Most who don't like deer drives have never been on one. It's hard to beat the rush of adrenaline youget as the drivers get closer and closer and you were picked to beone of the standers. They're coming through the last piece of thick cover. Your hopes are dwindling but there's some relief too. You know a running shot is never too easy.You hear the branches snapping; the quite hoots of drivers keeping tabs on each other. You know if Mr. Big has waited this long to exit, he's not coming out quietly and the pressure's on to make a good, clean kill. Suddenly, one of the drivers hollers "here he comes"... and the tallfragmites 50 yards away explode, shreds of plant fiber bursting ahead of a massive rack pushed by 200 lbs. of meat, gathering steam. As he claws the wet earth you quickly anticipate a crossing shot at 40 yards in the open soybean stubble. You watch the hind quarters gather beneath the heavy shoulders, muscles rippling as he lengthens stride carrying his crown high and out in front. The old Winchester pump floats to your shoulder, as if moved by nature; no decision of your own, as it has done a thousand times ahead of waterfowl.

You get the point. I haven't been on a deer drive in years, only because I have neither the property nor the group to run them. But I've been there and can not fault those who do. On the drive above, I missed that buck.. clean 3 times.. too far in front. One of the best 10 pointers I've ever seen. That was 30 years agoand I remember that scene, down to the muscles in his hindquarters, like it was yesterday. There can't be too much wrong with things you can hold onto like that.

Good hunting.