I was still too young to shoot a rifle, probably about 7 years old, so I was hunting with my Pop! It was a COLD January day...bone-chillin'cold! It was a definitely a 3 Socker! Back then we didn't have all the great hunting gear they have nowadays...we got by on a regular ol'pair of rubber boots with 3 pairs of socks on a cold day! We doubled up with our white-cotton thermal underwear and a flannel shirt. No camo back then..this was 1974 ...long before camouflage hunting gear, we wore the thickest, warmest, red, plaid wool coat! This was one of those days. We had already hunted the morning still hunt where we had seen a bunch of deer...on the neighbors property! We were sitting in a box-stand on a huge Pipeline which cut through the entire hunting lease. That Pipeline had to be 200 yards wide! fThe good news was that because of the Pipeline the state kept the brush mowed down year round which made a great place to have food plots for the deer. So, every 700 yards or so we planted great, big food plots all along that Pipeline. Unfortunately, it kept on going to the neighbors property and the stand we were in that morning ...all the deer were on the food plot ...700 yards past the fence! Which meant, of course, there most probably wasn't a hunter hunting that plot and the deer were having a good ol'time! Well, that evening my Dad decided to get back in that box with the hopes of there being a hunter in that neighbors box stand & maybe...just maybe ... the deer would venture down to our plot!
We ate lunch at the Camp took a nap (one of my favorite things about hunting was taking a nap with my Pop! Especially when it was cold out!) Then we started our trek back to that box.
We walked a long way from where the truck dropped us off through the tall, dead grass until we finally reached the box. My Dad had a little afternoon ritual of grabbing a 6 pack of Miller ponies (yeah, not a great idea when hunting!) so he let me carry his rifle in. Carrying the ol'.30-06 made me FEEL grown-up! I really loved that rifle. When we got got the box I shouldered the rifle so I could grab the ladder with both hand & started up the ladder. I got about 2 rungs from the top & slipped..the rifle slid off my shoulder & I almost dropped it on my Dad's head..but a tree branch stopped the fall...by the scope! My Dad almost lost his temper but realized quickly that it could've been much worse...so he just helped me up into the box.
Pop started nursing that 6 pack as the evening progressed along. It was still early in the hunt, we had only been in the box for about an hour when suddenly ... my Pop said "Be STILL!" In a whisper as he grabbed my arm...which meant....Be REALLY STILL because there was a deer coming out! Way across the Pipeline field there were some deer walking just inside the treelike, apparently there was a deer trail that zig-zagged for about 30 yards perpendicular to the field edge and I could see them walking from left to right for 30 yards then turn and still be inside the tree-line about 5 yards or so and walk right to left about 25 yards then out they came! Talk about an ADRENALINE RUSH! Not ONE....not TWO....but NINE DEER! ALL Doe's! All in single file line! I can remember it like it was yesterday! They moseyed on out into the food plot and began to graze on the rye-grass. One of the prettiest sights to see in the woods & to this day I still believe that GOD made deer....just for me!
After about 10 minutes something spooked them & all 9 does ran back through that same zig-zagged trail into the big woods! Just about 15 minutes passed...and here they come again...same pattern, same path...same thing....they stayed out a little longer this time but once again...I guessed now that it was the wind shifting, but who knows...anyway back they ran in the same way the came out!
It was getting colder now as the Sun began to set, Dad was finishing the last Miller Pony when this time I saw the deer coming first! I told my Pop "here they come again Dad!" We could see the silhouettes of the deer coming down the trail about 5 yards back in the tree-line but THIS TIME...the first FOUR Deer Strutted out ...Stomping their hooves...high stepping....proud LOOKING.....with HUGE RACKS on their heads!!! ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN! Behind the 4 massive Bucks came the 9 doe's...they all spread out across the food plot...The LEAD BUCK was the Biggest both in body & rack! He snorted ....looked like smoke came his nostrils....stomped his hooves as he marched to the center of the field! I saw Daddy put the rifle up on the edge of the box stand aiming towards the deer. He asked which one I thought was the Biggest? We agreed that the FIRST one out was "the MAN!" The massive buck stopped & turned broadside at about 120 yards away when Dad let the Remington Rip! The Deer SPUN around with his back-end bouncing off the ground & hauled off the field ..with all the other deer clearing the field with him...all heading straight back to where they came from...
My ears were ringing so bad from the noise of the blast bouncing inside the box that hurt them. I was only 7 years old...and yes...I cried ....as my ears continued to ring...but I asked..."did you get'em?"
Well...we looked....& looked....
This was one of the finest days in the deer woods...but....once again....that Elusive Whitetail..
Won again! No blood...NO deer! Best we could tell was when I dropped the gun hit the scope...
I gave Mr. BUCK....another chance!
Still...one of THE BEST Days
I've EVER had
in the DEER WOODS!
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