Gerald Martin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 8,643
So my doe tag has been burning a hole in my pocket through archery season and the first week of rifle. I've passed legal opportunities several time due to varies reasons, be it that I wasn't in the mood to process a deer that evening, or perhaps it was too close to the truck to feel like hunting, or some other arbitrary excuse that kept me from pulling the trigger.
This afternoon after hiking nearly four miles and 1/2 mile from the truck on the return trip I found the scenario that alleviated my reticence to pull the trigger. Multiple does, a long enough shot to make it challenging, but not too far to be risky and willing helpers to pack the meat had me nearly to the edge. When this doe stepped out, I took one look at her grizzled, white face, sway back, and long muzzle and made the decision to take her is she presented a perfect shot.
She was much more wary than the other two does and picked up my movements when I set up my pack for a prone shot. After a ten minute stare off, she turned broadside and one bullet through the lungs from my 30-06 at 325 yards put her down. I know it's not a long shot for some people, but it was on the longish end compared to most shots I take, so I was very happy to see the bullet impact almost exactly where I was aiming.
My initial accessement of her being an old-timer was confirmed by a look a her teeth. They were worn nearly to the gum line and I doubt she had too many winters ahead of her. She was in pretty good shape though with plenty of fat.
I was happy to have my hunting partners Tony and Raymond with me to get her back to the truck. I must say I'd much rather pack deer than elk. I spent a couple miserable, wet days with them last week. They both got bullets into this bull milliseconds apart right before dark. We lost the track after 200 yards that night and had to return in the morning to continue our search. Thankfully, the bull hadn't gone much further and we recovered it soon after taking up the track. However, since it had lain out all night, we had a frantic, backbreaking day of packing in all-day, steady rain to get it out to the truck and then a midnight marathon of butchering, grinding and wrapping to get the meat frozen before it soured.
I can now understand some of Randy11's rationale for not shooting elk. Deer are much more fun to get back to the truck than elk are.
This afternoon after hiking nearly four miles and 1/2 mile from the truck on the return trip I found the scenario that alleviated my reticence to pull the trigger. Multiple does, a long enough shot to make it challenging, but not too far to be risky and willing helpers to pack the meat had me nearly to the edge. When this doe stepped out, I took one look at her grizzled, white face, sway back, and long muzzle and made the decision to take her is she presented a perfect shot.
She was much more wary than the other two does and picked up my movements when I set up my pack for a prone shot. After a ten minute stare off, she turned broadside and one bullet through the lungs from my 30-06 at 325 yards put her down. I know it's not a long shot for some people, but it was on the longish end compared to most shots I take, so I was very happy to see the bullet impact almost exactly where I was aiming.
My initial accessement of her being an old-timer was confirmed by a look a her teeth. They were worn nearly to the gum line and I doubt she had too many winters ahead of her. She was in pretty good shape though with plenty of fat.
I was happy to have my hunting partners Tony and Raymond with me to get her back to the truck. I must say I'd much rather pack deer than elk. I spent a couple miserable, wet days with them last week. They both got bullets into this bull milliseconds apart right before dark. We lost the track after 200 yards that night and had to return in the morning to continue our search. Thankfully, the bull hadn't gone much further and we recovered it soon after taking up the track. However, since it had lain out all night, we had a frantic, backbreaking day of packing in all-day, steady rain to get it out to the truck and then a midnight marathon of butchering, grinding and wrapping to get the meat frozen before it soured.
I can now understand some of Randy11's rationale for not shooting elk. Deer are much more fun to get back to the truck than elk are.
