This years deer hunt promised warm weather and sunny skies. My hunting partner and my son made up our party of three. We had permission on a bunch of new properties which added to our enthusiasm.
Monday broke clear and cool with some deer sighted but no opportunities for a shot . My son was restricted to hunting before and after school but with a full two hours on each side of the hunting day he had the prime time covered.
Tuesday morning my son was watching a river crossing when a nice buck tried to cross. It was around 150 yards which is in his range but he got nervous and held high missing the buck over his back. We followed it up but no dice. That evening our other member shot a big bodied deer crossing a wheat field. At 120 yards he made no mistake and dropped the deer for an easy recovery.
On Wednesday morning I hunted a newly combined corn field and saw a six point and a mature doe but I stayed patient and let them walk. Twenty minutes after the deer left a coyote came out and I shot him with my slug gun. When I walked out along a fence line later that morning I jumped a coyote out of a fence line and shot that one too.The rest of Wednesday was uneventful.
Thursday morning my son spotted another buck on the same crossing but he was too far and didn’t present a shot. Later that afternoon I was inside the bush rattling and had one buck sneak in and bound away before I could get set for a shot. Twenty minutes laterI saw an 8 point coming slowly. It took him a while but as he was working his way downwind of me he got in a small opening 80 yards away and I shot him through the lungs. He didn’t go far and was in a spot we could drive the bike to for another easy out.
Friday morning when I walked to the stand I jumped a big bodied buck and doe in some open hardwoods. I tracked him with the gun but it was too chancy so I didn’t shoot.No more action Friday.
Saturday morning was our last hunt and we were trying to fill my sons tag. Him and I watched the river crossing from different positions. I didn’t want to shoot his tag but he insisted if I got a chance to take it. We still have a bow tag for him to use so I agreed. A doe and fawn crossed that we let slide but then a seven point came through at 170 yards. I was careful not to hold high ,shot and down he went. My son could also see the same deer so it was exciting for him even though it was too far for him to shoot.
With the warm weather we were butchering our deer as we got them but our Saturday deer we will butcher tonight.
Hope everyone had a great season and stayed safe filling the memory bank as well as the freezer. Here’s a few pics.
Controlled deer hunt, Success
