Went hunting After Church Sunday

[Frank H V]

#3420

Went hunting Sunday after Church. There is a bit of State land about 19 miles from here & it’s walk in only. Drove over there & walked in about 3/4 of a mile. Saw a Doe bedded about 300 yards away, but the ground was so dry decided not to try a stalk. I have an any 300 zone anterless Whitetail tag so I’d been good to go.
I saw a Slough that I wanted to check out anyway having never hunted this piece of land before it was kind of a scouting trip too.
I set up my stool under a couple Sage bushes & was watching part of the slough where I saw 3 trails crossing. Been there about an hour & felt the wind on the back of my neck. The wind indicator on my bow said I was in the wrong place for the wind too.
I picked up & crossed the slough, found another spot overlooking the slough with the wind in my face & still could see two of the 3 trails. I’d spooked two Whitetails on the way to my first hide so knew there was at least two deer in the area. I settled in, took a couple pictures, looked at my game regs again to be sure of what was legal in this area, & just generally was enjoying the evening.
Haddn’t seen another deer & it was getting towards 7pm, Legal shooting light was ended at 8pm so I knew if it were going to happen it’d be pretty quick. I could see two trails really well.
Well you guessed it a Whitetail doe snuck in from my right & behind me. I’d shielded myself between a large Cottonwood & a huge Sage bush. The sage was on my right & I’d have had to completely stand up & lean around the sage to get a shot. I still had the wind so now it’s wait & see what happens. Then she saw me, through that Sagebush she saw me. She wasn’t spooked, but nervous, stamped her feet a few times trying to decide what I was. I’d seen her first so was really still. My Super K was across my lap with an arrow nocked, a Wensell Woodsman at the tip. We waited! She fed a bit & looked up at odd times trying to get me to move I guess.
It seemed like forever, but my watch later said it’d been 7 minutes. If she settled down & crossed the Slough she’d give me a 15 yard quartering away shot. Nope she decided she didn’t like what she saw & after giving me a good final look over left at a trot. She didn’t blow, snort, or run, just kind of trotted off with her flag waving. I stayed another 10 minutes of so to see if anything else would develop. It didn’t so I gathered up my stuff & left.
On the way out I saw a Badger lopping off & still had 15 minutes of shooting light. Nope couldn’t close on him either. They are pretty fast at their lopping gait.
Later thinking over & asking a couple accomplished Whitetail hunters why I got busted, I decided it was because behind that cover I’d neglected to put on my face mask. It was in my pack too. Oh well live & learn.
Was it a dissappointing hunt? Not really exciting, informative, FUN, heck I’d been within 20 yards of one of Natures most cautious animals on her turf. I loved it & thank God he allows me to live here.
Hope I haven’t been too windy & maybe someone enjoyed my hunt. I did.
Thanks for reading.
Frank

[Mark Turton]

#20173

Hi Frank, not windy at all I’m looking forward to your next outing.

Mark.

[SteveMcD]

#20772

Nice story, Frank!

Good Hunting!

[strait-aero]

#21314

Good luck on your next outing, Frank! Sounds like the makings of memory filled season. 😀

Wayne

[karrhollow]

#22051

Frank H V wrote:
Hope I haven’t been too windy & maybe someone enjoyed my hunt. I did.
Thanks for reading.
Frank

man you gotta remember the folks you’re talking too. we eat this stuff up, especially back east where opening day for me is still a week away!

Phil

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