Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

950.0. "FIRST DEER AFTER 17 YEARS" by HURON::DAY () Wed Apr 24 1991 16:09

	I have been meaning to put this here since hunting season.  Well
	here is my story of my first deer after 17 years of hunting.

				Dave




			First Deer After Seventeen Years

	Last year we moved into a new town.  I did not have to much time 
	to hunt, due to the fact we had just moved.  I checked the local maps 
	and found a large area with ridges and beaver bogs.  This year during 
	bird season I decided to scout it.  My first day out scouting I 
	spotted a deer running in front of me off into the brush.  The 
	following day my dad came up for a visit.  We drove around the 
	exterior of the area.  It was poring rain.  As we was leaving one 
	side street there in front of us were 2 small does eating grass on 
	the side of the road.  My dad stopped his engine and we sat there for 
	five minutes watching them until something spooked them.  I continued 
	to scout the area coming in from different directions all though 
	muzzle loading season.  

	I took some time off during mussle loading season to hunt with my
	dad.  All the deer seemed to of disappeared from the area we were 
	hunting though.  I decided to try the other side of the woods
	were we had seen the two deer eating grass.  My father and I had
	already hunted this area one afternoon and I had found quite a
	bit of sign around.

	On Friday of muzzle loading season I worked my way up though the 
	beaver bogs crossing several dams until I hit a logging road.  I 
	started walking up the road when I heard snap crack about 50 yards
	away on the other sided of the swamp.   There were three deer running 
	away from me.  I took a shot, I could not see if the one I was aiming
	at dropped through.   The smoke from the muzzle loader screened my 
	immediate view.  After the smoked cleared I saw what appeared to be a
	deer lying down on the far side of some bushes.  I reloaded the
	mussled loader and headed around the swamp towards the area were I 
	had shot.  No luck it was just a shadow.  I checked the area for over 
	45 minutes making figure eights then moving out a little further each 
	time and all I could find was tracts heading away.  No blood trail or 
	anything.  Only one chance with the muzzle loader and I missed.  

	Saturday I went into the area from the other side.  This looked to 
	be the best direction to enter from.  It was only about 1 mile to were
	I had seen the deer.  Every other way was further than that.  I took 
	a stand up on a little ridge over looking the area I had seen the 
	deer Friday.  I stayed there for about 1 hour then I left for the day.
	I only hunted the morning.  The only game I saw was a wild hen turkey.
	They are not in season.

	Sunday was a warm day.  To warm to scout effectively.  I took my
	ten year old daughter out in the afternoon to the area were I had
	seen the deer.  I sat there on a stand for about 30 minutes.  My 
	daughter was sitting down keeping a eye open facing in a direction
	away from me.  We did not see anything so we headed out.  

	Opening day for shotgun was the following Wednesday.  My oldest 
	brother was coming up to hunt.  I had told him about this area.  
	We had difficulty getting into the woods though.  Some hunter parked 
	right in the middle of the logging road so we could not get in that way.
	When we tried another way we found a a fallen tree across the road.  
	Anyway, we cut it out of the way.  This left us just a little 
	frustraded.  Finally, we got into the woods, but by this time it was 
	about 07:00AM.  It took me twenty minutes to hike to the area I wanted
	to hunt.  I went back and forth up the trail several times then headed
	to my stand.  The intend here was to spread my scent out.  I sat down 
	exactly were my daughter was Sunday.  I was there for a hour when
	nature called.  I moved away about 200 yards did my thing and came 
	back.  By now it was 08:35.  I was only there five minute when I 
	heard shecca shecca, shecca shecca in the leaves.  "Ah Ha", I said to 
	my self.  "That does not sound like a squirrel".  I brought up my 
	shotgun to the ready position.  Just then the deer came into my view 
	about 60 feet away.  I very gently pushed the safety off and aimed.  
	I waited for the deer to move just a few more steps further into a 
	small opening with no brush.  I observed I was shooting down at it 
	and there was nothing behind it but the ground.   I took a breath, 
	held it, took carefull aim and fired.  It dropped immediately.  I had 
	hit it in the back of it's neck.  It did not suffer as the slug broke 
	it's neck.

	What a feeling, after 17 years of hunting I finally harvested my first 
	deer.  I dressed the deer out and started the long pull though the 
	woods.  I did not get back to the truck until after 12:00 completely 
	warn out and very thirsty.  The deer was a 110 pound doe dressed out. 
	After I got it sealed I brought to down to work to show to all the 
	hunters there.  I used up two roles of film and 1/2 of a video tape.
	I wanted to insure I had a record.  It could be another 17 years for 
	all I know.

	This year though I had found were the deer go when the pressure was 
	on.  This was proven, a few minutes after I shot the deer two hunters 
	appeared.  They had just came though the swamp as I did the previous 
	Friday.  They must of push the deer into me.

	This is the first year I really spent time hunting with the knowledge
	of seventeen years of trying.  I spent a great deal of time to get my 
	deer.  I guess that is what is needed and some luck so you are at the 
	right place at the right time.  

	Now I am all done for the season.  I have to admit there is a let down.
	Ah Ha!  I think I will get a bow licence.  I do have a old 45 pound
	recurve.  Maybe I will get another one!  Besides, I must have a good
	excuse for my wife let me get back into the woods.

	Good luck and happy hunting.  

	No, I did not get another one with my bow.  This fall!

 Congrats! I also got my first deer last year (my second year hunting.)
It's a great feeling!

 The Doctah

    Wow, 17 years before a deer.  Congrats. I got my first deer 2 years
    ago, my second year of hunting.  Now after reading this, I shouldn't be
    upset if all I see is does everytime I go in the woods.  I'll just go
    at doe day.
    
    bob
    

    re: Dave's first deer.....
    
      Just out of curiosity, what state do you hunt in??? From your
    node name (HURON) I would say Michigan. 
    
      Kind of makes me ashamed of complaining about 5 bucks and 1 doe
    in my 14 years of hunting (actually, I didn't even hunt for 3 of 
    those 14 years). I guess it all depends on what you're used to....
    
    -Ron-

    
    	RE: 3.  I am in New Hampshire.  The deer was taken right here
    	is Merrimack about 5 air miles from MKO.  
    
    	I think when hunting a new area you do not get stuck in habits of 
    	hunting the same old place.  I think the deer learn this and even 
    	though there is a great deal of sign before the season they move 
    	off.  When hunting a new area though, you hunt just by the sign.  
        If you are the only hunter to fine them, then you stand a 
    	better chance to get your deer.  This is what happened this year,
    	I hunted by the sign instead of by the a place that looks good. 
    
    	I just went out into the area I got my deer this weekend to do
    	a little fishing.  Found a beaver pond full of pickeral.  Caught
    	2 had about 10 hits.  Not to mention the big one that got away.   
    
    	Not to many people would mention that it had been 17 years.  I
    	ran into a hunter in the hardware store this winter and it had
    	been 24 years for him.
    
    	My brother is usually the one to get his deer.  I guess after
    	17 years my time came due.   Of course it helps if you live 
    	just a few mile from a good hunting spot.
    
    
    					Dave
    
    					Dave

    Dave,
    
      In my previous note (reply .3) I mentioned that there were three 
    years that I didn't hunt.  The reason I didn't hunt was I lived out
    of state for those 3 years, and the state I lived in was NH. I would
    like to have gotten into hunting in NH, but never got around to it.
    I lived in the Portsmouth area for those 3 years, and it never im-
    pressed me as a good hunting area.  Too bad I wasn't working for DEC
    at the time, and had access to this notesfile. It sure would have 
    been a big help.....
    
      Anyways, congrats on your deer. Hope for a repeat performance for
    this year.
    
    -Ron-

    Dear Dave,
    Congratulations on your first deer!
    I am not replying from downeast however I must bring to your attention
    the unfortunate state of affairs here in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
    The Department of Fish & Game has just brought the limit of deer to
    eight (count ~em eight) deer per year!  They want us to shoot two
    (count `em two) per day in an effort to sustain the food supply for us
    hominids.  In other words, we have a veritable plethora of hooved
    herbivores in our midst.  I believe that you would find a lot ofjoy in
    trading a bear (I gather they are a nuisance up your way)  for a deer
    hunt in our neck of the woods.  We might even go so far as to trade for
    salmon, trout, or...if you drive a hard bargain, a moose.
    If you are interested in trading bear or moose for deer, please reply.
    Signed,  Overrun by Hooved Herbivores.