Wow!!!I finally put a nice blacktail down. I have hunted really hard the last few years and harvested a few small freezer bucks and a nice 200lbs bear.
This year I was blessed enough to hunt a lot, not bad for 4 kids under 10 at home. I'm blessed with a supportive wife that understands my Love for God's creation. My first early season forrays were via mountain bike, riding in just shy of 6 miles, it felt all up hill. In the middle of the early season I passed on a nice bodied 1X2 in hopes of a larger deer. I usually harvest the first legal buck I see.
November 14, first day of late buck. I work a 24 hour shift, had some chores after work, I didn't make it home until 1pm. I packed up and was on the road at 2, a 1 hour drive to unload the KTM to ride in 1/2 hour, most of it uphill on a tight single track motorcycle legal trail. Parts of the trail were so steep I thought I would not make it. I pushed on and made it to the spot I had hoped for. I park the bike and got ready. I Look at phone and to my surprise its already about 4pm. Wow! Only 1 hour before dark.
I fight my way up hill to my chosen location. I have my rifle slung on my back, it's too steepand thick for a shot. I pull my self up through the big timber by using the labyrinth of chest high ferns, I'm at a snails pace trying to be as quiet as possible. I take a few breaks to check the gps of my location and to catch my breath, I check my progress, I'm getting close. I can start to see the light beginning to increase as I slowly make my way to the beginning of the clear cut. I finally make my way to my spot when I see a fresh new rub. My hope increases.
Wow, it took about 20 mins to get up the hill. I slowly pick my way up the hill in the clear cut as slowly as possible trying to sound like an animal and not an out of breath woodsman. As I'm slowly working my way up the hill I spot some movement up and to my right. It's 2 does working their way around a knob from their bedding positions, they are about 100 yards out. Binocs up... Yup just 2 does and no bucks yet. Ok they dropped into a depression and that's where I'm headed. I slowly work my way a little more and to my surprise as I look up into the big timber there is a deer looking down at me,I freeze in my tracks. I pull off the Leopold scope bikini, and bring the scope up....I'm flabbergasted to find the entire eye piece of the VXII scope is covered with condensation... that scope cover. Uuuggghhh. I slowly pull up the binos and recheck to make sure it's a buck (Something I normally do looking through the scope). it's a shooter and a nice one to boot. I slowly bring the rifle back up, and find the trees where he is and move over to the blur, I believe I'm centered on his chest. I slowly squeeze the trigger and feel the 30/06 jump into my shoulder. To my surprise the buck takes off above me into the clear cut, I thought form sure he would head back into the security of the big timber. I must have shot behind him.
I slowly steady the cross hairs on his shoulder and squeeze again. The rifle jumps and through my concentration I hear nothing. The deer was closer this time and he turns back around for the big timber with his tail down. His demeanour has changed and he starts down hill in my direction. To my elation he is down!! Only 1/2 hour to dark.
I go back and find my original spot and range the 1st shot, 80yds. The second shot was a mere 50 yards. The bolt action Marlin did its job. I'm not real happy with the scope bikini.....
A take a few pis and call my wife and father-in-law. He meets me down on the main road with the game cart and his willingness to help, priceless. It take 5 hours to get this guy out via game cart on a single track trail....
He is a mature 3 X 1 and weighed 120 on the hook at the butcher. Wow what a season, I'll never forget the adventure.
Thanks Lord for the wonderful blessing!!!
Todd
