Campfire

DEKE ATTACK: Stake out a buck decoy in late October and get ready for a smashing good hunt

- Dave Hurteau

THERE WAS A HOLLOW, clattering explosion. Then plastic parts went flying through the air—an ear, a leg, a head. It was too much. I was already rattled, shaking like crazy at what would be my first bow buck. But when he lowered his head and freight-trained my decoy, smashing it to pieces, everything stopped for a second. I stood there, frozen, holding the bow at my side like an idiot, thinking, What just happened?

The buck seemed to be in a similar state. He’d spotted the fake almost immediately, closed fast, and circled downwind. Then he’d pinned his ears, tipped his white 8-point rack at the decoy’s flank, and barreled right through the thing. Smash! Now, he appeared to be as dumbfounded as me—standing there, also frozen, staring at the pieces of his “opponent” strewn over the winter wheat.

I snapped out of it before he did. I honestly don’t recall aiming, or even taking the shot—though I did both. I just remember watching the buck sprint away, back across the wheat-field, and then disappear into the woods’ edge.

MAGIC TIME