Awesome Saturday but no meat...

Jeramie · October 24, 2005

I'm not getting to hunt much right now but I made it out Saturday for the ML opener. It was a balmy 35deg and still. The baby wouldnt sleep so I actually made it out 30-minutes later then I had planned.

I made it to the open field just as it was light enough to see without a flashlight. I used to to my advantage to keep from jumping deer. I finally made the long trek down and old road through and open field (against a timber line). I climbed up a steep hill and set up at the edge of a timberline, back in a draw (kind of a bowl). Its thick and very overgrown. I got blown at on the way in and I hoped it wouldnt dictate the rest of the hunt.

As soon as it was really light a guy comes stomping through directly in front of me. He finally saw my orange and he slipped behind a tree and peeked around at me. It made me pretty mad. This was literally at first light. He finally came up and talked to me. He had permission to hunt this land (its a friends land) so I didnt say anything.

He slipped off to the south and I got back in hunting mode. I looked around for a while and realized I couldnt see the open field so I slipped down the hill and sat on an old fallen tree. I had been there for about 45-minutes when I needed to stretch my legs. I stood up and stretched. A doe blew at me! I froze and looked to the right to see 6-does rougly 25-30 yards away. They began their trot uphill into the timber. I slipped behind an old oak and scoped them for a buck. I grunted, they stopped, no bucks.

I rested against the oak to hear another blow! Two more does comming in from another direction. I spun and had a shot but am still holding out. Its the first day! I moved down to where the deer were funneling through. I watched across an old creek bed and saw two more does push across at roughly 60-70 yards. I watched to see if I saw a buck....nothing.

I was already happy. It was nearing 11:00 so I was pretty much ready to head home. I needed to be home by noon. I heard a grunt behind me. I turned to see nothing. The brush was to thick. I grunted a couple of times and got a couple of "answers." It honestly sounded like another hunter. I did some funky grunting and got the same answer. It had to be another hunting moving in. Time to move on. I took about 10-steps and heard a doe blowing. They had been comming to me, to many to count. Im sure they had a buck with them because of the grunting. Several deer ran up the south end of the bowl into the timber!

I started the trek back down the road toward my sisters house when a large doe stepped out into the road and began to feed. I was only about 40-yards away so I froze. I still had no intention of shooting a doe. I was out in the open without a face mask. She looked at me and began to feed again. I raised my rifle and she looked again. I didnt move so she ate again. I cant stand this, the hammer came back. I shot off hand and she bucked like mad! Just then I hear the woods come alive. Several more deer run back uphill into the timber. I see some white above one of the critters antlers. I couldnt tell if it was a buck or even how nice.

I reloaded quickly and slipped to the fence at the base of the timber/ hill. I could see some does but couldnt make out the buck. They finally moved on and I went to find my blood trail...... nothing...... I literally found nothing but as hard as she bucked I cant understand how I could have missed her! I walked the timber and still, nothing.

I milled around for about 30-minutes looking for blood. I started walking the road looking for sign when out of no where 2-does ran into the road and slowly jogged away from me, roughly 40-50 yards away! Crazy/ amazing morning!

I never found a drop of hair or anything off that doe. Ive only lost one deer in the 15-20 years ive been hunting and id hate to think it had happened again but I found nothing... Maybe I missed or nicked her.

Anyway, im really excited about this week!

wtnhunt · October 25, 2005