Hunting in Kansas is always an adventure, but nothing could have prepared me for how close this encounter would get. I’d heard stories of heart-pounding hunts, but 4 yards? This was beyond my wildest expectations.
The morning was crisp, the air tinged with the faint scent of autumn leaves. I set up in a makeshift ground blind, tucked against a fallen log overlooking a well-worn deer trail. The spot was perfect – thick cover behind me and just enough of an opening ahead to see anything approaching. But this setup meant I’d have to rely on close-range shooting.
I had barely settled in when the forest went quiet. You learn to listen to the woods, and the sudden hush was a sure sign that something was coming. Seconds later, I caught movement to my right. A buck, moving cautiously, his head low and ears alert.
He was closer than I expected, his body broad and muscular, antlers tall and symmetrical. My heart was pounding, and my breathing slowed as I prepared for the shot. But then he did the unexpected – he turned and walked straight toward me.
I froze, barely daring to blink. The buck was coming in head-on, his eyes scanning the clearing. Four yards. That’s all that separated us. I could see the steam from his breath, the muscles rippling under his coat. He was so close I could hear his hooves pressing into the earth.
Full frontal shots are risky, but at this range, I was confident. I steadied my bow, aimed carefully at the center of his chest, and released. The arrow flew true, striking with a solid thump. The buck bolted, crashing through the brush before the forest fell silent again.
I sat there, heart racing, replaying the moment over and over. When I finally stood, my legs were shaking. Tracking him was short work – less than 50 yards away, he lay under a tangle of branches. His body was massive, his antlers even more impressive up close.
Kneeling beside him, I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the hunt. Four yards. That close. It was an experience I’d never forget, a story that would be told for years to come. Kansas had delivered again, and this time, it was full frontal and up close.
