I'm a first time deer hunter in my 40's. Only other experience was one day last Fall duck hunting. I got lucky and met a great neighbour (and now good friend) who volunteered to show me the ropes.
Saturday was the last day of deer season in Ontario, WMU 49. We were up near Magnettewan (half way between Parry Sound and Algonquin Park), and the day was coming to an end. My fourth day hunting hunting deer, and no luck. Hadn't even seen a deer! Plenty of footprints, and my neighbour John got himself a nice 4x4 buck that morning. His 20 years of hunting and knowing the terrain like the back of his hand helped!
We did one last pass through a promising spot with one dogger and two of us waiting and watching when I looked down the hill about 50 yards into a beaver pond and there were two does trying to get as far away from our dogger as possible. They were confused as the hills and water created some unusual echos. They hadn't seen me so I got ready by using a sapling to steady my aim. They decided to cross the beaver pond on the damn and the first one stopped momentarily to listen.
BANG.
My 8x57 170g slug tore through her from left to right. She did a little jump and flashed forward to clear the damn, with the smaller doe in tow. She went into the trees and fell after about 20 m. I had hit the heart and what looked like the liver. I'm glad she didn't suffer long.
I'm told she's a large doe, 200+ lbs, and perhaps 5 - 7 years old. Of course, it was about 3 km through the brush to get her back to the truck. Too bad my buddy had already left with his ATV! We took turns, 2 at a time pulling her. I'm still sore.
She's off to the butcher and it's time I learned some venison recipes.
I'm hooked on hunting now and told my wife this was not just a one time thing. The scenery, the camraderie and the way the hunt drives all other worries from my mind make it a definite must.
It was also nice to prove myself to my hunting companions, all long term and experienced hunters. I didn't freeze up or otherwise get too excited when the time came to make the shot. I was cool as ice. Perhaps I was just tired!
I can't wait to share hunting with my sons when they are older. Unfortunately, it wasn't something I had a chance to do with my Dad before he passed away.
Saturday was the last day of deer season in Ontario, WMU 49. We were up near Magnettewan (half way between Parry Sound and Algonquin Park), and the day was coming to an end. My fourth day hunting hunting deer, and no luck. Hadn't even seen a deer! Plenty of footprints, and my neighbour John got himself a nice 4x4 buck that morning. His 20 years of hunting and knowing the terrain like the back of his hand helped!
We did one last pass through a promising spot with one dogger and two of us waiting and watching when I looked down the hill about 50 yards into a beaver pond and there were two does trying to get as far away from our dogger as possible. They were confused as the hills and water created some unusual echos. They hadn't seen me so I got ready by using a sapling to steady my aim. They decided to cross the beaver pond on the damn and the first one stopped momentarily to listen.
BANG.
My 8x57 170g slug tore through her from left to right. She did a little jump and flashed forward to clear the damn, with the smaller doe in tow. She went into the trees and fell after about 20 m. I had hit the heart and what looked like the liver. I'm glad she didn't suffer long.
I'm told she's a large doe, 200+ lbs, and perhaps 5 - 7 years old. Of course, it was about 3 km through the brush to get her back to the truck. Too bad my buddy had already left with his ATV! We took turns, 2 at a time pulling her. I'm still sore.
She's off to the butcher and it's time I learned some venison recipes.
I'm hooked on hunting now and told my wife this was not just a one time thing. The scenery, the camraderie and the way the hunt drives all other worries from my mind make it a definite must.
It was also nice to prove myself to my hunting companions, all long term and experienced hunters. I didn't freeze up or otherwise get too excited when the time came to make the shot. I was cool as ice. Perhaps I was just tired!
I can't wait to share hunting with my sons when they are older. Unfortunately, it wasn't something I had a chance to do with my Dad before he passed away.
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