7mmfan
FNG
I didn't get a mule deer in our normal area this year, so I decided to concentrate close to home trying to get a blacktail the last few days of October. Halloween, last day of the general season, I made a plan to circuit a few different cuts while the weather was blowing up, trying to find deer out and about. Anyone who lives in Puget Sound knows the weather on Halloween was God awful. Blowing 30-40, raining sideways in sheets. Clear-cut 1: nada, Cut 2: nada, Cut 3 (down and out of the wind) bingo.
I walked to the landing and looked down and instantly saw multiple deer. They were about 120 yards out, oblivious to my presence, but they had the wind so I was hustling. 3 does, one fork horn, one 2x3, one 4 pt with eye guards. The 4 pt was definitely the largest blacktail buck I've seen in the woods, by a long shot. He and the 2x3 were standing off to the side, having somewhat of a showdown. I got my gun onto my pack and flipped the caps, scope is FOGGED. CRAP. I should have known better but I didn't wipe it down when I had opened it up to check out a couple does earlier that I was certain had a buck with them. I unzip my raincoat, and then my next layer trying to find a layer thats dry and finally settle on my wool base layer. I wipe down the lenses real fast and get them relatively clear. By this time however, Mr Big has made his way into the brush at the edge of the clearcut following a doe. The 2x3 was still standing guard though, and I've never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. I settled in on him and one shot from the 7 mag dropped him in his tracks.
Now the fun begins. You see, I rode my bike in to this place about 5 miles behind a closed gate. Well, I rode it most of the way until the tire blew out and I had forgotten a spare tube. I was ready to complete the long haul when one of my text message prayers was answered and a buddy pulled himself away from his Halloween party and rode in with his trailer to help me out. I had the deer quartered, bagged and up to the road by the time he showed up and we headed out. He was kind enough to bring a spare tube for me so my bike was functional again too.
This is the first blacktail buck I've killed since I was a teenager, and it was very gratifying. Being out in that weather and finding them in a place where I was certain they would be was great. My gut still hurts a little thinking about the giant that got away, but only a little bit.
I walked to the landing and looked down and instantly saw multiple deer. They were about 120 yards out, oblivious to my presence, but they had the wind so I was hustling. 3 does, one fork horn, one 2x3, one 4 pt with eye guards. The 4 pt was definitely the largest blacktail buck I've seen in the woods, by a long shot. He and the 2x3 were standing off to the side, having somewhat of a showdown. I got my gun onto my pack and flipped the caps, scope is FOGGED. CRAP. I should have known better but I didn't wipe it down when I had opened it up to check out a couple does earlier that I was certain had a buck with them. I unzip my raincoat, and then my next layer trying to find a layer thats dry and finally settle on my wool base layer. I wipe down the lenses real fast and get them relatively clear. By this time however, Mr Big has made his way into the brush at the edge of the clearcut following a doe. The 2x3 was still standing guard though, and I've never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. I settled in on him and one shot from the 7 mag dropped him in his tracks.
Now the fun begins. You see, I rode my bike in to this place about 5 miles behind a closed gate. Well, I rode it most of the way until the tire blew out and I had forgotten a spare tube. I was ready to complete the long haul when one of my text message prayers was answered and a buddy pulled himself away from his Halloween party and rode in with his trailer to help me out. I had the deer quartered, bagged and up to the road by the time he showed up and we headed out. He was kind enough to bring a spare tube for me so my bike was functional again too.
This is the first blacktail buck I've killed since I was a teenager, and it was very gratifying. Being out in that weather and finding them in a place where I was certain they would be was great. My gut still hurts a little thinking about the giant that got away, but only a little bit.
