As good as Jim's tacos were I really didn't eat much and scarfed down what I did eat in a matter of minutes. I told my story several times. Curt's response was one of the most reassuring. More on that from him later.
I barely put my plate away and was finishing up my glass of sweet tea when Robert said " You Ready". It was all I could do not to shout "Hell Yeah !" But i just nodded my head yes.
Skyler came along with us and another hunter. OK, so i have to admit. I cant remember who else was there. Thats bad but i think my mind was somewhere else.
We piled into the truck and made our way to the stand site. Upon arrival I asked Robert if he wanted me to show him where and how it all went down. We walked to the spot the deer was standing and then i walked him over to show him the two half's of the arrow that i left in place.
We talked a little and then he went and took Taz out of the dog box. Robert has a GPS dog tracking collar with a hand held receiver. He synchronizes the collar to the hand receiver and puts the collar on Taz. He then keeps Taz on a lead and walks him to the area where i shot the buck and then over to the two pieces of arrow on the ground.
He is talking to Taz, i seem to remember his words as "DEAD" ...."DEAD"....... and lets him off the lead. Now Taz comes by his name honestly. He takes off running. Interestingly he runs directly in the path I described the buck taking.
Simultaneously Roberts second dog, still in the dog box on the truck, is howling and carrying on. Robert is watching the receiver and is talking out loud. " Oh i like to see that !" he says. Taz runs a straight line and then a little jog to the left and a straight line again. He says, " its just like you described!"
Back to Roberts second dog.....she is howling up a storm. We are about 80 yards from her and she doesn't like to be alone. Robert asks Skyler to go back and stand with the truck to quiet the other dog. Man, i am feeling bad for Skyler, its like he has been left out. After about 30 seconds more, Robert says he is going to go follow up Taz on his own, alone. What da ??? Without me....you mean i have to stay back too. Maaaaaann !!! I am kicking the ground like a scolded kid.
Well, by now i understand Robert and his dog a lot more. The idea is to not pressure Taz. Just Robert following Taz is much less pressure on Taz. I walk back to the truck following Skyler and wait.
And Wait.... and wait... wait a little longer. Really its only been 3 or 4 minutes. But they were long minutes. I hear Robert give a Cowboy style holler. I can tell by the tone its a good thing. Its positive. My face flushes and my heart starts thumping again. I say to Skyler "thats it, he has found the deer " and under my breath i whisper "i hope".
We both take off at a fast walk and along the walk Robert shouts out again. following his voice we go through some big woods and then veer left into so thick cedars, then into an open area with lots of prickly pear cactus. Thats where we meet up with Robert. He is reciting over and over..."Now i haven't touched your deer...he's right up this way...don't touch Taz, i will pull him off and you can go to him". I am not saying much... that I can remember. i have to low crawl through some more tangled cedars and then my light comes upon Taz and my deer. I cant really make out much at the time. Robert is pulling Taz off of the deer and still saying..." Now i haven't touched your deer !"
There is a lot of rational behind one of Roberts comments. We see eye to eye on this topic. He says..."that deer has spent its entire life never being touched by man...i feel as though the first person to touch him should be the man who has taken his life !"
This a statement that will stay strong in my memory !
When my light finally illuminates the Buck he is exactly as I remembered.
A flood of emotions are about to erupt. I am speechless. Many will not believe that. Those that know I like to talk.
I was given this hunt...by a very generous man, to take Chris Surtees's spot. I have killed a doe and a buck with Chris's Randy Morin Hi-Breed. I have meet, bonded and made friends with new TradGang members. Members who have shared memories of Chris.
Thank goodness Skyler remembered to bring his camera on the recovery........ Thanks Sky....you da man !
Topic: Solana Ranch -What a ride into the New Year (Read 74929 times)
