Yesterday was the last day of rifle season here. I got out at 1st light and watched over an empty cut block that I have seen lots of does in throughout the season. No deer were moving out in the open this morning so I circled out of the bushline. It had snowed a bit the night before so I went looking for tracks. I found some tracks heading down a game trail. They were small, and the wind was blowing the same direction as the tracks. I decided to slowly head up the game trail and hope a buck would be following the tracks looking for the doe. After about a kilometer of creeping through the bush I heard a brach snap. About 60 yards away I see a buck headed down the trail right towards me. He comes out from behind some trees at 30 yards, I'm braced against a sapling and squeeze the trigger. He runs down a steep hill and starts cart wheeling, only stopping when he hits a tree. I watch him through binoculars for a few minutes and decide it's safe to go sliding down the hill to get to him.
After a few pictures, I get him broken down and ready for the pack out. The 2-300 yards up the hill was leg burning, then a relatively flat packout back to the truck.



After a few pictures, I get him broken down and ready for the pack out. The 2-300 yards up the hill was leg burning, then a relatively flat packout back to the truck.


