Well, my father and I were at the lottery shack at Woodland 10 of Noon. No one else showed. The lottery guy said 'guess if you cant get a Buck, no one cares'. Sad thought. But anyhow we got the stands I wanted. I put my father along the meadow where I saw at least 5 different sets of tracks leaving to the fields in the snow the Sunday prior. I covered a less used area about 150 yds to the north.

About 4:15pm I hear my dad shoot, then 5 secs later shoot again. I knew he wouldnt shoot at a running deer unless he thought it was hit. I was torn as to whether to go see what happend or hang tight. Figured I'd wait a spell. About 3 mins later I hear a deer plow into the meadow infront of me. The deer is limping. Its heading towards me slowly. He got about 45yds from me parallel and he wasnt getting any closer. Thats longer than I like to shoot with buckshot but he was hurt so I had to try. Switched to the choked barrel. It took 3 loud mouth grunts to stop him, but when he did, I put the bead right behind the shoulder and fired. He buckled, ran 10 yds and dropped. Gave it 5 mins and approached slowly. He was done. Button Buck. Was hoping it was a doe, but what can you do. By the time I got him outta the marsh, my father arrived at my stand. I looked at him and said 'Is this the community deer '
He said he hit one but it got to the meadow, I said this was him.

He tried to give me the deer. I said no way! I might have killed him but he would have never came my way if you wouldnt had shot him. Couldnt get the smile off his face. Its been a long while since 9/1 and we've hunted this piece of land since 1997 and its the 1st deer he's taken from there. It kinda makes all the disappointments and close calls this year fade away.

Now that the 200 lb gorilla is off my back and the family freezer is full, its time to pick the bow again! Gunning is ok, but there's nothing like getting one with the bow!

Goodnight and good luck to everyone else who tries to thin the antlerless population this week.

Good job Duckmastor! Congrats to both you and your father! Job well done!

By god - Duckmastor, you were finally part of a deer sucess story!! Now it be your turn to nail one with a sharp bow stick!!

Congtats to you and your dad. You might want to look into Steamboat Landing too, took my son out there last year in Jan season and could have shot a six piont, also saw a bunch of does that night. Buck was too small but cool to watch, those stands on the marsh get alot of action even in the late seasons. The draw is at Bombay Hook visitors center.

DJ