I have never hunted a rut like I have this year before. Usually it is late November and it is too cold for me to stand it. We have had a few cold mornings, but overall the weather is very nice. I started hunting on Friday morning and we saw four does.

Danny and I were hunting together… something we had never done. We came back and got into our tower at 4 PM. About 5 PM the biggest buck I have ever seen started up the far end food plot. He had to be a 12 point… all I could say was "Turn broadside. Turn broadside." Needless to say, he did not turn broadside and just stepped into the woods to the right. Talk about reliving the moment and all the things in my head that I "should have" or "could have" done. I have been "kicking myself in the rear" for not thinking straight. I have prayed many times for the chance to get to see him again.

Saturday morning we did not see anything so Danny got ready to go home at 10 AM, but I was not ready to go. I told him to go on home and I stayed in the tower. I wasn’t going to miss another chance at that buck in case he came back by. Since I had prayed to get another chance at him then I figured I better be there. Three does came into the food plot down on the far end around 5 PM.

Usually we park our truck at the gate and I use my walking stick to walk in. Danny carries in/out everything for me. Today (Sunday) he had to go out of town so we had to come up with a new plan. It was one that I like very much. We put all of my stuff on the 4-wheeler and I drove right up to the tower. I was running late Sunday morning and did not get into the tower until 7 AM. I put my daily supply of water, thermos of coffee and snacks in my backpack. I carried it one step at a time, but I made it. Sitting there all day is not easy… I am in pain and my muscles burn like they are on fire. I have my pain meds with me and take them when I need them. There is no way I can go home with all this stuff and come back later today. I just don’t have the energy… plus this way I am sure to see him if he comes.

About 10 AM an eight point buck came out and sniffed around the middle of the food plot. He was smaller than the last eight point buck I had gotten. Danny and I had made an agreement to let anything eight and under to walk last year.

Monday morning came and Danny had to go to work so I happily use the 4-wheeler. It has given me a new sense of independence. Never knowing when your legs will stop working takes a lot of your independence away from you and makes you very dependent. Feeling the power of the machine as it took me closer and closer to the tower was such a joy. The struggle and pain is worth it. Of course, I admit I can not make it without my pain meds.

Danny told me to be sure to put out our doe decoy… it was just starting to get light. With my walking stick I crept down to where the doe was. I kinda dragged her to the middle of the food plot. "Now for the scent." I realize I have left my canister at home that Danny made for me. "Darn it!" Oh well, sometimes you have to improvise… at least I did have the scent with me. I put some on the pine tree behind the doe decoy so it would drip on the ground.

At the far end of the food plot about 10:15 AM I saw the first doe stick her head out from the left. She waited a few minutes before she stepped out into the food plot. She started eating and another doe came out. About five minutes later another doe came out and she just crossed. The other two followed her.

To the left of me, ever so often, I could hear running.  I know there was a buck in there running does. The rut is on…