Slooshark1
CGN frequent flyer
The way things were leading up to the hunt this year weren’t looking promising at me getting away. I had lots of work on the table and it wasn’t looking like I was going to get away. However, I managed to get away Thursday afternoon and made my way down to Sudbury. I dropped my son, Everett, off at his Grandma’s house and headed out to the Penage Lake Marina. I met my hunting partner, Keven at the landing and we drove to Big Buck Island in the dark. I stayed up until after midnight catching up on the week’s events. There were 3 deer hanging at camp already, a nice 8 pointer and slightly smaller 8 pointer and a fawn. We got up early the next morning and had a great breakfast of pancakes, sausages and coffee. It was starting to break day when we got into the boats and drove to our hunting area. We did a small drive first but didn’t produce anything. We all met and discussed our next drive. We were going to be pushing a strip of bush between the lake and a long swamp. I wanted to push but I had a scope on my rifle and they needed someone to watch down the swamp in case any deer tried to escape across the swamp, so I was volunteered. I walked to the spot as quickly as possible and sat in an old rickety chair and watched down a long swamp. I could see about 300 yards in either direction. The sun was rising and warming up the morning air. I sat there for about 30 minutes. I heard the guys walking past me in the bush so I knew that the drive was now half over. I looked to my right down the swamp and didn’t see anything. I looked down to my left and spotted a deer running across the swamp about 250 yards down. I shouldered my Remington Model 700 rifle chambered for the .35 Whelen. I could see at that range that it was a nice buck. I squeezed off a shot and the rifle recoiled. I looked and the buck was standing in the middle of the swamp. I worked the bolt chambering another round and squeezed off a second shot. I looked and the buck was still standing there. I could see his rack and head over the yellow marsh grass. I chambered my third shot and placed the crosshairs of my Leupold Vari-X II 1x 4 scope behind his front shoulder and slowly squeezed the trigger while concentrating on his front shoulder. The rifle recoiled again and then I could see a deer running across the swamp. I cycled the bolt again, chambering my fourth round and looked through the scope. It was a doe and we had a doe tag in camp so I squeezed a shot at the running deer and she kept running with her tail up after my fifth shot. The guys came on the radio and I explained what had happened. They completed the drive and began looking for sign at the end of the swamp. Don and Peter found where the tracks led into the swamp and Keven found the tracks leaving the swamp on the other side. After an extensive search, they concluded that I had missed the doe. The guys stood up on some higher ground and looked into the swamp and couldn’t see anything lying down. I was still back at my watch trying to give them directions. Finally I saw my Dad come out and stand where the deer had entered the swamp. I told him to stay there while I walked down to have a look. When I got to where my Dad was, I began walking into the middle of the swamp. I clenched my teeth as the icy November water rushed into my nice dry boots. I walked right where I had last seen the buck and there he was. He had fallen in the knee deep water but was almost completely submerged. My Dad was only about 30 yards from me when I yelled out, “Here he is!!” I reached down into the water and grabbed him by the massive antlers and held him up proudly for my Dad to see. It was one of the best days of my life. I started screaming for joy and the guys all came out of the bush to the edge of the swamp in utter disbelief. Keven came out and gave his rifle to someone and walked right out into the middle of the swamp to help me drag out my big buck.
It’s great to shoot a big buck but I think what really makes a hunt good is the quality of your hunting companions. This was my 14th year at Big Buck Island and there are a lot of memories with these guys. I’m looking forward to many more hunts there and hopefully with my sons someday too.
This rifle has been absolutley lucky for me this year. I shot a nice black bear, 2 moose and this buck. Some years it's so hard to see game and some years they seem to get served up to you on a silver platter!
Good Hunting,
Slooshark1
