finally....
I have been hunting all weekends and weekday evenings since October 1st and had not been able to bag a deer.
I have had about 15 deer within 100 yards and I have been within 15 feet of about 6 different deer, but never had a good shot - either deer was facing
me, not letting me draw/have a good shot, or was behind cover/brush, where I wouldnt risk shooting with a bow. Spent a week near Sault St. Marie for
rifle season - never saw a single deer.
2 Weeks ago, I took a shot at a doe with my bow - good hit, great blood trail but no deer. It went into a standing cornfield, and the trail vanished
Never ended up finding it. I spent 6 hours that day looking, and about 6 more on the following day with the wife and kids . - no luck. I couldnt sleep for a couple days as a
result.
The controlled hunt started in my area on Monday, and 20 minutes after shooting time, I saw the white flag about 200 yards away, but was heading in the wrong direction. The ground was damp, so I could walk pretty quietly. I managed to get within 50 yards, and was presented with a good broadside shot. Hit him right in the shoulder. He dropped instantly. I then proceeded to do my victory dance.
I was about 2.5k from the nearest road, so it was a long haul back to the car. Took me 2.5 hours to get it dressed and into the trailer. I was hunting solo, and came to the realization that hauling a deer out of the woods is not a 1 man job. My back still hurts.
Gun is a 20ga h&r ultraslug with a leupold ultimate slam 3x9 Ammo used was federal blue box, 2 3/4" 383 grain HP
After field dressing, I found that the bullet hit him right in the heart after breaking the shoulder. There was not much left of the heart.
