Is that a deer?
I’d seen gray and charcoal stumps and logs all morning, through the rain, fog, and forest. I backed up a step and thought the short upright part might be a neck, so I watched. An ear flicked! But antlers? I watched longer. The head turned away and there were antlers! Spike or what? Fourth day of the general season but my first time out. Couldn’t line up anyone to come along, but I was too eager to wait, so I went alone. This little buck was bedded about 50 yards off the logging road, in timber and brush, while it rained off and on all morning, hard or light. He was watching downhill or to his right. Not at all in my direction. When he’d looked away, I’d slowly dropped to my knee to be able quickly to shoot. I quietly laid down my rifle, to glass him. He had small forks. He would have been legal last year, and certainly was under this year’s “any visible antler” rule. These antlers were not very high above his ears and he didn’t seem as large bodied as I was hoping. But- time for true confessions- I have never hunted alone and started thinking that all the fun of gutting him and getting him to my rig over a mile away by myself was more fun than one old guy deserved to horde. So I watched him until the foot I was sitting on started to ache. As I rose I clanked something and he riveted his attention my direction. Then he got up and I heard a second one that then came across his spot and they both trotted off, verifying their black-tails.
For me, this was thrilling. I have hunted blacktail for only 5 seasons, the first three with my stepson, ,last two with others. This was sort of a prove it to myself that I could do it. So now I have a few more weeks of season and I hope for a little larger animal and a buddy to share the time. I’ve been smiling all day!
