It was the 3rd day of rifle season here in Tn. I am up in my ladder stand early dark thirty in the morning. Have all stuff up and safety belt on, its light winds about 10 mph out of the south. I am watching my willow slough bottom, its cool high thirtys. 9 am comes haven't seen anything cept birds and Honkers as usual. I get down and ease north go upthe hill to hardwoods. I stand and watch about 20 min. nothing, so i ease back south towards my stand. I will just ease along and still hunt on the way to house. I passed my stand about 30 yds. and i see a deer coming on the west side of the slough where they always come from. I have stopped and have willow sapling to use fer a rest if its a Buck. Deer clears the heavy willow trees and its a nice sized Buck but small rack. If you embellish the word!
He is really a big spike with an eyebrow tine on left antler. Short eyebrow tine mind you! I let him come and he turns broadside too me i have xhairs on his shoulder and squeeze the trigger. The smoke passes quickly and i see him go back the way he came. I hear him crash over in the switch cane and its now quiet! I reload my Blk. Dia. 70 grs of Pyro P under the Speer 240 gr JSP Gold Dot in a gn. sabot. I put 209 primer in nipple and start my blood trailing, its been hard drizzle even before i had gotten up into stand. I cross over the Beaver dam following slowly as rain is playing hob with the blood trail now. It takes me at least 10 min. to cover 20 yds. to switch cane thicket. I work thru it and as i come out the other side there lays my Buck, in his final dirt nap. I thank him abovefer my blessing, then field dress deer. I walk out to go get my 3 wheeler to haul him to house.
3rd ML Hunt Story
