Headed out to an old, defunct, private vineyard yesterday morning. While coming in the drive, three doe kicked up from the southern fence line/hedge. Parked, finished dressing, and loaded up the .54 Rifle. Headed out.
I had a choice between the actual vineyard or the adjacent woods to the West. I chose the woods, as I had earlier in the year kicked up deer from an open area right next to the old vine-posts...just on the Eastern edge of the wooded plot where I was headed.
I tried creeping into the woods, but it's been so dry that creeping was nigh impossible. Four deer moved out as I entered, white flags raised high, but they didn't dash away. The only moved off at a quick walk. They had been bedded down on the Northern face of the hillside, where a tree had fallen last year. A nice place to cut the wind, and they'd probably be back.
So I settled in about 50 yards North of where they had bedded. I had a good view down the hill, even though "inside" the woods. The vineyard itself was to the East, and a nice tight hedge shielded me from view unless the deer came through one of the gaps they had made, and I had those covered from where I chose to set up.
The squirrels and bluebirds, titmouses, cardinals, and downy woodpeckers were quite busy. The breeze was to the west, and since that was the direction of a hardball road, AND it was rather close..., I didn't worry that much about scent. A deer coming from that direction I should pass on the shot...due to the risk of a miss or over-penetration tossing the bullet at the roadway. I picked a spot where the base of two trees was quite close so I could get in between them and mess up my outline. I also scraped the leaves from the base of the trees so I could change my footing or sit down, and not crunch crunch crunch when doing so. I felt good as I had gotten deer in that general area in years past.
A might chilly but not unpleasant, then at around 3:30 I heard a rustling to the North. Although the squirrels in that area were busy, this was different. Three doe had wandered over to where the four had been bedded that morning.
Unfortunately, due to the uneven ground, and the fact that they were on the opposite side of the fallen log, I had a very awkward position to bring the sights of my rifle to bear. I was using an irregular kneeling position to get a proper sight picture on the lead doe. Not quite a full and tight kneeling posture.
Just as I sqeezed off the shot my left foot lost just a teeny bit of traction and moved. It moved forward, so my elbow moved downward, and since my elbow was under the had that supported the forestock of the rifle, the muzzle dropped too. (RATS!) I pulled the shot low, and the three doe scampered off, unscathed, though the log between them and myself received a mortal wound. :redface:
OH well. I saw 10 deer, some amazing birds, and today and tomorrow it's raining hard..., which means on Thursday when the storm has passed, I will creep like a ninja on those wet leaves. :grin:
LD
I had a choice between the actual vineyard or the adjacent woods to the West. I chose the woods, as I had earlier in the year kicked up deer from an open area right next to the old vine-posts...just on the Eastern edge of the wooded plot where I was headed.
I tried creeping into the woods, but it's been so dry that creeping was nigh impossible. Four deer moved out as I entered, white flags raised high, but they didn't dash away. The only moved off at a quick walk. They had been bedded down on the Northern face of the hillside, where a tree had fallen last year. A nice place to cut the wind, and they'd probably be back.
So I settled in about 50 yards North of where they had bedded. I had a good view down the hill, even though "inside" the woods. The vineyard itself was to the East, and a nice tight hedge shielded me from view unless the deer came through one of the gaps they had made, and I had those covered from where I chose to set up.
The squirrels and bluebirds, titmouses, cardinals, and downy woodpeckers were quite busy. The breeze was to the west, and since that was the direction of a hardball road, AND it was rather close..., I didn't worry that much about scent. A deer coming from that direction I should pass on the shot...due to the risk of a miss or over-penetration tossing the bullet at the roadway. I picked a spot where the base of two trees was quite close so I could get in between them and mess up my outline. I also scraped the leaves from the base of the trees so I could change my footing or sit down, and not crunch crunch crunch when doing so. I felt good as I had gotten deer in that general area in years past.
A might chilly but not unpleasant, then at around 3:30 I heard a rustling to the North. Although the squirrels in that area were busy, this was different. Three doe had wandered over to where the four had been bedded that morning.
Unfortunately, due to the uneven ground, and the fact that they were on the opposite side of the fallen log, I had a very awkward position to bring the sights of my rifle to bear. I was using an irregular kneeling position to get a proper sight picture on the lead doe. Not quite a full and tight kneeling posture.
Just as I sqeezed off the shot my left foot lost just a teeny bit of traction and moved. It moved forward, so my elbow moved downward, and since my elbow was under the had that supported the forestock of the rifle, the muzzle dropped too. (RATS!) I pulled the shot low, and the three doe scampered off, unscathed, though the log between them and myself received a mortal wound. :redface:
OH well. I saw 10 deer, some amazing birds, and today and tomorrow it's raining hard..., which means on Thursday when the storm has passed, I will creep like a ninja on those wet leaves. :grin:
LD
