| We hunt in eastern Connecticut on 325 private | | | | An hour passes and I catch motion. A doe is |
| acres. That is paradise in this part of the country. | | | | walking along a trail about 75 yards off. I pull my |
| We set up on a ridge where it is real thick, you | | | | .270 and get my Leupold on her. There is a lot of |
| can hardly see 50 yards in most directions. | | | | vegetation and I just can not get a clean shot on |
| Naturally, this is whitetail habitat! We rarely have | | | | her (we have both buck and doe tags to fill). She |
| hunted this part of the property so we scouted it | | | | has no idea I am there but is playing a good |
| out good and set up ground stands as we were | | | | game of hide and seek. After about 3 minutes of |
| sure the deer were up there during shooting | | | | this she is out of sight. |
| hours. | | | | No sooner do I look back to where I saw the |
| I was maybe 100 yards from my son on the | | | | first doe and there is another one! The whole |
| other side of the ridge where we could not see | | | | scene plays out like I rewound a video tape. I |
| each other. We got in and set-up in the dark. It | | | | cannot quite get a clean shot as she follows the |
| was cloudy and the wind was dead still. Just as | | | | exact same path as the first doe. |
| the woods started to get light and legal shooting | | | | Somewhat frustrated as she leaves the area I |
| hours began, a doe wanders up to my son. She is | | | | catch motion back to where the does first |
| maybe 20 yards away. My son and I agreed | | | | appeared. The Monster 10 pointer is on the prowl. |
| ahead of time that anything that presents a clean | | | | His nose is on the ground and he is following the |
| shot to him is going down, so this doe was fair | | | | path those does just took. Knowing I could not |
| game. | | | | get a shot on the does I look around and decide |
| He got his 20 gauge shotgun up, but the does | | | | to jump on a rock that is about 2 feet off the |
| chest was behind a tree. He could see her head | | | | ground right next to a tree. |
| and hind quarters just fine, but not the vitals. He | | | | The bucks head goes behind some thick stuff so |
| waited, wanting her to just clear the tree. As luck | | | | I have my chance and jump on the rock. I lean |
| would have it she starts walking right toward him! | | | | against the tree and scan in front of the buck for |
| He put his scope on her and she spots him in 2 | | | | an opening to shoot through. I see my spot and |
| seconds and freezes. She finally winds him and | | | | put the scope there and wait for him. My heart is |
| takes off. I was real proud as Kevin passed up a | | | | pounding but the gun is steady like I am on a |
| shot some rookies would take and we would | | | | bench rest as I force myself to concentrate. A |
| spend the morning looking for a lame deer and he | | | | family saying is: count the points when they are |
| would feel real bad about it. | | | | laying on the ground. Meaning of course the first |
| No more than 5 minutes goes by and I hear a | | | | order of business is drop the deer. |
| twig snap. The sky is twilight still and all I can | | | | He meanders into my sight but it still is a little |
| make out is the silhouette of two deer walking | | | | thick. Got the cross hairs behind the shoulder and |
| right down the ridge line between Kevin and I. | | | | started to apply pressure to the trigger. Then I |
| One of the deer is BIG. They pass through Kevin | | | | let up. In the back of my mind I knew this was a |
| and my agreed upon no-fire zone and present a | | | | 50-50 shot at a clean kill, and that is not good |
| shot to him. The big one is a 10 pointer. | | | | enough for any hunter. That big boy walked away |
| As any experienced hunter knows bucks do not | | | | never knowing how close he came to meeting his |
| get that big by being stupid. Kevin brings his scope | | | | maker. |
| up and the buck freezes in his tracks. He | | | | Kevin and I met up and exchanged stories of the |
| proceeds to go through the blowing and stomping | | | | mornings action while sitting on a log. Sharing |
| warning routine for about 5 seconds and he and | | | | these stories with my boy is what it is all about. It |
| doe take off like they are shot out of a cannon. | | | | is a day I hope neither of us forget. Even though |
| Plenty of heart pumping excitement, and we | | | | we left the woods empty handed, our memories |
| were only 15 minutes into the season! | | | | were enriched forever. |