Well I got dug out . Iit took 9 hours with my little 30 hp tractor and bucket but I got the 4 wheeler out and got ready to go hunting. With the tags getting ready to convert to anterless I made a decision to not be so picky. I have plenty of doe tags and another month to fill the freezer but only 3 days left on the buck tag. I had to take the 4 wheeler down the highway about 4 miles since the section road was drifted to deep. Then I was able to get back off road and get to within about 1/2 mile of my hunting area. Then it was to deep for the 4-wheeler. I walked in and after 50 yards was thinking I wasn't going to make it. It was deeper than i thought. I was wishing I had snow shoes but alas I did not. I was sweating and breathing hard( how did I get so old)
I was only halfway in when I sunk in past my knees. As I was struggling to get out i saw a coyote about 25 yards across from me, just staring at me . I think he was feeling sorry for me as he just kept staring. I looked at him and finally plowed on out and kept going . There were already deer coming out everywhere as It was 2:30pm before I got there. I was so exhausted I felt like going home but since I needed to rest I decided to wait and see if something showed in spite of all the noise I made getting in( you could probably hear me breathing a mile away) After about 45 minutes 3 bucks come out along with 20 or so doe. I let them walk but decided to forget the big boy. I didn't see him and I figured there is no way I'm going to come back til the snow is not so deep. I decided to take the next decent looking buck if one showed.
about 15 minutes later a buck walks out . He was not huge but had a nice symmetrical rack with long brow tines. He was a 4x4 ( 8 pointer) I kept wishing he would move my way but instead he wandered at a north west direction. I ranged it and he was 153 yards. I probably shouldn't have taken the shot that far but i was determined . I know some of you are probably thinking it was a bad decision but you would have to have been there to understand. Anyway I took the shot . He hunkered up and I knew I had hit him to far back. I waited 10 minutes and he didn't move. He was facing his butt toward me. I decided to try to get close and finish him off. When I stepped out and moved to get a broadside shot he took off south to the cone flowers. He stopped after 150 yards and bedded down. I decided to give him some time. I walked back to the 4 wheeler, sweating profusely. That made the ride home extremely cold. I changed clothes , warmed up and ate supper. Afetr 3 hours I decided to go look for him. The wife went with me. We took a sled. To make a long story short we found him. I saw him blink so I knew he was alive. but he let us walk right up behind him. I grabbed his antlers and cut his throat. He jumped up and bolted . He went 50 yards and expired. Even with the sled it took 2 hours to get him back. After what it took to get him, even though he isn't a monster he is a trophy for me. here's a pic. Now today i rest, tomorrow I will try to fill Turkey tags with my bow then start filling the freezer with doe.
T/C Pro-Hunter
105 gr Blackhorn 209
federal primer
250 gr barnes T-EZ
153 yards open sights