Sometimes things just work out.
This year, I packed into the area I was deer hunting the day before the season. Spotted a buck I'd be happy with after a few hours of glassing, figured what ridge would put me within range in the morning, backed off a bit and slept (a little) in my bivy.
Woke up early, made some coffee, and got in position well before light. Ended up being about 100 yards farther from the cliffs he was feeding on than I planned, and was glad I spent a lot of time shooting farther ranges this summer. I was a bit concerned about a 10-15 mph wind, but it was entirely head on. Seemed to take forever and ever to get light, but finally I could start to pick things out on the hillside in question. Saw a few groups of does, but the first buck I found was the one from the night before. He had shifted a bit, and I had to adjust my position to allow for his new location.
As I was setting up the shot, the wind died to nothing. Dry fired once, then sent a live one his way. Got a confidence boosting THWACK for my trouble, and as I was settling for a second shot, he tumbled down the mountain and luckily got caught in some trees. Did a victory dance for myself, and then commenced the work.
Shot at first light, got to the truck at 9:00 pm, one mildly painful trip. I'm just glad it wasn't an elk.
Speaking of elk, I guess it's time to hunt them!
This year, I packed into the area I was deer hunting the day before the season. Spotted a buck I'd be happy with after a few hours of glassing, figured what ridge would put me within range in the morning, backed off a bit and slept (a little) in my bivy.
Woke up early, made some coffee, and got in position well before light. Ended up being about 100 yards farther from the cliffs he was feeding on than I planned, and was glad I spent a lot of time shooting farther ranges this summer. I was a bit concerned about a 10-15 mph wind, but it was entirely head on. Seemed to take forever and ever to get light, but finally I could start to pick things out on the hillside in question. Saw a few groups of does, but the first buck I found was the one from the night before. He had shifted a bit, and I had to adjust my position to allow for his new location.
As I was setting up the shot, the wind died to nothing. Dry fired once, then sent a live one his way. Got a confidence boosting THWACK for my trouble, and as I was settling for a second shot, he tumbled down the mountain and luckily got caught in some trees. Did a victory dance for myself, and then commenced the work.
Shot at first light, got to the truck at 9:00 pm, one mildly painful trip. I'm just glad it wasn't an elk.
Speaking of elk, I guess it's time to hunt them!
