Here is an excerpt from the story on my web site, which I will post later this AM, if you'd like to read the lead in and wrap-up - LOL
On this particular Birthday, as I got my gear ready and across the now familiar roadside ditch, I thought about "my day". It had been busy but my wife and I had been sure to give me enough time to get my "nappie-poo" and still get off for the base and my hunt in plenty of time. So, why was I running a little late - again? Oh yeah, I had stopped at the check-in station to chat with another bow hunter. I'm always a sucker for a chance to yak up traditional bows, shooting, and hunting. Oh well, that was a pleasurable part of my day too. I resisted the urge to hurry, as it was hot enough to sweat even without adding that. I wound up in my tree and settled into my climber, with all my "ducks in a row", a little before five anyway so it all worked out well. I sat and enjoyed the "being there" - in the quiet - wait! It's six PM and I haven't seen anything but Doves. That's late for no sightings, for me, during this year full of those blessed favors. I gave my Primos Li'l Can another run of bleats and thought to myself, "OK folks, any time now, sunset's only about a half hour away." At ten after six I was contemplating another round. Ah, a sound behind me arrested my thoughts - finally. I eased my head around a little to check out whether it was a deer, some other critter, or just wishful thinking. I picked out the movement of a small deer through the thick bushes behind me, but headed on a angle that would bring it out on the road too far away. Carefully, I reached for the bleat can and sounded it three short times. I was rewarded by an immediate change in direction of the wood sprite, that put it on course more towards my small openings. I rose to my feet, slowly and got set. Thinking to myself that unless this was one of those Spikes, and it seemed to small to be, and it gave me a shot, I was going to take the chance, even if it was the button buck. At this time, I reasoned, it might be my only chance at a Birthday Deer. Thank you, Lord, and please help me be right. While those thoughts played through my mind the small deer picked its way cautiously towards my stand and the woods road in front of me. How I love those times of hunts and sightings. I could tell now it was a small doe and she stepped out into the road and almost at the same time angled herself broadside to me. I started my draw, having already committed my mind set. She turned straight away at about half draw but right back before I hit anchor. It was like time froze at that moment in my day - then the arrow was hitting the gift. She jumped, and lit running, straight away from me into the shroud of bushes on the other side of the road. I could hear her running a little but then it was very quiet again - too quiet it seemed. My image of the hit placed it a little further back than I would have liked but I felt good about the angle and felt she would not go far. As I sank back into the welcome relaxation of my Ol' Man hammock style seat, I murmured, "Thank you, Lord, for that hit." It almost startled me in the quiet of the woods. I realized I had at some point affixed another arrow to the string and was in waiting mode again. I decided that was a good idea in any case, and we are allowed two harvests a day. Just as sundown approached two more deer worked behind me on the same path that mine had originally been on. They did not respond to my bleats and crossed the road too far away, what with the cover between us. I was pretty sure they were the brother and sister team I had seen often this great year. At quarter of seven I decided I had waited long enough and as long as I could, at any rate. Besides the rubber feeling in my knees had dissipated by then - LOL. I prepared to "unclimb" my tree.
Topic: Birthday Doe (Read 7615 times)
