I thought that would be a good time to pull the Wabi call out of my bag and prepare to offer some enticement that may pull him back into sight. As I reached into my bag to grab it I glanced over toward the bedded spike and he is now standing looking right at me. He must have saw me moving when I tried to look at the running buck or when I dug for my call. I figured he would blow and exit. After a short eye to eye stare down he gently turned around and slowly started back up the trail into the thickness. Just as he started away, I caught glimpse of another deer moving about ten yards in front of him behind some brush. The deer was bright looking as if it was being hit by the sunlight, but the sun hadn't topped the ridge yet. Even through all of the brush, I could tell this was a unique deer. The legs had way more white than was normal. They both turned to walk up the ridge away into even thicker brush. If I was going to get a shot, it had to happen quickly. At first all I was getting was rump, but eventually I got an almost broadside shot. It was only about 65 yards, but it was thick. I picked what I thought was the cleanest shot and squeezed off the shot. The deer buckled and stepped forward a few steps and eventually stopped. It was obviously hit, but I couldn't tell where. I seemed to be hit farther back so I decided to take a follow up shot to anchor it. Unfortunately, the brush and trees in the way made it almost impossible. I could see the head and butt, but not the vitals. I didn't want to tear it up any more than necessary. There was a small tree in the way just a couple feet away from the deer. Then I had an epiphany. I realized that I wasn't bow hunting. The small sapling really wasn't in the way after all. I center-punched it and therefore center-punched the piebald standing behind it. The deer took off downhill in my direction and went down about 30 yards away. The closer it got, the more white and spots I could see.
It ended up being a spike, but I couldn't think of a more worthy deer for one of my buck tags. He has more white than brown on the lower half. There are spots everywhere. This is going to be an expensive trip to the taxidermist.
The tree that helped cushion the impact of the second shot so that it wouldn't pass through.
Time to start skinning...
The back of the tail is black, not brown.
The flip side...
Its now two dimensional and ready for the taxidermist.
In all my years, this is the first piebald deer that I have ever seen during a hunting season and the most colorful by far.
Blessed.
DuckHunt
