East Texas archer recounts bizarre encounter with battling whitetail bucks
Ben Bartlett has logged some memorable experiences over the years chasing big game critters, but none compare to the wild chain of events that unfolded deep in the heart of his Angelina County hunting club this October. The deer hunting gods were hard at work that day, and they cooked up a doozie for the veteran archer from Lufkin.
Interestingly, killing a deer was the furthest thing from Bartlett's mind as he boarded a canoe and paddled his way down the old Neches River channel. His main objectives were to scout for acorns in a stretch of woods in the remote back country and ultimately find a good spot to take his 12-year old daughter, Alli, hunting the following morning.
Bartlett was making his way down an old logging road shortly before sundown when the distinctive sound of clashing antlers and crackling brush overpowered the hum of a light breeze whisping through the treetops. Past experience told him he was hearing a pair of heavyweight whitetails going at it.
"It was pretty obvious this was not a couple of pencil-horn bucks sparring," Bartlett said. "The sound of two mature bucks locking up has a real distinctive sound to it. I had no doubts this was the real deal."
Certain the battling bucks were close, probably within 200 yards, the hunter raced down the road to get closer before ditching his day pack and peeling into the dark woods.
Bartlett said he pushed his way through a dense thicket that eventually opened up into an oak flat cluttered with clumps of palmetto and underbrush. He spotted the two bucks at about 40 yards, but dim lighting made it impossible to tell much about either deer other than both were shooters.
"The fight was pretty intense -- very violent," he recalled. "Both of the bucks had their heads down, and it was just a tangle of horns. I could see their muscles bulging as they pushed and braced for leverage against one another. It was a pretty awesome sight."
Bartlett played on the fit of rage to trim the gap even farther. He inched closer each time the battle moved behind a palmetto clump, eventually getting to within 18 yards before he dropped to one knee on the soggy ground and brought his compound bow to a full draw.
"I really don't remember drawing. It's pretty much a blur now because everything happened so quick," Bartlett said. "But I do remember watching and waiting as the buck that was winning pushed the other one into a small clearing. I was a little nervous about taking the shot, because their movements were so erratic. They stopped for a split second when one of the deer coiled to push back, and it gave a me a clear shot, so I took it."
The arrow found its mark, just behind the shoulder, and passed completely through. Remarkably, however, neither deer reacted or appeared alarmed. The hunter said the heated battle continued for about 8 more seconds before the wounded buck collapsed and died.
Seizing the opportunity to finish a job that was already done, the larger buck used its antlers to hook and gore the lifeless body of its adversary multiple times before finally fleeing the scene a minute or so later. Bartlett said he passed on multiple opportunities to shoot the second buck, which easily had 10 inches on the 140-class whitetail that lay motionless on the ground.
"As soon as the buck went down, I started approaching them," he said. "I blew like a doe four or five times, but it didn't phase him. He was so pumped up and determined to put the other buck down he either didn't notice me or he just didn't care. I honestly believe I could have walked up and spanked him on the butt, although that would have been a pretty foolish thing to do."
Bizarre as it might seem, Bartlett's recent bowhunting encounter is not his first with fighting whitetails in two decades of hunting with a stick and string. However, it is the first time he has been successful at killing one.
In looking back, he thinks his success may have hinged on the fact that he threw caution to the wind and moved in quickly on the brawling bucks before they had time to finish their business.
"I've tried sneaking in [on buck fights] before, and each time the fight was over by the time I got there," Bartlett said. "In retrospect, I think I have always been too cautious and moved too slow to avoid making a bunch of noise. If it ever happens again, you can bet I'll be trying to get there as fast as I can."
Witnessing a brawl between two mature bucks at any distance is a prize encounter few deer hunters are fortunate enough to experience in a lifetime of hunting. Getting a ringside seat and drawing blood with a bow and arrow is virtually unheard of.
Just goes to show you anything can happen in good deer woods when the hunting gods are hard at work.
Matt Williams' e-mail address is mattwilliams@netdot.com.
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