Post by lockmaster on Feb 4, 2006 11:40:38 GMT -5
My "Rain Deer"
It was the last day of the muzzleloading season in Virginia, 2003. A chilly, damp day with a cold drizzle of rain. In a last attempt at harvesting a buck I reluctanly headed out about 4:00 PM and found refuge under a large pine in a stand of trees near a tangled thicket about 50 yards from an old field. As larger drops of rain began to fall, and rain began to pour down through my "natural" shelter about 4:30 PM I decided to head in. As I began to walk back, the rain became heaver, with very large drops of rain. Not wanting to get any more "drenched", I took refuge in the back an old junk car near the edge of the field to wait for the rain to ease up. I had leaned my blackpowder rifle up against the old ragged seat on my left. After about 5-7 minutes I caught movement through te rain and fog to my right in the stand of trees about 75 yard from the thicket. Here he came, out of the thicket moving slowly through the pouring rain and the fog at about 40-45 yards stopping occasionaly to sniff the air. I reached slowly and deliberately to my left until I felt the cold steel of my rifle while still watching the buck. I carefully moved the rifle in to position for a shot. Just then he stopped, broadside at about 40 yards. I placed the bead of the open sights on the target and squeezed the trigger. Through the initial thin cloud of white smoke, I saw his back arch up and then a thicker cloud of white smoke. As I fanned away the smoke, I no longer saw the buck. Walking up to where he was, I saw two deep gouges in the ground where his back feet would have been and an enormous amount of blood. Now oblivious to all the rain, I began to follow the trail through the stand of trees for about 15 yards, then another 10 yards to the field. As I glanced down towards the field through the heavy rain and fog, I saw antlers prodruding up throught the tall grass about 20 yards out in the field. He field dressed at 212 pounds, with 9 points. It was now 4:50 PM
It was the last day of the muzzleloading season in Virginia, 2003. A chilly, damp day with a cold drizzle of rain. In a last attempt at harvesting a buck I reluctanly headed out about 4:00 PM and found refuge under a large pine in a stand of trees near a tangled thicket about 50 yards from an old field. As larger drops of rain began to fall, and rain began to pour down through my "natural" shelter about 4:30 PM I decided to head in. As I began to walk back, the rain became heaver, with very large drops of rain. Not wanting to get any more "drenched", I took refuge in the back an old junk car near the edge of the field to wait for the rain to ease up. I had leaned my blackpowder rifle up against the old ragged seat on my left. After about 5-7 minutes I caught movement through te rain and fog to my right in the stand of trees about 75 yard from the thicket. Here he came, out of the thicket moving slowly through the pouring rain and the fog at about 40-45 yards stopping occasionaly to sniff the air. I reached slowly and deliberately to my left until I felt the cold steel of my rifle while still watching the buck. I carefully moved the rifle in to position for a shot. Just then he stopped, broadside at about 40 yards. I placed the bead of the open sights on the target and squeezed the trigger. Through the initial thin cloud of white smoke, I saw his back arch up and then a thicker cloud of white smoke. As I fanned away the smoke, I no longer saw the buck. Walking up to where he was, I saw two deep gouges in the ground where his back feet would have been and an enormous amount of blood. Now oblivious to all the rain, I began to follow the trail through the stand of trees for about 15 yards, then another 10 yards to the field. As I glanced down towards the field through the heavy rain and fog, I saw antlers prodruding up throught the tall grass about 20 yards out in the field. He field dressed at 212 pounds, with 9 points. It was now 4:50 PM
I don't know why, but the spread after mounting was 1/2" less. (22 1/2" at time of kill) 
As well as a great story
