so saturday i decided to hunt an area that i had been seeing some does. the last time i was there, i had 2 nice does within 20 yards of me for 30 minutes but i couldn't shoot them. i had my slug gun and the doe days had already expired. this time, i figured i would bring my bow as my main weapon and my 10mm glock. i can legally hunt with the 10mm and can consistantly put em in a pie plate out to 60 yards or so. my thoughts were that i'd be covered if a doe comes by (with bow) and if a buck happens to come by but just out of bow range i could shoot it with the 10mm. i wanted to bring the slug gun, but this area is quite a walk, both long distance and difficult terrain so i wanted to travel as light as possible. just a bow and a pistol.
the area where i park is a roughed in driveway next to a large over grown logged area. well.. i get there, gear up, and walk about 60 yards from the truck to the woodline. i walk about 20 yards into the woods and boom, i jump a deer. i couldn't tell what it was until it popped out on the edge of the logged area. a buck, a nice one at that. it ran straight away from me, out in the open, and stopped about 80 yards away. he stood there for 6 or 7 seconds, broadside, looking around wondering what just walked in on him. now if i'd had my slug gun, i woulda had an 80 yard open shot on a standing still broadside buck. i wasn't going to attempt the shot with a pistol. the one time i don't bring the slugger...
pretty sure it was this guy. looked like a decent 8 pointer. i was about 100 yards from where this pic was taken when i jumped him.
i don't care what i have to do to lug all my stuff, but next time the slugger is coming with me!