ChristopherO
11-30-2021, 02:15 AM
Due to a vehicle accident in September 2020 I was out of commission for last year's deer season. Any season, for that matter. By God's grace and the determination to stand on two feet, traverse uneven ground, to hunt, as motivating goals I used what little free time in 2021 to rehab and refresh myself in casting, reloading and target practicing with a few rifles I thoroughly enjoy. This morning was the start of Gun Season in Ohio, which found me overlooking a freshly harvested soybean field, the very one I shot my first deer in 35 years ago. It isn't a big producer of venison, yet, I find it a spot to go to on opening day every few years, for old time sake, or because I hadn't procured another farm to hunt on by this time of the year. The reason I choose this spot didn't matter. I was going to hunt opening day this year with a renewed vigor to be out with a rifle in hand readied with my cast handloads.
The thermometer was hovering around 20F. Very little breeze to note touched my face, the sunrise over my shoulder was slowly illuminating the landscape to the front of my little spot, cut out of the brush at the field's eastern most edge.
292430
It isn't a stretch to say I was very much looking forward to this activity again. An added touch was my oldest was hunting the east part of the farm across the road. It was a good morning to be out.
292428
Just after legal light I thanked God for this opportunity, and that I would greatly appreciate a deer this morning. With the words leaving my lips I turned my head toward the south (left) and noticed a deer on a high spot about 70 yards out. Because of the distant tree line as a backdrop and the dimness of the dawn I wasn't certain if it was a buck or doe, but leaned toward it being a year and half old buck, by the way it was moving about. If you are familiar, the young guys are looking for company, but aren't quite confident about how to go about it. Much like I was as a young man. That is how this deer was acting. The angle wasn't wise for shooting, as the county road is in that direction, so I elected to watch to see where it would go. Finally, after minutes of indecision, it turned around and walked toward the west. Once it cleared the distant trees the rack on it's head could be clearly seen and confirmed my initial suspicions. A young buck. That'll do. I need the meat and the shot angle is good. Bleating stopped him broadside, the front post of the Marlin Cowboy lined up on the shoulder as I aimed through the Skinner Peep, the trigger squeezed and impact was nearly as loud as the gunshot. He fell without a twitch to the .460" 405 grain WFN boolit with aplomb. Don't think I've seen a deer drop dead quite as fast with a straight wall cartridge as this one did.
292429
My son remarked how loud the meat report sounded to him, when he came over to help load the buck up. That big meplat really put the smack on this guy in a most satisfying manner. I'll conduct a complete autopsy once it is skinned out, but I'm on the prowl for a big doe to go along with this fella. Will keep you posted how that goes, too.
The thermometer was hovering around 20F. Very little breeze to note touched my face, the sunrise over my shoulder was slowly illuminating the landscape to the front of my little spot, cut out of the brush at the field's eastern most edge.
292430
It isn't a stretch to say I was very much looking forward to this activity again. An added touch was my oldest was hunting the east part of the farm across the road. It was a good morning to be out.
292428
Just after legal light I thanked God for this opportunity, and that I would greatly appreciate a deer this morning. With the words leaving my lips I turned my head toward the south (left) and noticed a deer on a high spot about 70 yards out. Because of the distant tree line as a backdrop and the dimness of the dawn I wasn't certain if it was a buck or doe, but leaned toward it being a year and half old buck, by the way it was moving about. If you are familiar, the young guys are looking for company, but aren't quite confident about how to go about it. Much like I was as a young man. That is how this deer was acting. The angle wasn't wise for shooting, as the county road is in that direction, so I elected to watch to see where it would go. Finally, after minutes of indecision, it turned around and walked toward the west. Once it cleared the distant trees the rack on it's head could be clearly seen and confirmed my initial suspicions. A young buck. That'll do. I need the meat and the shot angle is good. Bleating stopped him broadside, the front post of the Marlin Cowboy lined up on the shoulder as I aimed through the Skinner Peep, the trigger squeezed and impact was nearly as loud as the gunshot. He fell without a twitch to the .460" 405 grain WFN boolit with aplomb. Don't think I've seen a deer drop dead quite as fast with a straight wall cartridge as this one did.
292429
My son remarked how loud the meat report sounded to him, when he came over to help load the buck up. That big meplat really put the smack on this guy in a most satisfying manner. I'll conduct a complete autopsy once it is skinned out, but I'm on the prowl for a big doe to go along with this fella. Will keep you posted how that goes, too.