It was at this point that Sondag decided the only way to get away from the other hunters was to move farther into the woods. He was a little concerned about getting too close to their bedding area but figured that it was his only hope.

On Nov. 12, Sondag got up at 4 a.m., showered, checked his gear and headed out the door. He picked up his uncle, Dean Wilson, and they headed for the woods. When they arrived at Sand Ridge State Forest, Sondag went with his uncle and helped him get set up. His uncle had found an area while squirrel hunting earlier in the year that he thought would be a great spot for a deer stand.

About 15 to 20 minutes later, Sondag left and headed to his new location -- deeper in the woods -- about 250 yards from his uncle. Sondag was set up by 6 a.m. as he sprayed himself down with scent-control spray.

While waiting for daylight he was reflecting on the activities of earlier in the week. His first thought was "hunting on public ground is really difficult sometimes, but that is all I've got." He thought back to previous encounters with horseback riders, squirrel hunters and other bowhunters. He particularly wonders about the "great deer stalkers," remembering several experiences where deer came running by, followed 10 minutes later by a bowhunter sneaking through the woods. It didn't take but a few minutes of reflection about his seemingly endless encounters on public land before Sondag realized it was time to stop feeling sorry for himself and just enjoy the morning.

Sondag knew he had to get set up early since he was pushing the limits by being so close to a prime bedding area. Daylight arrived and he did not see a deer for the first 45 minutes. It was a nice, quiet morning, and around 6:45 a.m. he heard a deer walking. When he located the origin of the sound, it was a doe moving past him at a trot.

"My first thought was that the doe was probably being pushed by a buck," said Sondag.

By now he could hear other deer moving closer, and noticed a 1 1/2-year-old buck was trailing the doe. At the first sign of movement, Sondag picked up his bow, and now watched as the doe and small buck passed by at 60 to 70 yards. While focusing on the doe and small buck, he suddenly realized there was a larger buck following the other deer. He knew the last buck was a "shooter," and that he somehow had to get the buck closer.

Sondag grabbed his grunt call and grunted two or three times. The buck acted like he did not hear the grunt and disappeared behind some brush. Sondag grunted again and this time the buck reappeared and made a sharp turn away from the doe trail. "The next thing I knew he was coming straight at me," he said.