Tennessee Lead
Well-Known Member
What a whirl wind this week has been with Mom being sick and finding her fallen with seizures 2 ambulance rides to the hospital while I was supposed to be on Rutcation. Very little sleep at night and only getting to have quick morning hunts before going to see Mom.
Yesterday morning I got up late from the night before but headed out with Daddy who had already gone ahead of me. He was able to use his 2 muzzleloader doe tags before they were lost for the year.
I had hunted every day of muzzleloader season but 4 and have only seen 2 deer total.
Low deer density public land is lack luster in action.
This morning just after Daylight the hospital called going to Discharged Mom again. I'm going to climb down to get her but fortunately my wife stepped up and offered to help out so I could hunt. [emoji3590]
Another day of no deer activity until 9:00 am I caught a doe crossing the ridge. I planned to kill her for the freezer as my opportunities are dwindling. I noticed she had a fawn with her so that altered my plan.
I'm looking for another deer in tow and caught a glimpse of antler popping over the ridge and it appeared to be a good buck as I only seen his left side.
I had a split second to make my decision before he disappeared into the thick stuff.
I stopped him around 60 yards on a hard 1/4 away shot.
Couldn't see his rack and slipped a bullet into the back of his rib cage.
He ran off humped up which concerned me but I'm almost positive I heard him fall in the bottom.
I got down and found good blood and it dried up going over the hill.
Wait for Dad and begin trailing by disturbed leaves and a few splattered blood drops.
When we reached the bottom blood is pouring again for 40 yards until it ends with him piled up.
Lots and lots of shrinkage mixed emotions of relief from no bucks in 3 years and with some disappointment of killing a buck that I would have passed over given time to see him clearly.
However I killed him , I'm proud of him and in hindsight I have no regrets.
He got me excited and I'm grateful for the time spent with Dad and that experience to bring some normality to a super stressful week .
Upon skinning him we discovered the reason for little blood on the downhill run. No exit hole. The 165 grain Hornady Interlock from my .300 wsm lodged in the off shoulder.
Public ground 7 point 118 pounds.
Pictures of my Rifle opener Buck, recovered bullet and Dads daily double with muzzleloader Does from Friday.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yesterday morning I got up late from the night before but headed out with Daddy who had already gone ahead of me. He was able to use his 2 muzzleloader doe tags before they were lost for the year.
I had hunted every day of muzzleloader season but 4 and have only seen 2 deer total.
Low deer density public land is lack luster in action.
This morning just after Daylight the hospital called going to Discharged Mom again. I'm going to climb down to get her but fortunately my wife stepped up and offered to help out so I could hunt. [emoji3590]
Another day of no deer activity until 9:00 am I caught a doe crossing the ridge. I planned to kill her for the freezer as my opportunities are dwindling. I noticed she had a fawn with her so that altered my plan.
I'm looking for another deer in tow and caught a glimpse of antler popping over the ridge and it appeared to be a good buck as I only seen his left side.
I had a split second to make my decision before he disappeared into the thick stuff.
I stopped him around 60 yards on a hard 1/4 away shot.
Couldn't see his rack and slipped a bullet into the back of his rib cage.
He ran off humped up which concerned me but I'm almost positive I heard him fall in the bottom.
I got down and found good blood and it dried up going over the hill.
Wait for Dad and begin trailing by disturbed leaves and a few splattered blood drops.
When we reached the bottom blood is pouring again for 40 yards until it ends with him piled up.
Lots and lots of shrinkage mixed emotions of relief from no bucks in 3 years and with some disappointment of killing a buck that I would have passed over given time to see him clearly.
However I killed him , I'm proud of him and in hindsight I have no regrets.
He got me excited and I'm grateful for the time spent with Dad and that experience to bring some normality to a super stressful week .
Upon skinning him we discovered the reason for little blood on the downhill run. No exit hole. The 165 grain Hornady Interlock from my .300 wsm lodged in the off shoulder.
Public ground 7 point 118 pounds.
Pictures of my Rifle opener Buck, recovered bullet and Dads daily double with muzzleloader Does from Friday.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
