I have an older doe here on the homestead which is an excellent mother. We know each other very well as she rarely leaves the property. Last year, she had twins, one of which was a buck, the other a doe. They were very independent and it drove her crazy. Numerous times last season I watched as she would head one way, expecting them to follow. They frequently did not. Once separated where she couldn't see them, she'd come racing back down the field to find them. A real worry wart. She had twins again this year. At least one of them is a button buck. She also allowed the fawn doe of last year to rejoin the group. The four of them came by last Friday evening at 30 yards. It was 6:30 pm and I passed up the shot as we were supposed to be at my brother-in-laws for dinner at 6, but I made note that the yearling doe was just what I was looking for.
I took a couple of photos from my favorite stand last weekend. I take this stand about 20 times a season. It is a truly remarkable whitetail stand.
This view is to the North in the morning. My back is to a two acre patch of 30 foot pines.
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This one is to the Northeast on a cloudy evening. Both were during drought which ended with 3 inches of rain this last week. The wheat is finally germinating.
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One of the great things about this area is the bounty of wildlife. I watched two fox kits play like puppies last Saturday for an hour before the vixen showed up. Then the geese began to fly heading to a cornfield 1/2 mile away.
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Last evening, my matriarch doe paid another visit. She is not only a huge animal but has an abnormal amount of white hair on the inside of her right hind leg. The threesome were in tow. It isn't an easy thing to kill a deer you've come to know especially when you know it knows you too. At least it isn't for me.
When the yearling doe presented a broadside shot at 30 yards, I took it. She leaped and bounded to the west. I could see the blood on her chest as she cleared the tall grass and disappeared from view. One fawn went west, the matriarch and other fawn went east.
Whenever I shoot a deer I remain still for half an hour or until the deer with that animal satisfy their curiosity. I don't want to be the first association they have with the event or give away my location. Within 15 minutes worry wart was back in the field headed west to round up the troops. After a while, I climbed down. Stepping into the field I could see the yearling lying dead 75 yards to the west. A quick examination and I returned and climbed into the stand. We can take 10 does here. Within 5 minutes, two yearling does enter the field from the Northeast, on full alert, coming to investigate, noses held high, scenting blood I guessed. They closed the 200 yards and ultimately stood on the exact point of impact, sniffing cautiously. The set trigger of the Hawken was clicked 50 yards prior to their arrival, and my brain swirled to fight pulling the trigger with the front bead locked on the first gray doe. I wasn't certain I wanted to deal with cleaning two deer. The back doe had a beautiful chocolate coat and black tail. I decided if she moved ahead to where the gray doe stood, I'd take the shot. She didn't. They got nervous and went back east out of the field. 15 minutes later I called it quits.
These are shots of the entrance and exit wound inflicted by the 300 XTP pushed by 90 grains of Pyrodex RS.
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The shot was a couple of inches lower than I like and split the heart.
Tonight I headed down to take in the sunset over the river. I didn't see her at first, with the two fawns there in the fading light. She didn't run and I didn't stop walking. She knows there's a connection between me and the missing yearling but she doesn't view me as a predator. The sunset was remarkable.
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Then I couldn't resist taking a rod to the beach where I found giant white perch and a fat 17 inch striper. I was releasing them and totally forgot to take any pictures.
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There is no place like home in October.......................