It is long - sorry
Monday afternoon I finally got another chance to get back into the woods looking for the right buck, but! Yesterday was the final day of season I my hunt area, so my rules and standards were compromised. A couple concerns caused me to adjust the rules and standards. We have had an all time record snow fall for the month of November here. It started the week of Thanksgiving and just kept coming. Here in town I am just short of a foot of snow on the ground – at one time there was more but settling has reduced it a bit.
I knew it was going to be more up in the hunt area and that was causing me some concern. Concern that is partially my own fault, I am old and FAT – I really can not get around in the snow the way I once use to, and since I refuse to hunt off a 4 wheeler I lowered my standards. As I left the house I told Terry it is ‘any animal day’ so they had better watch out. That standard changed as the afternoon progressed.
I went to one of my favorite spots thinking even the snow is deep it will be OK because somebody will have rode a 4 wheeler along the muddy road that accesses the draw I wanted to get into. Well that had not happened… the snow level was just below the knees. It took me longer to get where I wanted to get but I got there. As I came into the first clear-cut I could see a doe on the slope across from me. That would be and easy shot and an easy access with the 4 wheeler to get her out. Ah! But then there were 2 deer – the second was not a fawn anymore but definitely a young. OK an
adjustment #1 in the rule – not shooting a doe with a young one.
Continued along the muddy road until I got to my turn to head up the draw… this was going to be the hard part climbing in the snow. I headed up the east side of the draw climbing on the side hill as I went. Got about 2/3 of the way to the ground stand when I noticed some movement on the side hill on the west side of the draw. It was a single animal and it was would be in range. The animal had stepped into a stand of brush and I figured I would wait for it to come out the other side. Sat down on my side turned the scope to 6 power and waited for him/her step out. She did – big as life in the scope great broadside shot – except she was a cow elk…&^%*).
Standard adjustment #2 – no shooting elk the season is closed &^%*. She continued up the side hill on her side of the draw and I continued to work my way up my side. Well shoot! There was elk all over the west side of the draw… I really slowed down and worked my way to the ground stand watching elk the whole time. I got in place on the ground and started counting. Two really nice spikes, I mean tall – wide spikes and 10 cows and calves. Eventually they worked their way over the top of the saddle and into the timber on the north side of the draw.
I kinda thought maybe my deer hunting in that area might be over as that many elk moving through probably moved the deer out also, but decided to sit it out to sundown anyway. Glad I did. 3:35 in the afternoon – I saw a lone doe working her way down the side hill coming my way almost direct across from me. I ranged her @ 275 yards, but she was walking right at me so I waited her out hoping she would come right to the bottom of the some 50 yards away. At 200 yards she stalled… and turned her nose south offering a full broadside shot. I was really worried she was going jump out of the old skid road into the brush and timber. So the decision was made… It is 3:45pm Ran the scope to 7 power dropped it on her right behind he shoulder and squeezed the trigger.
This never entered my mind while I was shooting but I think I will tell you. This Knight Elite has been loaded with T7 since the end of elk season, October 24. It has been in good weather, sub-freezing temps, terrible rain storms, hail, sleet and snow lots of snow. I have done most everything wrong. It has come in and out of the cab of the truck and from there into the house and of course back out again several times. Yet, at the moment of the shot I really never even thought about the gun not going off as planned. After all I have been practicing this for years now.
The layer of fat this girl had on her was really thick. It must be going to be one of those winters...
The equipment worked great - the Kawasaki made it all the way to the animal. Got it home skinned and getting ready to take it for processing in to Pepperoni & Spicy Breakfast Sausage
Now what do I do the rest of the winter - with no tags to fill
Last Day of Rifle Deer Season
