2
2ndSon
Guest
Five minutes after light opening morning my buddy spotted him bedded less than 60 yds. from where we left him last. He was well over five hundred yards so he stayed behind the big glass while I stalked in to 130 yds. I had gone as far as I could without spooking him and had run out of cover with only antler tips in view. Since he was bedded on an exposed hillside I figured he would move when the sun hit him and just as it did the coyotes started up fairly close. He was up quick and moved straight away behind the only cedar between us. His gait stiffened and his ears came up like he had winded me and he disappeared into a small draw to my right. I eased over to the edge and scanned the trees but could not locate him. When I checked the wind it was terrible and I decided to back out before he left the area and come back later when conditions were better. Just as I was turning to leave I caught movement below me and could see a deer feeding it's way in my direction in waist high grass. I waited for it to clear the trees and when he raised his head to chew there was no mistaking the cheaters. My bipod was already extended but there was a small tree in front of me preventing its use. Since he was nearly in bow range now I just shot him offhand at around 80 yds. At the shot he reared up on his back legs, stood for a second, and flipped over backwards.
My buddy jokes that I shot too soon for a tag that took so long to draw, so we stayed an additional three days to try to relocate the other deer with no luck. No regrets even if we had.
Thanks jtnm for the great set of extra eyes.
