Monday, November 28, 2011

Oh Deer!

Monday was opening day for deer season in Pennsylvania.  As always, Diana, Isaac, and Mr. Lime were in the woods looking to put meat in the freezer for the year.  Diana has had an amazing record from the first year she went hunting at age 13.  Her first year out she bagged an 8 point buck in the first two hours of opening day.  Every year but one since then she has gotten a deer first thing in the morning on opening day.  The one year she did not, she had a shot but passed it because the deer was heading toward Isaac and it was his first year out.  She wanted him to have the opportunity to take the shot.  She has had well-seasoned lifelong hunters praise her prowess and bow in admiration.

This year was different.

She didn't even see a deer until late in the afternoon.  She says it was between 100-150 yards away and she saw the butt first.  In her words, "It was a deer ass as big as a cow's!  It was the size of Jamaica!"  She waited for it to turn so she could get a chest shot and was rewarded with seeing it had a rack every bit as impressive as its rear.  She took a shot and saw the buck drop.

Then it got up and ran.

Moments later it appeared behind her.  She took another shot and watched the buck flail around.  Then it walked under her stand.  It was driven out.  She shot it a third time and it dropped like a stone.  She waited a few minutes and as she began to walk up to it the thing popped up and ran off into a deep thicket and through a swamp through a private yard, across a road, into the next thicket, and over a hill.  She and Mr. Lime tracked it until dark and never found it.

The freezer remains empty and the huntress is bemoaning the one that got away...as she has a taste of how frustrating a process hunting can be.

8 comments:

Craig said...

I've never hunted, but several of our friends do. A couple of 'em don't even like venison, so we usually have an ample supply in our freezer.

Sounds like a frustrating time for Diana the Huntress. As they say, sometimes you get the [deer], and sometimes the [deer] gets you. . .

Chickadee said...

Did the deer have a bullet proof vest on? Good grief!

Dave said...

Clever girl Diana. A pity that one got away - Dave

Bijoux said...

We usually have a few deer in our backyard at any given time. Close enough to pet.

But we're city folks and don't eat venison or have big freezers or rifles! Ironic,huh?

Craver Vii said...

Too bad it got away. I hope she finds a better reward on her next hunting experience.

Anonymous said...

score one for bambi...

Commander Zaius said...

Buddy of mine gave me a nice chunk of venison sausage last month from a deer he killed. Weekend family breakfasts have been especially good since then.

Jocelyn said...

Wow, to track it and not find it...bummer all around. Perhaps some of your neighbors will be eating well this winter?