Slackbunny
Member
- Location
- Fredericton New Brunswick
It was the last day of the season, and I was only able to hunt in the morning due to a prior commitment. I was out in the field before first light, and to tell the truth I was in a bit of a sour mood. I'd pretty much given up on the season and was preparing myself for my third consecutive season of being skunked. It was cold and I was uncomfortable, and I didn't think my spot was very good, so I resolved to just put in a hour or so and then go home. I'd decided to mix it up on my last day and hunt a field that I had ignored all season, I'd hunted it in previous years and had never seen a deer there. To sum it up my expectations were pretty low for the day. Was I ever wrong!
I was laying down on a knoll in the middle of a field. The wind was in my face, the sun was at my back. I was turning my doe bleat over every so often and glassing the edges of the field. I thought I heard something off to my right, so I turned over my call, and watched that area for a minute or two. As I slowly turned my head back to my front the first thing I seen was a big set of antlers glistening in the sun. I nearly swore out loud, and had to restrain myself. Already half way across the field, walking directly towards me was at least a big six point. I only had a front on shot so I waited as the buck casually walked my way. He offered a poor quartering to shot once or twice but I declined to shoot. The sun was in his eyes and the wind was in my favor so I knew I had time. Eventually he turned and presented me with a textbook broadside shot. I took a moment to calm my breathing and get myself steady. At about 50 yards I put my crosshairs right behind that shoulder and fired. I could tell it was a good hit, as when he started running he was obviously in bad shape, but I was determined not to lose him, so I kept right on shooting. I emptied my 30-30 rifle at him and he collapsed less than twenty yards into the woods.
At this point I was literally jumping for joy. Not only was this the first buck I had ever shot, it was the first buck I had ever seen while hunting period, and I had just nailed him! And he turned out to be a pretty great deer especially for a rookie. He weighed in at 191 pounds with 8 points, and one little sticker that they didn't count at the registration station. Needless to say, I'm pretty amped about the whole thing.
Here are some pics.
Looking forward to some steaks and sausages in the near future.
I was laying down on a knoll in the middle of a field. The wind was in my face, the sun was at my back. I was turning my doe bleat over every so often and glassing the edges of the field. I thought I heard something off to my right, so I turned over my call, and watched that area for a minute or two. As I slowly turned my head back to my front the first thing I seen was a big set of antlers glistening in the sun. I nearly swore out loud, and had to restrain myself. Already half way across the field, walking directly towards me was at least a big six point. I only had a front on shot so I waited as the buck casually walked my way. He offered a poor quartering to shot once or twice but I declined to shoot. The sun was in his eyes and the wind was in my favor so I knew I had time. Eventually he turned and presented me with a textbook broadside shot. I took a moment to calm my breathing and get myself steady. At about 50 yards I put my crosshairs right behind that shoulder and fired. I could tell it was a good hit, as when he started running he was obviously in bad shape, but I was determined not to lose him, so I kept right on shooting. I emptied my 30-30 rifle at him and he collapsed less than twenty yards into the woods.
At this point I was literally jumping for joy. Not only was this the first buck I had ever shot, it was the first buck I had ever seen while hunting period, and I had just nailed him! And he turned out to be a pretty great deer especially for a rookie. He weighed in at 191 pounds with 8 points, and one little sticker that they didn't count at the registration station. Needless to say, I'm pretty amped about the whole thing.
Here are some pics.
Looking forward to some steaks and sausages in the near future.
