During 1st day of rifle season a couple of years ago, I had two fawns, still had a few spots, a couple of feet away from me. I was sitting on a stool against a tree, and smoking a cig. One buck and one doe, and he was trying his best bravado to snort at me. Then they foraged around me for around 20 minutes and moseyed off.

I figured they must have lost Mom to a hunter.

 

Early muzzy season so no buck shooting.Deer coming to me while in corn field.Muzzy up and ready.Keeps coming.Oh great it's a buck I can't shoot.Comes with in 2 corn rows that I can see hairs on nose.Turns and just walks away.
Have had many I shot at 5-10 yards but that was closest.
Smoking clothes works.

 

I didn't want to shoot her anyway, but I had a big doe put her nose right on my boots while I was leaning back against a tree. I was sitting just off the trail with my boots right on the edge taking a break when she strolled by. Never boogered, just sniffed and walked away.
Hunting from the ground I noticed a combine pull in to start taking corn off. I found the heaviest trail leading out of the corn that I could and watched down a corn row. Within seconds I heard crashing and a very heavy antlered buck was running right down that row towards me. As I started to draw he veered off to my right and crashed down through the thicket. He was less than 30' from me.

 

There’s something almost magical about those up-close, no shot moments, it’s like the deer are letting you share a little piece of their world without any pressure.

I especially love the mental image of that buck charging down the corn row, less than 30 feet and you just get to watch. Those are the stories that stick with you even more than the ones where a shot is taken. Did you get a chance to take any photos, or was it just one of those moments you knew had to stay in memory?

 

I've never had to let them get too close before the shot...that said...I've been surprised a few times by buck coming from behind and walking under me...but was still lucky enough to get a shot...however, when a buck walks/trots/runs by on a mission it isn't likely you are going to get a shot no matter how close he is.

 

Once had a small button buck walk up probably within 5ft of me, I tried shooing him away but I literally had to jump and him and say boo to get him to leave. Unfortunately it was before I had a cellphone so I never did get a picture.

 

A little off topic, but back in the day of one and done...a friend had a doe do the same thing...it even followed him back to the truck when we met for lunch...cars were slowing down and stopping...I always wished I had a camera with me...I could've taken a picture...bow drawn point blank...then stuck the arrow in the ground and taken another picture...as if I missed.

 

A couple feet. Lots of times on drives deer get close and no shot.

 

Directly underneath me.