What was the best day or most memorable time you ever had hunting? The one you tell everyone about...
Mine was a trip with one of my favorite hunting partners to a dairy farm in Petersburg, Tennessee. The farm was owned by his cousin and hadn't been hunted in years. We had been drawn for doe permits that could be used during buck season and we went with the hope of filling the freezer with a few "meat deer".
Daybreak found me overlooking a hayfield and my buddy was in a stand farther back in the woods. Thirty minutes after daylight I saw a deer crossing the field about 150 yards out. Crosshairs behind the shoulder...squeeeeze...one down!
After my partner came down, without success, we went to the local "gas and grub" to check in my small 4 pointer. I actually thought it was a doe when I shot. The rack was very small and somewhat deformed. We ate breakfast and decided to do some two-man drives in the middle of the day.
I took the ridge and he took the valley. We hadn't gone much over 300-400 yards when I heard him shoot. Then I saw a deer running up the hill opposite mine. I scoped him and confirmed a buck. A quick rest against a tree and I got the crosshairs between his shoulders...he stopped about halfway up...squeeeeze. Another one! When I found my buddy he was field dressing a nice doe. I couldn't wait to tell him about my FIRST 8 POINTER!!!
We went back to the same store to check them in. The owner couldn't believe our luck and several hunters gathered around to look. Ain't nuthin' better than being the center of attention at the check-in station! We sat around swapping stories and ate some lunch. We figured, since we were already here, might as well go back out and hunt from the stands until dark.
About half an hour before dark, a doe came down the hill I was watching. I waited a little while to see if a buck would follow. Then I thought, why am I waiting, I have a doe permit! It was an easy 50 yard shot and she was down. I heard another deer running back toward my partner. A few minutes later he shot too. I field dressed the doe and got her to the truck. Within 10 minutes, my buddy came to the truck too. He was dragging a nice 6 pointer!
As we pulled up in front of the little store, the store owner came out to meet us before we could even get out of the truck! He was hollering at the rest of the hunters who had stopped by, "Hey! C'mere. These guys got 'em stacked up like chord wood over here!"
We checked the last two in and headed home. I still grin real big every time I think about that day. I had the 8 pointer mounted to always remind me of that hunt. He isn't all that big but sometimes a trophy has nothing to do with size.
We filled both our freezers and donated the rest to "Hunters for the Hungry".
Oh, yeah...we took pictures the next morning!
Mikey
[This message has been edited by Mikey (edited January 13, 2000).]
Mine was a trip with one of my favorite hunting partners to a dairy farm in Petersburg, Tennessee. The farm was owned by his cousin and hadn't been hunted in years. We had been drawn for doe permits that could be used during buck season and we went with the hope of filling the freezer with a few "meat deer".
Daybreak found me overlooking a hayfield and my buddy was in a stand farther back in the woods. Thirty minutes after daylight I saw a deer crossing the field about 150 yards out. Crosshairs behind the shoulder...squeeeeze...one down!
After my partner came down, without success, we went to the local "gas and grub" to check in my small 4 pointer. I actually thought it was a doe when I shot. The rack was very small and somewhat deformed. We ate breakfast and decided to do some two-man drives in the middle of the day.
I took the ridge and he took the valley. We hadn't gone much over 300-400 yards when I heard him shoot. Then I saw a deer running up the hill opposite mine. I scoped him and confirmed a buck. A quick rest against a tree and I got the crosshairs between his shoulders...he stopped about halfway up...squeeeeze. Another one! When I found my buddy he was field dressing a nice doe. I couldn't wait to tell him about my FIRST 8 POINTER!!!
We went back to the same store to check them in. The owner couldn't believe our luck and several hunters gathered around to look. Ain't nuthin' better than being the center of attention at the check-in station! We sat around swapping stories and ate some lunch. We figured, since we were already here, might as well go back out and hunt from the stands until dark.
About half an hour before dark, a doe came down the hill I was watching. I waited a little while to see if a buck would follow. Then I thought, why am I waiting, I have a doe permit! It was an easy 50 yard shot and she was down. I heard another deer running back toward my partner. A few minutes later he shot too. I field dressed the doe and got her to the truck. Within 10 minutes, my buddy came to the truck too. He was dragging a nice 6 pointer!
As we pulled up in front of the little store, the store owner came out to meet us before we could even get out of the truck! He was hollering at the rest of the hunters who had stopped by, "Hey! C'mere. These guys got 'em stacked up like chord wood over here!"
We checked the last two in and headed home. I still grin real big every time I think about that day. I had the 8 pointer mounted to always remind me of that hunt. He isn't all that big but sometimes a trophy has nothing to do with size.
We filled both our freezers and donated the rest to "Hunters for the Hungry".
Oh, yeah...we took pictures the next morning!
Mikey
[This message has been edited by Mikey (edited January 13, 2000).]