Story of a service members "deer season"

[navdoc]

Thought I'd offer up my story of last year's "deer season".  I'll start by saying I came into hunting later on in life.  Always wanted to hunt but never had a mentor to get me started.  I went mule deer hunting for my first time in 2010.  I loved every bit of it, but didn't come home with a deer.  That's OK, the buck fever was fully developing in me and the thrill of being out in God's country was super!  So, I went to work reading/researching/shooting and hanging out with my hunting partner.  We even took a scouting trip in the spring of 2011 and we developed a great plan for the fall season.

As things turned out, I received orders to Afghanistan and had to leave the Friday before deer season.  (still there now) Yep, I was really bummed.  In fact, to be truthful I was REALLY bummed about not getting to hunt.  Yes, I was certainly going to miss my family, but missing the hunt was pretty deflating.  All the pre-hunt excitement now vanished and was replaced by new anxieties.  I was able to spend about 5 days bear hunting locally but no shots fired.

So, just before I deployed I was standing in my kitchen talking with my wife.  I mentioned to her how I was anticipating my second-ever deer hunt and hoping to bring home a beautiful buck this year and how sad I was that I wouldn't be able to go this year.  Then I said something like, "I haven't even seen a buck in all the times I've been bear hunting, nor will I get a chance to."  At that very moment, she looked out the kitchen window and got all excited and said, "come quickly to the window."  In my backyard was this spike buck just strolling about.  I grabbed a camera and he let me take a nice close up picture-I can even see some blood on the his velvet.

So, no hunting for me this year, but it seems God sent me a cool little buck to admire.  Now, his picture is on my laptop and I can wonder if he will be a 2 pointer this year.  Thanks for reading my story, it's a way to keep me connected to the hunters back home.

[sebek556]

  cool the lil guy showed up for you. Have a safe tour and get back for some hunting!

[sirfunkeybut]

very cool story 
Theres always next year 

[Camp David]

Great story...God work in intresting ways. Hopefully a big buck is in your future in 2012.

[stickbuck]

Hopefully the season to come will bring your buck into the crosshairs. Be safe over there. We are very grateful here at home for everything you and your fellow service men and women do for our country! 

[Whitpirate]

Thank you for your service and I'm confident you'll get a heck of a memory when you drop that first buck when you get home.

[carpsniperg2]

Thanks for sharing your story and your service

We will do our best to keep the stories rolling and help keep that fire to be in the outdoors alive

Are you over sea's right now or in the usa right now?

[navdoc]

Thanks for sharing your story and your service

We will do our best to keep the stories rolling and help keep that fire to be in the outdoors alive

Are you over sea's right now or in the usa right now?

Thanks for the great responses everyone.  I'm still away right now but really looking forward to coming home.

[carpsniperg2]

Gotcha keep safe bud

[bearpaw]

Hopefully the season to come will bring your buck into the crosshairs. Be safe over there. We are very grateful here at home for everything you and your fellow service men and women do for our country! 

   Stay safe and get back soon....

[addicted]

theres always next year. cool story.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Hopefully the season to come will bring your buck into the crosshairs. Be safe over there. We are very grateful here at home for everything you and your fellow service men and women do for our country! 

 

Be safe!!

[Guy]

Nice photo - thanks for posting that.

I didn't manage to do a lot of hunting while on active duty. Many deployments, much time in the field. Did get in a little hunting, mostly with a shotgun: doves, pheasant, ducks & geese. A little deer hunting now and again, and some varmint shooting. .

Now that I'm long-since out of the military, I've gotten back into hunting. It's been good.

Stay sharp & Semper Fi from an ol' Jarhead. Much respect for Navy Docs here.

Guy

[grunt11B]

Great story navdoc, I feel your pain, I too won't be here for the upcoming hunt as well. I'll probably hunt in the South when I take leave... Be safe out there, and see you soon...

[OEFvet1986]

Great story