Bruiser this morning
 

What a great morning. Got into position about 1/2 hour before legal shooting time. I was only there for about 15-20 mins when I could hear a deer walking in the ice crusted leaves off to my left. I kept looking and looking for it as it was coming closer slowly but surely. Finally just at legal shooting shooting time I saw it above me working through the huckleberry bushes head down. I could barely make out the front sight. I had the hammer cocked and waiting for a clear shot to pull the set trigger and then touch off the shot from my Renegade /.58 GM PRB shooter when he picked up his head and showed me his beautiful rack. I had to let him pass as I had already filled my buck tag earlier in archery season and only had an anterless tag. But what a bruiser. I hope he's around next year. I'll have a tree stand set up in that area.
Not long afterwards I heard my buddy that was sitting about 300 yards to my right shoot. I waited about 15 mins or so and worked my way over to him only to see him standing over a nice fat doe. I walked down the hill and retrieved my ATV and we loaded it up on the rack.
I love morning like this.

Great story Bronko. I would have enjoyed that hunt also - except for the "ice crusted leaves" thing. Ice is for Scotch - not for hunting.

It wasn't too bad this morning Van. It was a balmy 23*. I had my under armor cold weather gear on, wool socks with "toasty toes", heavy fleece lined pants, chamois shirt, heated vest and browning thinsulite jacket and Herman Survivor thnsulite boots and Arctic Shield gloves/mittens. Oh yea and my rabbit fur hat.
I was snug as a bug in a rug....LOL

Kinda like Randy from A Christmas Story. "I can't put my arms down".