I tried again last week, and it looks like the acorns are about gone, because I got one doe and saw several more, but I was lucky to take this 8-point buck last Saturday afternoon at 5:30.
The stand I was in for this deer has been awful for me for several years during archery season, the tripod being so tall as to cause weird aiming geometry problems. I have shot over or under every animal until this buck and a smaller buck that morning.
This buck was 37 yards away and standing broadside. I aimed for 40 yards and almost shot over and still hit him a bit far back. Even so, I broke his back and severed the Inferior Vena Cava (or whatever you call that main artery that runs down the spine) and he expired in mere seconds. He had a 16.5" spread (which is decent for that part of Gillespie County), and has quite mature, thick beams. I'll probably do a European Mount and hang it in my study.
I was using my Dad's crossbow, which has been dead on, and brought down a doe a week ago. Perhaps the strong north wind pushed the bolt, because my morning shot was a bit to the right, too. I'm thinking of trading in my bow on a crossbow now, but I'm still conflicted since it is much easier and faster to "reload" my old compound bow.
Rifle season starts Saturday, so I'll be off to fill my last tags.
