by Daniel E. Schmidt, Editor

Just returned from Sayre, Okla., where the first signs of the rut’s chase phase unfolded
on Friday. It was the last morning of my early season muzzleloader hunt with Rut-N-Strut
Guide Service>, when a mature 8-point put on a good show.

The thick-necked buck appeared at the base of a wooded draw, chasing a doe, just after
8 a.m. After dogging the doe through a nearby field for nearly 15 minutes, he stopped
just long enough to offer a clean shot at about 85 yards … dare I say a “chip shot”
for the T/C Impact, topped with a Bushnell Bone Collector multi-reticle scope.

The Sooner State is definitely a sleeper for a “bow-hunt with a bang,” which is what
the locals call this special muzzleloading season. I’ll provide more details on this
unique week-long season in the January issue of D&DH, which hits newsstands Dec. 7.