deer2000

The morning started as usual, a loud call from Richard, “rise ‘n shine!” As normal we dressed, ate breakfast and savored the coffee. I was hunting whitetail on Richard Smith’s farm near Cole Camp, Missouri. Richard had invited myself and a couple other of his fellow Postal Service employees to hunt at his place.

This, the third day of the season found us hunting alone. Rain had fallen during the night. More rain than we had thought and Cole Camp creek was running high. Too high for the Toyota to handle. So, back to the house, for the Ford F250. This time we were able to ford (pardon the pun) the creek and start hunting. Due to the vehicle swap, we were late getting in the field. It was 6:50 am and the sun had come up a half hour ago. Richard was close to where he was going to hunt, watching the creek bottom. I, however, had about a half mile hike up a ridge, which was a power ling cut, to my spot at a saddle.

As I approached my destination, an eight point buck burst out of the saddle. He ran straight away from me, up the ridge for about 125 yards. I don’t shoot at flags, but I raised my Remington 742 in .30/06 and as often occurs he stopped. He turned to a perfect broadside and looked back toward me, now about 200-225 yards away. I squeezed the trigger as the horizontal crosshair touched his back. Bang! The buck dropped in his tracks and never moved.

My mouth was dry and my heart pounding. Oh my! There are does scattering! One had followed the buck and jumped over his body. Other does ran to my left and three to my right, out of the saddle towards the shelter of the trees. Those headed left made it to safety. The does headed right were still pretty much in the open. Swinging right on the ‘caboose’ doe, the rifle barked again. Wow! I had shot my first trophy scrub oak. As the top of the oak toppled over near the does, they kicked in the ‘afterburners’. Continuing my swing, with the scope leading on her nose, I increased the pressure on the trigger. Another report. The doe did a forward flip. The shot through the neck did its job well. Three shots in five to eight seconds. Two deer down and no tracking need. It wasn’t a usual morning after all. This is a hunt I will remember.

After finishing the cleaning chore, I started back with the doe. While resting from the drag, Richard approached. He well knew the old adage, “one shot-got ‘em, two shots-maybe, three shots-too bad.” He called out to me, “Missed, Huh?” From his position he was not able to see much below my waist. I waited. I was really going to enjoy this. Finally, he was close enough, it was time. I raised the head of the doe for him to see. Calmly, I replied, “No, I didn’t miss. I connected with each shot. The buck is over there.” I then pointed toward the buck, Richard stared at the buck for several seconds. Then it was time to show him my trophy scrub oak and ask; “How do I mount the scrub oak?”

Thanks Richard for; 1- being a great host, 2- excellent seven bean chili, 3- a fine buck and a tasty doe, 4- your help in getting the deer out, 5- a story well worth repeating, and 6- last but by no means least, being my good friend. Thanks again