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Drats foiled again

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bender20

40 Cal.
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So was finally able to get out for our late season here in pa. I had taken a doe in rifle season, but we like to have two deer in the freezer every year to cut down on the grocery bill. I had to work in the morning and was only able to get out after lunch. It was almost 2 o'clock when I finally made it into the woods and nearly 2:30 when I finally got settled into my spot. It was a clear day and not terribly cold only about 25 degrees, but the wind was blowing pretty good. I selected a spot near a creek nestled down in a draw where I had been seeing deer fairly regularly late in the day. I found a fallen down tree next to a standing tree to sit on a have a back rest, plus provide some cover and settled in for the afternoon. The squirrels were very active and provided plenty of entertainment to help pass the time. It was a lovely day and if I'm being honest I may have dozed off once or twice. At about 4 o'clock I knew I had better start paying attention, because a group of 4 doe had been making there way down into the draw and across the creek at around 4:30. Well this day they were a little late, but failed to disappoint. It was my last chance for a deer so I wasn't going to be picky, but planned on waiting for a shot at the biggest doe. At 4:45 one of the little ones came running down the hill and I got ready. Sure enough she was followed by 2 others with the big on bringing up the rear. They came down the trail just like I thought. Everything was working out just as I planned. I waited for the biggest one to make her way down the trail to about 40 yards and into an opening. I raised my tc hawken with a .50 green mountain barrel and lined up my sights. I pressed the set trigger, focused on the front sight and slowly squeezed the trigger. CLICK! She looked up at me and not thinking I scrambled to recock and try again. The movement spooked her and they took off. I realized I had failed to change my flint after a woodswalk of about 30 shots only a month ago. I changed the flint and fired later that evening. Kapow! No problems. Doggonit, never go hunting without a fresh flint.
 
That's the hunting version of "catch and release".
Your in good company....I hammer stalled twice in 2 weeks of hunting. Both chip shots. That's hunting.
 
Taking coup on a doe. Good sport!

Our seasons are a month past but I still scan the tree-line every morning as I go about my morning routine.

Yesterday I looked out the kitchen window and all was quiet (and -3°F) but as I passed the dining room and glanced out at the birdfeeders on the deck I saw a lump at the edge of our yard - maybe 45 yards away. And another. And two more. Four does/antlerless bedded down right in close to the house. And they stayed right there until we started opening doors for work.

Earlier in the month with that big moon I saw four - likely the same ones - rght putside the bedroom window have a great time on THE ADMIRAL's Rose of Sharon shrub - that is now well and truly pruned down. 15 feet from the window.

Complicate thing our relationships with deer. The hunter loves the hunted.
 
Counting Coup

5_A882_C60_9_BE2_493_E_85_AA_7_D2_C969370_EA.jpg
 
I need one more deer to give to a vet friend that got a degenerative spine disease from agent orange and can hardly walk now.

I have 4 acres of woods around my house that I can hunt and planned to kill him the next deer I saw out the back window.

Yesterday I looked out and saw a deer run through my woods followed by 6 more. It was snowing like crazy, about 24 degrees, I stepped out on the deck to look at the deer. I had plenty of time to shoot one but I didn't want to get out in that mess to retrieve one and field dress it. If the deer went off into the deep hollow after I shot it I would have a time getting it out. I let them all walk away.

Yep, I am a fair weather deer killer, notice I didn't say hunter, here at the house it is grocery shopping not hunting.
 
I did a little backyard hunting yesterday, the 7 degree temps didn't bother me at all.

ryp63yP.jpg


A staged picture of course, I have never shot a deer out the back door at my place but would if the season was almost over and my freezer was empty.

Here is what I see out the window, there is a major deer trail from the right side of the picture to the left side just past that fallen dead tree on the left. There are 4 acres of woods on my place that range from the 40 year old trees in the picture to a line of virgin timber further down the hill, oaks, cherry and poplar trees, some of which are at least 4' across the base.

n59ANMG.jpg


Being a deer hunter I can't keep from scanning the woods every time I walk through the house, I check things out dozens of times a day. I see a lot of deer while there are still acorns on the ground, not so much in the dead of winter when there is nothing for them to eat.

I keep this setup ready, sandbag and all just in case I decide to kill a deer for someone who wants one.

WonDJPx.jpg
 
I saw about 50 in the woods this flintlock season in PA. I did a lot of pushing, so most were running. I did shoot at one walking directly up to me. I was aiming for the neck, but I think I hit the Rothrock State forest instead. Anyway it was tons of fun to be in the woods for probably 10 days of the season. Cold here with most days seeing zero. Coldest was -12F.
 

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