There was recently a post about the guys who hunt long days, spend hours busting brush and sitting on game trails in the freezing cold while others tag out first thing opening morning. The lucky guys that get their deer 100yds from the truck. I have spent the last six years hunting Eastern Washington hard. I fill my Idaho tag each year but I'm cursed in my home state. Well this year I broke the curse with my biggest and by far easiest kill.
I'm fortunate to have my dream home surrounded by our own private land to hunt. We have some great animals but I've been unable to close the deal the last two years. Opening weekend I passed on a few 2x3 mulies which was starting to upset my wife (we need meat). I decided not to hunt Wednesday night. The high winds had stopped most animal movement. I had woke Wednesday morning to find a big bull moose bedded along our pond below the house. When I returned from work he was still there. I decided to glass him some more and admire his beautiful rack. As I was checking him out I noticed about an inch of antler points sticking out of the tall grass 20 yards in front of him. I knew instantly it was a shooter and ran to my safe to grab the 25.06. I was still in my suit and dress shoes when I ran out the door. I snuck across the property with a small bush between the buck and me. I inched between two basalt outcroppings and belly crawled up onto one to get a look at my prey. His head and neck was all I could see in the deep grass. My 200 yard groups are plenty tight for a neck shot but the wind made me nervous. If I missed it was unlikely I would get a follow up. I wait for what felt like hours. My wife and sister watched as this deer crazed idiot crawled around in a suit. Then it happened in a second. The moose got up to feed and startled the buck. He stood up facing me and I hesitated. Do I wait for him to turn and give me a broadside shot. What if he spooks and runs, or turns his back to me and walks into the trees. I rested the crosshairs on his throat and squeezed one off. He dropped in his tracks, it was all over. I could tell in the scope he was a mature buck... At least a 4x5. What I found when I finally changed and made my was down to the pond was amazing.
I wasn't sure if I was going to post on here. Does anyone really want to read about the spoiled guy that shot a deer in front of his house? Hopefully I'll have a more exciting story come elk season!
