Free: Contests & Raffles.
I was out with my hunting protege/beginner for this year on a wheat field here in the Palouse last night. Had a tremendous evening, without pulling the trigger. He was set up on the eastern edge of the field where a brushy gully enters, and where deer tend to emerge as evening falls. He set up very close to a minor deer trail, expecting the deer to use a heavier trail 30 yards beyond. Around 6 pm, a large herd of whitetails (15 deer) comes out, but they use the trail about five yards from him. They all see him, but appear confused. He can't move to get a shot. At one point, a fawn whitetail walks right up to him (he is prone in a little "foxhole" we dug) and actually sniffs him, jumping back when she gets a snootfull of his clearly human scent. The deer, including a huge 5x5 buck, all move off, over the ridge, right to me across the field. I am set up against two large rose bushes, and to make a long story short, the herd walks right by me, some of the does at three yards. I could have taken any of 11 of the does, but alas, the early season is closed to doe harvest. The buck, for his part, stays high enough on the slope that his chest is skylined. He is within 30-40 yards of me the whole time, but I cannot risk an unsafe shot. I watch the herd trail off, exulting in the thrill of having been with mere yards of live whitetails, as the sun sets over the Palouse. Some of the best hunts do not end with a deer on the meat-pole, but with memories that will outlast any freezer fare. Over the afternoon, I had coveys of quail, flocks of pheasants, and a very surprised Cooper's hawk visit me. I hope your muzzleloader hunts are all going well, also. -EB
Nice story, buddy. Well done on the pass, too. My last day of archery deer, I spotted a doe and started a stalk. After more than an hour and about a half mile, I got within 15 yards with an opportunity of a broadside-looking away shot. She was tiny and I passed. But it was good knowing my skills haddn't completely left me yet.