and I were really starting to question this stand. We both felt it was a great location and that we should at least be seeing deer, but we hadn't seen a thing.

About 8:30 I saw a deer about 100 yards south of us enter the pasture. It was a buck, and right away we could tell it was a shooter! He was angling away from us across the pasture. I gave one soft grunt with my Heirloom Game calls grunt tube. He stopped, looked right at us, and I know, saw the Montana decoy. He turned around and went back into the woods he had come out of. A short while later I could see him slowly working the creek edge, coming right to us!  I had to watch him waaaaaay too long as he was closing the distance, but Brad was getting great footage. Finally he went around a cedar tree and I drew my bow. Of course, he stayed behind that tree awhile and I was considering letting my bow down when he started walking again. I knew he would be quartered toward me, but the shot would be close (16 yards) and it was my only opening. I thought he stopped walking and I watched my Muzzy bury into his middle up to the fletching. He had not stopped and was still walking so my shot was further back than I wanted, but we knew it would be fatal as long as we gave him time.

After letting the adrenalin run its course, and a quick call to my wife, Brad and I quietly left the area. The next 6 plus hours I was suffering in the bowhunters "nervous, panic, excited" stage where so many thoughts run through your mind. You all know what I mean.

It was 3:30, 7 hours after I had shot my buck, before we started tracking. We had minimal dark red blood as we expected. But instead of following the creek, he crossed it and cut diagonally across several open pastures. Most of the tracking was done by following his tracks in the rain softened earth, along with an occasional drop of blood. It was a long and tedious track, and I was loosing confidence. This deer was in the wide open AND going uphill! It was getting dark and we found where he jumped a 5 strand fence into a sapling thick piece of timber. We weren't going much farther into that woods before calling it a day and coming back in the morning.

Suddenly I heard some brush break and could see a big buck on his feet in the saplings about 50 yards away. I was sick. I glassed him hard and discovered it was not my buck as he trotted off snorting in the evening air. As I put my binoculars down, I could see the back of a deer and that giant left beam sticking up in the air about 25 yards in front of me! I think I almost tackled Brad and Jessica at the same time! Amazingly he was still alive and it was 9 hours after I shot him. He could barely move his head and wasn't getting back up, but I shot him again to keep him down for good.

What an incredible day! I finally got my deer. He is my biggest so far. We got great footage, and it is my first bow harvest on film. Unbelievable! I have a lot of people to thank, but most important are my wife Wendy, for allowing me to pursue my passion, and for this deer, Brad and Jessica Bailey, because without their excellent help in tracking this deer over 1000 yards you wouldn't get to see these pictures.
Lastly, I want everyone to know that I dedicate this hunt to my friend Dwyte. He passed away, in his elk blind, with a bull in front of him, a little over a month ago. I know he was watching over me and is giving me that big smile of congratulations! May you all be so blessed this fall as you go afield.
Now I am off to Oklahoma, stay tuned ... Scott

Happy Hunting, HEAT