After a many year hiatus of hunting on St. Joseph Island east of Sault Ste. Marie, I was invited by some friend to hunt their property with them a couple of years ago. I only saw a doe and fawn last year and nothing the year before.
So this year the landowner shot a yearling buck on opening day. We were very happy as none of the 4 of us drew an antlerless tag this year. I saw nothing the opening day and on the second day, this button buck fawn showed up at my bait pile of carrots. I better explain right now that baiting and party hunting for deer is legal.
The third morning, the button buck came out, munched some carrots and walked back into the bush. Shortly after, this guy walked out and stood in the carrots about 60 yards away. Now I am a meat hunter, - antlers dont mean much to me, so I lined up the .444 Marlin and hit him high in the chest with a 265 grain Hornady handload. He dropped where he was standing and has a couple of 1 inch stickers which made him an 8 pointer. The bullet plowed down the spine where I recovered it - havent had a chance to weigh it yet to figure out weight retention.
A couple of buddies texted me I was supposed to skin him before I threw him in the stew with the carrots and turnips....
Fourth morning, just the button buck out. That evening, he is back on the bait pile when this yearling comes flying out of the bush and pushes him off the bait pile. Standing there looking at the blind chewing carrots and brought the rifle up, cocked the hammer, pulled the trigger and CLICK! Damn. forgot to take off the Marlin crossbolt safety. Still looking at the blind but not chewing now. Recock the hammer, take off the crossbolt safety and down he goes! Tasty 6 pointer!
Next morning, we are down to one tag left in the group. Just after daylight, I see a deer going across a cut strip about 100 yards away in a stiff legged walk. Cant get the rifle up before he is gone. Text the others, and try a couple of grunts. Nothing. Pick up the Primos doe bleat can and let 3 bleats go. Put the can down and look at the bush in front of me and I can see a set of ears. Think - ok the fawn is coming out when it steps out about 80 yards away and all I can see is antlers. Get the rifle up, take of the crossbolt safety this time and fire. The deer lurches to its right and disappears from sight.
Everyone comes over and we cant find any hair or blood. We keep expanding circles looking for sign and nothing. Very dejected and walking back to the road I stepped over an embankment and there he was. He was no more than 20 -30 yards from where I shot him. Figured he took a couple of leaps and died in mid air as there was lots of blood where he landed but none prior to that. Morale of the story - never stop looking!
Biggest deer I have ever shot (antler wise) and ended up he was a 7 pointer.
Absolute best hunt ever in my life - I have never had anything like this happen before . Good friends, beautiful weather, afternoons high of 16 C, deer were moving and we all ended up with a good supply of meat for the winter.
Hope everyone else had a great hunt
Regards
So this year the landowner shot a yearling buck on opening day. We were very happy as none of the 4 of us drew an antlerless tag this year. I saw nothing the opening day and on the second day, this button buck fawn showed up at my bait pile of carrots. I better explain right now that baiting and party hunting for deer is legal.
The third morning, the button buck came out, munched some carrots and walked back into the bush. Shortly after, this guy walked out and stood in the carrots about 60 yards away. Now I am a meat hunter, - antlers dont mean much to me, so I lined up the .444 Marlin and hit him high in the chest with a 265 grain Hornady handload. He dropped where he was standing and has a couple of 1 inch stickers which made him an 8 pointer. The bullet plowed down the spine where I recovered it - havent had a chance to weigh it yet to figure out weight retention.
A couple of buddies texted me I was supposed to skin him before I threw him in the stew with the carrots and turnips....
Fourth morning, just the button buck out. That evening, he is back on the bait pile when this yearling comes flying out of the bush and pushes him off the bait pile. Standing there looking at the blind chewing carrots and brought the rifle up, cocked the hammer, pulled the trigger and CLICK! Damn. forgot to take off the Marlin crossbolt safety. Still looking at the blind but not chewing now. Recock the hammer, take off the crossbolt safety and down he goes! Tasty 6 pointer!
Next morning, we are down to one tag left in the group. Just after daylight, I see a deer going across a cut strip about 100 yards away in a stiff legged walk. Cant get the rifle up before he is gone. Text the others, and try a couple of grunts. Nothing. Pick up the Primos doe bleat can and let 3 bleats go. Put the can down and look at the bush in front of me and I can see a set of ears. Think - ok the fawn is coming out when it steps out about 80 yards away and all I can see is antlers. Get the rifle up, take of the crossbolt safety this time and fire. The deer lurches to its right and disappears from sight.
Everyone comes over and we cant find any hair or blood. We keep expanding circles looking for sign and nothing. Very dejected and walking back to the road I stepped over an embankment and there he was. He was no more than 20 -30 yards from where I shot him. Figured he took a couple of leaps and died in mid air as there was lots of blood where he landed but none prior to that. Morale of the story - never stop looking!
Biggest deer I have ever shot (antler wise) and ended up he was a 7 pointer.
Absolute best hunt ever in my life - I have never had anything like this happen before . Good friends, beautiful weather, afternoons high of 16 C, deer were moving and we all ended up with a good supply of meat for the winter.
Hope everyone else had a great hunt
Regards
