So, as I was finishing up work yesterday, my boss sends me a text saying I will be off Wednesday (today)in trade for having to work this upcoming Saturday. Usually this would be met with excitement, but with the warm temps predicted for today (81) as opposed to the much cooler weather predicted for Saturday (60), I wasn't all that excited. Being he's a golfer and not a hunter, he can't understand my dismay. Anyhow, a day off is a day in the woods this time of year!
A heavy fog bank settled along the mountain ridge, where I live and hunt, last night and stayed all evening. It dampened the woods, most importantly, the leaves that are already on the ground, and I was able to sneak into my spot under low visibility fog and a soft, quiet forest floor...so far, perfect.
Once settled in at the base of a well-positioned poplar, I just started to soak in the woods as the sun tried to break through the dense fog and witness all the nuances and delicate play of light, foliage, and fog. Visibility was about out to 30 yards. After that it was hard to make certain things out.
After about 3 hours of watching squirrels do their morning acrobats, one of which when a squirrel almost jumped into my lap, I began to hear a different kind of rustling and it seemed to be getting closer. Out of the fog, and following the exact trail I used, appeared a nice mature doe and a smaller doe! Yes!!
As the lead doe became more visible, I slowly began to position myself. Putting all my focus on her while trying to control my breathing as my heart rate got closer to 200 bpm, I was completely unaware of the other 6 deer that were following her into my area! I'm surrounded by deer!
Listening to my quick breathing and feeling my heart beat in my throat, I'm just sure they can hear every beat as if it were a bass drum, but no...they are just meandering, eating, one squats to pee, but I am still focused on the lead doe. She quietly noses around the area, sniffing all the small saplings that an elusive buck has been marking, breaking, and scraping all season.
As she goes to one of the last marks...she stops in her tracks and looks right at me. She is locked onto something and can't quite figure out what this thing is. She commences with the typical head bobbing and the occasional foot stomp, but nothing so alarming that the other does even took notice.
At this point, I have had pressure on the string for several minutes and I know my arms are shaking a little, but that movement is hidden beneath my Asbell wool coat. She remains locked onto me, and is about 10 yards from me. One little sapling is all that is between us and it is splitting her right down the middle. She bobs here head a few more times and takes three steps towards me! She is now 6 steps from where I am sitting and right behind this sapling. I am trying to figure if it would even be possible to draw on her when all of a sudden...she simply turns a 180 and puts a larger bush between us. No snorting, no blowing, not even a raised tail. After about 30 seconds, she simply took a path out of the area in which no shot presented itself...and to beat all...the other 6 followed her lead...LoL...they got the best of me. I watched 7 deer leave that area and I couldn't put a shot on any of'em, but I loved it.
Now...I know some guys have taken deer with a straight on shot, but I know me. If I would have taken that shot, I would be posting a pic of the freshly killed sapling with an arrow piercing it right down the middle! Believe me.
So...no hero pic for this post, my apologies, but it's how my morning played out and I thanked God for it. I did, however, get rid of that sapling and open up a few more shooting lanes...just in case, cause I will be back there this evening!
Bill-
Topic: Great Morning in the Woods... (Read 574 times)
