Mike Doherty writes, "I got this Inland Blacktail in California zone D5, a general hunt zone known for its abundance of hunters and low success rate. I was watching an old orchard when a half dozen does came in during late afternoon. The does were feeding very close to me. One doe busted me, so I decided to back away slowly. I backed out about ten yards without spooking the does when I saw this lone buck coming in from the opposite direction of the does. He caught my movement and we had a stare-off from a distance. After a while he dismissed the movement and continued to come in. At 40 yards he turned and passed broadside. I launched an arrow and he ran off. After an hour wait, I followed the blood trail in the dark, locating him about 100 yards away."