Well, my season ended with a literal bang.
After struggling all season my father and I went out to a farm we have permission on for late antlerless season on 12/30. He’d been out a few times and had taken a doe already. I’d been out the week of Christmas and had two mishaps so let’s backtrack on those for a minute.
First day I got out there after work I was later than I wanted, about 3:30. When I crested a hill going to my spot there were already deer in the field. I immediately dropped to my knees and army crawled the last 30 yards. I was at the crest of the hill looking down on about 15 deer. A mix of bucks and does with 1 giant 10 point, didn’t matter as I was doe hunting only. It was honestly weird looking at bucks through the scope and saying “nope, can’t shoot that” haha. I picked out the biggest doe, clicked the safety off and squeezed. Turns out my scope was clear but my muzzle wasn’t quite clear. My shot clipped dirt like in the videos of idiots shooting the roof of their truck when standing in the bed. All the deer took off and didn’t see another one that night.
Next day I went out and sat in a chair in the wood line looking over the same field corner. A few does came out at 4pm. I picked out the lead doe, steadied my rifle against the tree and squeezed. While again my scope was clear my bullet clipped a branch on the way out and I saw dirt fly about 2 feet above the doe. Didn’t see anything else that day.
Now back to Saturday the 30th. It was my 2nd anniversary but my wife insisted I get out as we were literally down to our last few pounds in the freezer. I set up in a permanent blind of the farmers at 7am and about 915am 5 does came through. I picked out the lead doe and attempted to stop her in the shooting lane but she responded late and I had no shot. I tried again after a few paces and she stopped in the perfect spot. I had a small window of about 8” circle between downed trees, and branches etc. With my previous misses last week I was a little nervous but lined up, did my breaths and let it fly. Long story short she went about 30 yards.
I went out in the afternoon back to the same field I messed up my earlier opportunities the previous week. I set up on the opposite side of the field where I’d seen deer come out the other sit. I was sitting in a pop up blind I brought out and set up just inside the field line. From 230-5 I saw several single deer and small groups behind me and cutting corners around different parts of the field. As it got dark I thought the afternoon might be a bust but at 525 deer started to filter out into the field right from where I thought they would. The first few were bucks and I was getting worried I wouldn’t have a shot at a doe. At 530 a mature doe stepped out and turned broadside, I lined up and fired. Mule kick and she took off running, looked like a solid hit. I racked around round as she disappeared over the hill. 30 seconds later another stepped out in the exact same spot. I lined up and fired again, this one dropped instantly. I racked another round and still had deer milling around but had no tags left. About 2 minutes later my dad called and asked what the heck happened. I told him we have some work to do, we better call the wives and tell them we’re gonna be a bit.
This will go down as one of my best days in the woods I’ll likely ever have. All 3 shots were between 75-85 yards. Heart was clipped on all 3. I’m grateful for the farmer who wanted some does off his land, my dad for being there with me to experience this craziness, and to my fantastic wife who graciously let me hunt all day on our anniversary. Second freezer is on the way and I got my work cut out for me this week in the evenings. The two larger does came in at 133 and 124 dressed, the smaller one was 102. The one has a unique white stripe, not sure if it’s considered piebald but it’s a cool feature. The farmer has already asked us if we’re coming back next year.
Sorry guys no points for these but it was too good of a story to not share.
