Post by gd3006 on Dec 2, 2010 11:56:45 GMT -5
OK, I really have to start this out by saying this: I can claim no grand story of hunting prowess or insight. This was simply a gift from God.
I spent a week in the UP during rifle season. I hunted from the 17th until the 24th of Nov. On the last morning of our hunt, we waited until after first light, and then set up one last deer drive before leaving to head home. Since there were only 2 of us left in camp, we flipped a coin to see who would be walking, and who would be sitting. As it turns out, I ended up pushing a swamp to my buddy. He dropped me off, and drove around to the other end of the property, with the instruction to give him 10-15 minutes to get set up before starting in. I waited 15 minutes, then begin walking into the cedar swamp. I stopped for several minutes to survey the area in front of me and see what would be the best path to hit the most cover. As I was doing this, I heard a twig snap behind me, and when I turned to look, here was a big buck coming in @ 30 yards. I immediately turned around and raised my 30-30. He saw me move, and stopped to figure out just what the odd looking thing was. We stared each other down for about 10 seconds, then I eared back the hammer. He turned to go elsewhere, and exposed his shoulder. I didn't waste any time shooting. He ran off, headed around me in the direction I was going. I walked up about 150 yards, and found him struggling to get up. I quickly placed a second shot in his chest to finish things. I finished pushing out the swamp, and shortly after I dispatched the buck, I heard a rifle shot from the blind where my friend was situated. As it turns out, he had harvested a large doe.
Now, I've been hunting up there on and off since 1995, and I've never seen anything bigger than a forkhorn. I guess that it was just one of those gifts that we sometimes get. He's the second largest whitetail I've ever taken, and while he's probably not a record book deer, he may be my favorite. I haven't seriously put a tape to him, but he should go low to mid 130s.
Thank God for a wonderful and unexpected trophy!
gd
I spent a week in the UP during rifle season. I hunted from the 17th until the 24th of Nov. On the last morning of our hunt, we waited until after first light, and then set up one last deer drive before leaving to head home. Since there were only 2 of us left in camp, we flipped a coin to see who would be walking, and who would be sitting. As it turns out, I ended up pushing a swamp to my buddy. He dropped me off, and drove around to the other end of the property, with the instruction to give him 10-15 minutes to get set up before starting in. I waited 15 minutes, then begin walking into the cedar swamp. I stopped for several minutes to survey the area in front of me and see what would be the best path to hit the most cover. As I was doing this, I heard a twig snap behind me, and when I turned to look, here was a big buck coming in @ 30 yards. I immediately turned around and raised my 30-30. He saw me move, and stopped to figure out just what the odd looking thing was. We stared each other down for about 10 seconds, then I eared back the hammer. He turned to go elsewhere, and exposed his shoulder. I didn't waste any time shooting. He ran off, headed around me in the direction I was going. I walked up about 150 yards, and found him struggling to get up. I quickly placed a second shot in his chest to finish things. I finished pushing out the swamp, and shortly after I dispatched the buck, I heard a rifle shot from the blind where my friend was situated. As it turns out, he had harvested a large doe.
Now, I've been hunting up there on and off since 1995, and I've never seen anything bigger than a forkhorn. I guess that it was just one of those gifts that we sometimes get. He's the second largest whitetail I've ever taken, and while he's probably not a record book deer, he may be my favorite. I haven't seriously put a tape to him, but he should go low to mid 130s.
Thank God for a wonderful and unexpected trophy!
gd
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