Crossbow season, one week, saw me getting busted by the does early in the morning. It is a small property and they know it well. The farm is forty square acres, almost all field, with some woods along one side. Hard to get close to the spots they frequent, without being exposed. Three times I tried, and three times I came home empty handed. The only good thing was the experience of being out there.
This past week was doe season for rifles. I just had to get something for the fridge, so I went last Sunday morning. Five does walked out into the field, and browsed and caroused in the pouring rain. My laser measured them at 375 yards, way too far for my gun, and with the rain, probably too far for yours too. I sat and soaked, and sat and froze.
Went again yesterday. There is a huge Live Oak tree in the field. It's branches reach down to the ground all the way around, and it creates a giant umbrella when seen from underneath. There is a chase lounge chair under the tree, so I picked that spot for the day. Very comfy.
The five does came out and wandered around again. Still to far for a shot. Then....a small doe stepped out of the woods line and into the field. The distance was 135 yards. She could not see me underneath the tree. I even moved around some while she was looking my way, and no response.
My heart tried to jump out of my chest. Buck fever, no way around it. I sat stunned that I could be experiencing this, afterall I have killed close to a hundred deer in my life. Yet there I was shaking and quaking and trying to calm down enough to draw a bead. It took ten minutes or so, and by that time two other does came out.
Finally, I settled down enough to get a good aim and decided to try. I rested the rifle across my knees and held steady on the big doe. Quartering shot, boom.
She landed on her butt, then flopped over and kicked dirt. She managed to get to her feet and wobbled about twenty yards and collapsed. The shot slipped in just under the ribs on her right side and exited out the chest wall on her left side. The lungs were in bits.
My rifle is 33 years old. remington 760 Pump action. It was the first thing of quality I ever owned. Saved for a long time to get it when I was fifteen.
I guess the buck fever came from the fact that it has been twelve years since I shot a deer. Living in Florida is different than Northern Virginia. The deer down here are small and cagey, wirey little devils. Finding a good place to hunt is hard. Everyone else joins clubs that cost big bucks to join, and they tell you when you hunt and where you sit. That stinks, so I have never joined.
My pup sure was curious, even if a bit timid.
Finally- he attacks.
Anyways, I wish there was a way to get closer so that my bow would work. It is hard to enter that small patch of woods and them not know all about it. I realize that joining a club is the only way I will get to use my bow. Maybe next year they will allow does to be taken with the crossbow, and.....
Got alot of butchering to do today, I just quartered it and loaded it into fridge yesterday. i deep fried some medallions last night for dinner. That was nice.
It is amazing that after all these years, one can still feel like it is their first deer ever. It was a thrill to get a shot off, even if it was just a doe. I was pumped the whole ride home. Anyways, thought you might be interested.
