back in mid 60s dad was stationed in Middletown, PA for 3 years. when i was 15 Dad took me hunting, ? Potter County, went with another adult and his son and i can't even recall who but they had a cabin. The first morning dad posted along ridge above logging road. He told me to go a couple hundred yards further and do the same. i got set and the parade of does started on a trail 30-40 yards away to my right. being inexperience i never dawned on me to spin 90 degrees so i was facing the trail. excited to see the deer i was counting the does small groups one after another over 30-45 min. larger group came by count was at 20. then lucky "21" showed it was a forked horn. not having moved i pivoted my torso to it's max, ? 110 degrees and fired.
the buck spun and ran up hill, turned and ran back down, i jumped up turned and got my sight on him and fired . as i did the 8 does blasted up hill past him. i could not see the buck. I went over to the trail to look up to see if i could see them. nothing ! then i saw the deer lying there, as i slowly walked up to insure it was dead, I see there is no antler visable. OH MY GOSH I SHOT A DOE ( BUCKS ONLY BACK THEN) DAD IS IS GOING TO BE REALLY MAD. My mind was in hyperdrive. I nearly just walked away but could not would need to live up to what ever the punishment was from Dad and the game commision. as i got closer and moved the deer i see the antler. It had only the one side, with a fresh break at the skull. i could not locate the broken antler. i feel my twisted shot was poor and hit the base of the antler. and caused him to run as he did. alot of emotional highs and lows with this , the look on my dad's face coming down the trail grinning ear to ear will remain with me forever. This was the only whitetail i ever shot with a rifle.