So, I still feel kinda weird hunting in February but I gotta say, the 2nd month of the year has been has been awfully good to me recently. In 2020 I killed a fine 8 point in Coosa county that went on the wall and yesterday I shot another 8pt that just missed being shoulder mount worthy for me. So, let’s get to the story, shall we?!
My cameras have been practically dead this week so I wasn’t overly optimistic about my chances. However, I went to the only shooting house that is good for a northerly wind. It’s the same one I killed that 180lb 6pt from back in January 20th. I was a little late getting to the land so in an effort to save some time, I decided to take the ATV and save me some steps. They wind was howling so I figured I’d go slow and maybe the wind would cover the sound. So I parked and started easing down the logging road. The woods were damp so with the wind, I was virtually silent as I eased to the stand. This house gives me a view of a small plot in a powerline in front and a good view of a logging road to my left and a hardwood bottom to my right.
As I got about 20 yards from the house, a doe busts out in front of me and eases up into the woods. I knew there was no way I spooked her so I just froze and waited. She was about 15 yards from my shooting house and went to feeding and walking around and finally her and another doe eased on off. I took about 15 minutes to cover the 20 yards to the house and eased inside. This was about 345pm.
As I was pinning the netting up, I looked down the logging road to my left and I saw a doe standing there. She was looking back up in the woods and I could see she was breathing heavy and actually saw saliva dripping from her mouth. I knew there had to be a buck dogging her and sure enough I finally saw him. He was half racked 4 or 6pt. Very young. But he was getting after it! Seeing that I had a hot doe in the area got my confidence up that maybe she would bring a bigger buck around.
Does started filtering into the plot in front of me and I could see several more does in the powerline beyond my property. Deer movement was non-stop so my head was on a swivel.
Then about 450 I looked down the logging road and saw a doe pop out and that same half rack I saw an hour before. They were just standing there when out of nowhere this big deer just appears in the road! He came up out of a hardwood bottom and statues walking toward away from me toward the doe. Man, I saw his rack and I knew I was gonna try to take him!
The sun was right in my eye and I had to use my left hand as a shield to keep the glare down so I could see him clearly in my scope. He was quartering hard away from me and I was tempted to try to squeeze one behind his right front leg and aim for an exit on the left shoulder. Or should I wait and let him turn more broadside. What should I do????!! All this is going through my brain at light speed and just like that, he started to turn.
He was about to get across the road and into the woods out of sight. As he stepped, I had the crosshairs behind this right shoulder and touched the trigger! BOOM!!!!
I saw him ease up in the woods and saw brown movement and then lost sight of him. I didn’t see him run and didn’t hear him crash. I wanted to almost cry!! No way!! No freaking way I missed him!! In the words of John McEnroe, “You cannot be serious!!”
So I settled down after a few minutes and was sitting there replaying it in my mind and I picked up my rifle and looked through the scope where I last saw him. WAIT! What is that??? On the ground?? That ain’t no log!! I think that’s him!!! Holy crap!! That IS him!! I grabbed the binoculars and looked again and I could clearly see the body of a dead deer laying in the woods just off the logging road!!! That’s him!! That’s him!! Thank you God!!!
I eased down from the house, made sure I had another round chambered, and started easing my way down the road. As i got closer to where I thought I he was standing at the shot, I looked up the hill and Oh My God…..there he was!! He didn’t go but 10 yards.
I scampered up that hill and let me tell you, easing up on a good buck from behind and seeing that rack on the ground just does something to a hunter’s soul. I was so grateful and excited doesn’t begin to describe it!! And of course, the usual Dr. B adrenaline dump starts and I’m coughing and dry heaving and just almost overwhelmed with sheer excitement and thankfulness!! I immediately thanked God for the opportunity to harvest this deer and am happy that I can share the experience with y’all!! I have a video of me trailing him if anyone wants to see it. Pm your number and I’ll send it. It’s about 1:30 long so some folk may not be able to view it.
Oh and finally, I’ll give props to those Winchester Deer Season bullets. That bullet has liquified the heart of both bucks I’ve hit and leaves a great blood trail. That’s my new go-to bullet now that I’m done with Hornady.
Here he is!
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