My lack of deer has become a long-running joke among my friends. And to be honest I haven't minded the teasing at all. It's been fun. And I'm grateful for each of those friends who tease me while supporting my desire to hunt. They're all very dear to me.
I've met some wonderful people through hunting and some have tried very hard to help me connect with a deer. I've enjoyed every time I've been out.
Today was opening day of shotgun season and Kevin/DoeMaster put me out in one of his & his Dad's stands (OldBuck). He also offered me his scoped 870.
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011001.jpg)
Not long after daylight a doe wandered by. As she came by downwind I know she could scent me - we'd worked up a sweat walking in. She stood there broadside sniffing the air and I thought I heard something behind her. Perhaps a fawn? Or a buck? Safety was off, but I didn't shoot. She decided she didn't like what she was smelling and bounded off.
We heard other shots and voices on the 2-ways asked each other "was that you?" It wasn't any of us.
I sat there wondering how long it would take for me to regret not taking the "gimme" shot on the doe. 10 minutes went by. Maybe more.
I heard something approaching from same direction the doe had come.
I heard the grunting and I knew what was coming. Gun up. I was ready. This one wasn't going to get a pass.
He came trotting into view, grunting with his nose to the ground. Classic! I grunted to try to get him to stop, but he totally ignored me.
So I decided to stop him with a slug instead. Bang. Mule kick. He disappeared into the thick stuff. I watched, listened. Nothing.
I got on the radio and said "THAT was ME!"
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Stayed put for 1/2 hr then climbed down and looked for the blood trail. It wasn't huge.
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011006.jpg)
I followed it until I found a nice splat of aerated blood.
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011017.jpg)
The buck lay just beyond that:
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011007.jpg)
He would have been an 8 pointer, but his left antler was broken off:
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011009.jpg)
Wasn't long before the paparazzi arrived armed with cameras
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Kevin/DoeMaster and his Dad/OldBuck survey the damage:
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011016.jpg)
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011021.jpg)
Not quite sure what we're laughing at, but if you've ever hunted with me you know that it can get a little silly sometimes!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011024.jpg)
Lorne/OldBuck with the deer
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011029.jpg)
Photos are done and the real work begins!
Thankfully Kevin has a deer dolly a.k.a. "Redneck Shopping Cart"
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Kevin dragged the deer alone quite a way through the worst of the thick stuff until he could bring the cart up to it. Even after it was on the cart, it was a challenge to get it through the mess of trees.
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011033.jpg)
This is "helping"!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011036.jpg)
I'll spare you the gutting photos - (although I suspect mine aren't as "interesting" as some of the others that were taken!
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011041.jpg)
Then it was back on the cart for the haul back to the cars - I can't tell you how very grateful I am that Kevin and Scott took turns pulling the cart. It would have been tough to do that all alone!!!
![Image](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/trudi123/Monibuck2011051.jpg)
Now the buck is hanging in the shed - there is more work to do tomorrow.
Am deeply grateful to God and to my friends and my husband for the opportunities I've had to hunt. I've enjoyed so many beautiful days in the woods and I've never felt that a hunt was "unsuccessful" - but it sure is nice to finally get a chance to connect with one and to put some meat in the freezer.
I'm so very grateful for all the help and moral support - not just from Kevin and his crew today, but from all of you here on the forum who have been rooting for me.
You are my friends and I'm so glad to be able to share this adventure with you all! I'm blessed!