Rather than a separate thread, I'll just post a continuation from last night's hunt.
Strange night in the stand. The fog set in like crazy.
So heavy that it sounded more like rain pitter pattering the leaves.
A little after 5pm I sent my buddies a quick video, noting that I probably wouldn't even be able to see a deer past 50 yards.
A quick screenshot from the last video of the night:
And then, whether due to the cold, moisture or combination of both my phone went dead.
I'm not sure why but that gave me some cause for concern. I think some of my discomfort was coupled with the eerie foggy surroundings of the evening. And I find myself a little disconcerted when hunting alone the older I get.
A half hour later, I think I hear noise, like twigs snapping in the north woods.
A few minutes later I see the resemblance of the shape of a deer break into the field.
Slowly, I realize there are 3 and the first appears to be a big doe. Maybe 40 yards away.
Not my favorite shot, quartered to me, I could tell big Mama was about to get my wind.
Imagining the placement of her heart, I squeezed the trigger on the Encore.
Once the smoke cleared, I realized she had dropped in her tracks!
Not feeling super confident, I quickly scurried down the stand and reloaded.
As I walked up to her, she appeared to be stone cold dead.
Out of habit, and not expecting a response, I nudged her in the side with the muzzle.
WOW! She freaked me out as she began to thrash her hooves and tried to lift her head!
I jumped back in a fit, heart pounding, looking around as though I would be embarrassed if someone was watching!
She couldn't get up. I had the gun trained on her. But for some reason I did not shoot and watched for a few seconds.
That is when I saw her heave her last breath.
I waited another minute or so and nudged her again.
No movement and no sign of breathing.
I poked her in the eye.
Still no movement.
Then began the long night of dressing her out.
And disassembling part of my phone to dry it out.
Christmas Eve "Eve", and this was my first doe of the season, a day before the last day for muzzleloader!
My first deer hunt was with my uncle down in Mississippi in 1972.
In all these years, I'm pretty sure I've not had such a memorable hunt!
