M
muzzle
Guest
Well, it sucks to have the hunt over so soon, but it rocks to score! Opening morning was a joke. Hunters everywhere. (Skylining the ridges of course) Needless to say the deer were locked down and nothing was moving. That night a storm had moved in that left a few inches of snow in the higher country and I knew if would be a good morning. As I drove the road to where I usually park, I noticed a herd of 10-12 bucks coming over a ridge into the bowl I was in. A good sign, the deer were moving. Nothing to brag about in that herd so I let them pass me by as I glassed the far ridges for bigger deer. The only other deer in the whole drainage was a lone deer in a shallow ravine. I have only seen a single deer in there once before last year, but it was a good buck, so I decided to get the spotting scope out. Sure enough he was a shooter. (For me anyway) Knowing the country like I do, I knew there was only one way I had a shot at him. Because the basin was full of smaller bucks between me and him, I knew they would bust me if I tried any sort of stalk from there so I decided to head to the top and take the long way around to get in front of him. By doing this, I would have the wind in my favor and I would let him come to me and he fed his way over the top. By the time I had got into position, he had beat me to the ridge line. As I crept forward, I looked up to see nothing but antlers and ears. I knew he could hear me and he was on alert. O.K. descision time, what to do now. The brush was too high to get a shot at his body and he was facing me anyway so I dropped down hoping he would head down hill for a better shot angel. Nope.. he was frozen. I knew he wouldn't stay there much longer so I decided to go right at him. As I walked at him, I could just see enough of his upper body for a shot. He was now looking right at me so I knew it was now or never. I took aim and squeezed. Nothing happed.. In my haste, I had made a serious rookie mistake. I forgot to put the hammer down on the old encore. (Never done that before, but hey) Anyway, the buck took the oportunity to bolt. He whirled around and headed out. Holy #%$! I had just blown it! I hortly came to my senses and thought about what to do. I didn't run after him so he wouldn't think he was being chased, but I quickly moved to the ridge line to see where he had gone. The buck was now about 150 yard uphill and staring at me. I lowered down and put the sights on him. He them took off running again stright away. By now he his approaching my distance limit and I was praying he would take another turn to look back as they often do. Well, just as he reached the 200 yard mark, he turned and looked back. That's all I needed and with one well placed bulled he took two steps swayed and started rolling. Wow, talk about second chances. I thought I had screwd my self good. Just goes to show, never give up on a good deer. I just wish I would have had someone there to share it with. He ended up being 26 1/2 wide 5x5 with a funky left eye guard. Thanks to everyone for all the great stories and advice I have heard on this site.
First time posting, so I hope they turn out.
First time posting, so I hope they turn out.
