I took advantage of a deer drive today. I have complained about the dog hunters before. I know that it' s a different type of hunting but it has bothered me when the dogs ruined the tranquility of my hunt. I been displeased before when the human drivers would who-op and Whah Hoo! Today was a doe day here in VA. I knew that the guys who frequently run dogs on the public land I hunt would be out there. I knew it would be crazy crowded. I prefer pushing deep into the woods by myself and waiting either on the ground or in a tree. Often I don' t see a deer all day. Today I wanted to take a deer. I wanted to put some meet in the fridge. I set up overlooking a draw that I figured the dogs would push the deer thru. I was right. I shot my rifle at the lead deer who was coming thru at a trot. I hit him but it wasn' t a nice clean hit. I had to shoot several more times. I hit him three times. It was exciting and a different kind of hunting. It was definately hunting. anyone who says it isn' t must also discount quail and pheasant hunting of any other hunting you do with dogs. I like bow hunting because many people don' t have the patience and the woods are much less crowded. I usually don' t see anyone during bow season. During rifle season last year I stayed deep in the swamp or in the woods that no-one drives. I saw one deer. He was a monster. I will probably go back to those lonely woods where I am trying to draw that nice deer in, but today I killed a button buck. Overall I' m pleased It wasn' t the clean quick kill that I have always imagined, but my objective wasn' t bragging rights on a perfect shot. It was success. If I want to be able to continue to hunt the way I like to hunt. I have to stand up for the rights of those hunters who I am usually annoyed by. I am still not very comfortable about being out there in the area they hnt when they drive the deer. But I made a calculated decision. I was up pretty high and I chose a productive spot. I will also add that they guys who were part of this drive were very cool and helped me find the blood trail and even look for the deer I shot. He hadn' t gone far but it was thick and I lost the trail fora bit. They were congratulatory and no-one seemed to have an issue with me using their drive to take my deer.

David