I went back on Saturday (I am writing this a week late). The wind was calm, and I wanted a deer! I went to my old location where a stand was waiting only to find another hunter in a tree 50 yards from me! I crept back up the hill and found a new spot to ground hunt. I sat there for an hour just listening and scanning the area. I heard probably twenty shots in that hour all of them on high ground. I decided to head to higher ground. I went back to where I left my truck and scouted around there. I found a beautiful ridge, but the side was too steep to hunt. Plus I did not feel like carrying a deer up a steep hill. I went to the other side of the hill and found a GREAT spot. I could see for several hundred yards and hand shooting lanes galore. I found a comfortable spot and sat down. I was still moving around getting comfortable, arranging equipment when I saw my first deer. It was playing around behind some brush, too covered up to take a shot.
Fifteen minutes later two more deer popped out from the same hill and ran through the forrest. My heart was racing, I was going to get my chance. I brought up my rifle and waited for them to stop. One of them stopped right behind a large oak tree. I could only see its head and rump, very frustrating! It took a step forward and I could see its forward body. I aimed and took a shot. I hit the tree it was hiding behind, the deer jumped, but did not leave the area. It immediately hid behind some brush and then I saw one deer leave the area. I thought I had hit it. Two came in, but one left. I spent an hour searching the area for ANY sign. I went to the exact location-120 yards off and made a mental grid. The only thing I found was urine.
I left the area for lunch and ran into the hunter that was near my stand. He was friends with the guy I went out there with. We were sitting in the woods waiting for our friend to return when two different deer popped out from behind a hill. I told him there were deer right behind him. He grabbed his .308 and took both of them. My .30-06 didn't see any action
They both dropped immediately and we walked over to them. They were both still alive. I finished them with some 127 gr. Winchester Ranger SXT (Black Talon) from my Glock 17. They died instantly. We field dressed them and he felt bad for not letting me shoot them. We actually found the bullet still lodged in the ribs of one of the deer. He gave me the small buck and I had him processed. The meat looks delicious.
The next hunt starts December 13th, and I am going back. I am hooked.
-SquirrelNuts