I went out Friday night after work, hiked the few miles in to my spot, and slept under a rock in my bivy sack. I had been there so many times in the past on scouting trips and last year for A22 that I found my way without a trail along the STEEP hillside in the dark no problem. My spot under the rock was still flat and clear from the last time I slept there.
I woke up at the first glow of sunlight on the horizon and walked 50 feet to a vantage point. After about an hour, I heard something moving below me. After 5 minutes, a spike popped out about 150 yards away. No matter how hard I looked through my binoculars, his antlers had no fork. A doe came prancing from above toward the spike. They were happy to see each other. I thought I might witness some Animal Planet action.
I was happy to see some deer! I was just getting down on myself for spending so many cold nights away from home, alone, having had no success the year before and having seen no deer during D8 this season. Motionless hours sitting while either too hot or cold... I hate to admit that I was almost over it and was contemplating going home. Then the hunting Gods spoke.
A large 2 point buck was walking up the same path the spike came up a few minutes later. He was as big as I have seen a deer at this spot.
I hopped to my feet, steadied my rifle on a rock in front of me, and waited for him to present a shot. I pulled the trigger and got a one shot kill. He only made it 5 yards.
All said and done, I'm very happy to have stuck in there, because hard work makes the reward and sense of accomplishment even better.
I woke up at the first glow of sunlight on the horizon and walked 50 feet to a vantage point. After about an hour, I heard something moving below me. After 5 minutes, a spike popped out about 150 yards away. No matter how hard I looked through my binoculars, his antlers had no fork. A doe came prancing from above toward the spike. They were happy to see each other. I thought I might witness some Animal Planet action.
I was happy to see some deer! I was just getting down on myself for spending so many cold nights away from home, alone, having had no success the year before and having seen no deer during D8 this season. Motionless hours sitting while either too hot or cold... I hate to admit that I was almost over it and was contemplating going home. Then the hunting Gods spoke.
A large 2 point buck was walking up the same path the spike came up a few minutes later. He was as big as I have seen a deer at this spot.
All said and done, I'm very happy to have stuck in there, because hard work makes the reward and sense of accomplishment even better.
