Shedrock hunts whitetails

[Shedrock]

This is a short story of a long drive and a short hunt.

I was so close several times to a few nice, big, mature mule deer bucks this season, but I just could not get it done. Swirling winds and other bucks getting in the way, caused me yet again to still have my general tag in my pocket.

Our deer seasons have been over for a few weeks now, except for the 25 lucky folks that drew a late season whitetail tag down here.

I needed the meat, and with my general tag I could head up to northern WY and hunt whitetails. So, I made a phone call to a good friend....

[elkken]

[Shedrock]

and he say's to come on up.

I made plans for the 10th-12th. I had the 12th off work for Veterans Day. I could hunt a 3 day weekend. Well worth it for a 4 hour drive.

Well, Saturday comes and it's snowing pretty good here, and a blizzard up north where I was heading. I decided to stay home Saturday, not wanting to travel on bad roads. Good call.

[Shedrock]

Sunday morning I left the house at 8:00 AM. Roads were clear up until just past Casper. Then, they were bad.    Cars and trucks, and horse trailers in the barrow pit. Some just stuck, others rolled to a total loss.

I kept my truck going slow with a white knuckle grip on the steering wheel. I really don't want to kill myself, or wreck my Toyota truck over some whitetail now do I?      :D

[Shedrock]

5 1/2 hours later, I show up at my buddy's little acreage. We talk and catch up on old times for a bit. Then he says that I better get to town and buy a doe tag. Too many deer here, you need to shoot an extra doe as well as filling your general tag.

I drive back to town and buy a doe tag. I then put my wool clothing on. Temps in the teens, heading down to single digits. I need to be warm in the blind.

In a sitting position, I shoot 4 arrows into the practice butt at 15 yards. All were in a softball size group. I feel good, and ready.

I head to the blind. It is ten until three. I got the shooting chair positioned where I want it for a shot. Pronghorn leaning against the blind, in easy reach. A razor sharp VPA mounted on a Douglas Fir shaft ready as well.

3:00 comes quick. Then I see antlers coming.

[Shedrock]

I knew I should have practiced out of a blind prior to this hunt. I, along with a few other guys I know, tend to shoot high out of that hole in the blind. I don't know if stuff seems farther away to our brains or what?

 

[DEATHMASTER]

[Shedrock]

Anyway, right down the trail, here comes a nice buck. 5X6, counting the split brow, fairly tall, and heavy. 145"ish. I am calm. I come to full draw, but have to let up. The buck quarters toward me, head down, eating leaves that have fallen on the fresh snow, at 15 yards. He then turns broadside, and looking the other way!! I come back to full draw, pick a spot,(I think), and let the arrow go. It flies harmlessly over the bucks back. The buck runs only out to 20 yards, but with brush hiding his vitals. Nothing I can do. Then the buck heads out towards the pasture, gone, out of my life. I was sick.

[Shedrock]

I hear a gun shot a couple minutes later in the direction the buck went. I'm sure he took a bullet. I am still ticked at myself, but, I did have the chance at him.

Suddenly, here comes another deer down the trail. It's a spike. 15 yards again, and I tell myself to pick a spot!

I shoot at the broadside spike, and he falls instantly. Darn! Right in the spine! Another high shot. (I should have practiced from a blind)

I put one more in his chest for a quick kill, then drug him out of there. My buddy seen it happen. He said get right back in the blind. I did.

[centaur]

Tracy,
This was the weekend that I wimped out. Too cold for this old guy! Looking forward to the rest of the story; were you hunting around Buffalo?

[Shedrock]

10 minutes later, a small 4X4 shows up, then some does and fawns. One old doe was a real mean one. She kept beating up all the other fawns around. I told myself that I wanted to shoot her if she gave me the chance. She finally did at 10 yards, and took a VPA. The trail was a short 50 yards.

[Shedrock]

Originally posted by centaur:
Tracy,
This was the weekend that I wimped out. Too cold for this old guy! Looking forward to the rest of the story; were you hunting around Buffalo?

I was near Bighorn, and yes it was a bit chilly. Single digits at late afternoon.

[Shedrock]

No big bucks killed, but I am so happy to have some deer in my freezer. This was a fun hunt, and by the way, I have never killed a spike before! Cool! He will make a nice European mount!  

[knobby]

Congratulations on the whitetails. You'll be eating well this winter, that's for sure. Thanks for the story.

[ti-guy]

[gregg dudley]

     

Double thumbs up for meat in the freezer!  Good deal!

[snag]

Well worth the trip! Sounds like they will fare well in the back of the truck as cold as it is.

[AWPForester]

Gongrats.  Good meat for thr freezer and good memories with a buddy.  God Bless

[Over&Under]

Way to go Tracy!

[steadman]

You should have called! I'd a white knuckled it for some deer     with three teenaged boys and very few tags protein is at a premium around here.
Congrats bud!