A Giant Falls

by Travis Glassman

               It was a perfect November morning in western Kansas and my buddy Jarrod and I were sitting behind our Vortex spotting scopes admiring a herd of muley’s.  The sun was at our backs as we sat on a high ridge overlooking a large cattle pasture.  The pasture glistened as the bright light illuminated the morning frost.  The cool crisp air was just what the doctor ordered for some intense rutting action. 

               We soon realized that the rut was in full swing as two bucks were playing cat and mouse with the group of ten doe’s.  One large antlered typical was displaying his dominance toward another monster non-typical.  The typical 4X4 had a substantially larger body but if given the chance, we decided that either buck would suffice.

               Patience was the name of the game that morning as we watched the action for hours in hopes that the herd would bed down in a spot that would allow us to approach within archery range.  As the sun climbed high we finally caught our break.  The big typical started pushing his herd toward a secure drainage for their midday bedding spot.  As the muscular typical rounded up his herd we noticed that he kept going back to a particular spot where a doe had bedded most of the morning.  I told Jarrod that if given the opportunity, we need to get to within bow range of that spot.

               Low and Behold, the herd worked over the ridge and it was time to make our move.  We stood and sprinted to a patch of yucca plants only a few yards from the hot doe’s morning bed.  I was toting the video camera and the Heads Up mule deer doe decoy.  Jarrod had his Hoyt and followed close behind.  We positioned ourselves so that we would have a shot opportunity if one of the bucks decided to scent check the area one last time to ensure no doe were left behind.

               Much to our surprise, the non-typical appeared and was pushing a doe directly toward us.  I quickly got the video camera rolling and prompted Jarrod to get ready for his shot.  Holding the decoy above the tall yucca plants, the approaching doe was immediately interested.  She stopped and starred at the decoy at only ten yards away.  The rutting buck was approaching close behind coming to a stop at only fifteen yards out.  He turned broadside, Jarrod drew his Hoyt and sent an arrow right into the chest of the giant non-typical.

               Jarrod and I were on cloud nine as we had teamed up to harvest one of the largest mule deer that either one of us had hunted.  I credit Heads up Decoy for the success of this hunt as we probably wouldn’t have had the shot opportunity without it.  The decoy caught the attention of the approaching deer and it quickly shifted the deer’s attention off of us.  The decoy simply made the deer more calm and at ease.  Human presence didn’t seem to enter their mind as they were both concentrated on the decoy.  It allowed Jarrod to take his time to calmly draw his bow and take a relaxed and ethical shot.  I have experienced this several times and I’m convinced that the decoy a game changer.