We kept the pressure pretty low going into the rifle season and had a few nice bucks that were 3 years old to chase. So we switched roles for gun season. I got to glass from the old house we have out there and he would hunt. It's fun to watch the deer in the evening from the house. They make their way off the ridge and come into the bottom by us to feed in the clover and make their way into our corn across the creek.
Season opened Saturday, but the wind was from the east so he couldn't hunt at all. The weather was pretty cold by anyone's standards, but he managed to get out sunday and hunt the evening. It was cool to be able to see his location from the window and watch the deer move around him. I saw a decent 2 year old buck walk right across in front of him and keep going. That was a big change from years past for him, but he knew what we had and stuck to his goals. He saw plenty of deer and a couple bigger deer but couldn't see well enough at low light. The second evening was just as cold but he went out, saw some deer, but they moved pretty late and sightings were tough at low light.
His third hunt the weather got better with highs in the upper 30's and a good nw wind. Thus far he hunted well thought out spots with good winds, but there is only so many hunts a person can do on a small parcel without buggering it up. So this hunt was a good plan, but after this it would get harder.
He left earlier than the other evenings and set up good. Hunting from the ground he picked a big sycamore to keep between him and where he expected a buck to scent check the corn along the creek. Around 3 i was changing windows to look out and caught sight of a deer moving his way. It passed too quick for me to see what it was but it was too early for normal movement so i had a feeling it was a buck scent checking for another doe. I scoped through the window for a moment and then saw a body bounce off the way it came in. I just knew he got busted and figured it was over. Then,,,,BOOM!
I was coming unglued, shaking, basically freaking out i was so excited. So much emotion, hoping it worked out, our dog even fed off my adrenelin and started bouncing off the windows looking out. When i saw Dad walking out he started coming towards the house so i went out. He said "Did you hear the neighbor shoot up on the hill?" I looked at him and froze, uh oh, i didn't think of that.....Then he smiled. He was kidding. I just grabbed him and hugged him.
The buck read the script that day and went out looking for another doe. Dad was ready. He saw Dad when he went to raise his gun, but the big sycamore allowed him to get most of the way ready and when the buck stopped to look back it was over.
I'll never shoot a deer that will be a more precious experience than this with Dad. These are the days and I cherish them.
We didn't realize our trail cam was taking pictures as we went back to get the deer. It caught us at a special time.
