Then I saw a neighbor at what turned out to be a new years party at another neighbors house. He asked when I was going to shoot some deer around here. I said tomorrow is the last day, let me know if you see them. I saw him around 3pm when our power went out and he hadn't seen them (very windy this afternoon). So after the game and with daylight passing I crept to about 75 yds of where he said he has seen them bedding. Started thinking they wont be here today, all of a sudden movement in the swamp, I figure there is about 5 minutes left so I get a bead on one with the 870 and shoot. After the shot I briefly recall seeing the big one just standing there. I am ready to shoot again and big momma doe and a smaller one bolt to me for about 30 yds, because they cant cross the thin ice, then turn due west and gone. So I am thinking, did I miss, how the heck did I miss. I walk down, and there one lays.
It was too dark for pics once I got it up the hill, but I can't post a thread without pics so here are a couple. This pic was taken before the leaves fell, the deer were along the lake. The next pic is my swamp ride that I wore some paint off of this year going across the lake. Didn't go across today, canal froze over a week or so ago, but the lake had some open water. It has been pretty warm this year. Last year on this day I walked across the frozen lake and hunted, and missed one at last light.
Feels good to fill another tag. This year definitely did not go as expected (zero bucks), but I learned a lot and can take some satisfaction with 3 deer in the freezer.
