My deer story...

I don't really post here often, but I stop by most of the time. So, I figured I would share my deer story with you guys.

I grew up fishing, so I never hunted as a child. I was invited a few years back to go with a friend, and never saw anything. But, I decided that I would like to give it another go this year. I have a friend who has a few acres behind his house that has a few stands on it, and he gave me the green light to hunt it as often as I would like. I want to get my first deer.

I went out Friday (12/14) morning, and saw nothing. So, I decided to go back that evening for a few hours, as we had been seeing a few doe on camera at the feeder before dark. I'm in a box stand with a feeder about 70 yards in front of me and I'm in the middle of a 30 foot by 240 yard cut lane. Also, I'm hunting with my Father's old lever action Marlin 30-30 with a Bushnell Sportview scope on it. He got it when he graduated high school in the 70's! I hadn't shot the rifle since I was last invited a few years ago, and I assumed it was fine.

After an hour or so, out walks a small doe. I was watching it when something in the back caught my eye. As I looked through the scope, I gazed my eyes upon an 8 point buck. He was standing so still as he watched the small doe approach the feeder. After what felt like 30 min of him staring at the doe, and the box stand, he finally started to come closer. My heart was pounding, as I felt like i was about to finally pull the trigger on my first deer. He walked forward a little more, and he gave me the broadside shot I wanted. The rifle was rested on the window on the stand, and I calmed myself down. Took a deep breath, and put the scope right on him, and pulled the trigger. I was expecting it to be like the videos I have been watching, and he would just fall down or run away, but he stood still, as if nothing had happened. I was so confused. So, I racked another round in, and re-focused myself. My 2nd shot went off, and the buck remained still. I racked the 3rd round in, and decided to aim a little higher. I pulled the trigger, and he is still standing, completely motionless. In my pocket, I had 2 extra rounds, so I loaded both of them in. I thought to myself that this scope is F'ed, so I was gonna look through the iron sights. This deer is about 140 yards away (I found that out later), so it was tough to see him well. Lined it up, and pulled the trigger. He's still chilling! My 5th and final shot, I decided to use to the scope, but I was going to aim at the top of his back. I pull the trigger, and he's still there. I have found a deaf deer.

I laughed to myself out loud, and called my friend who let me hunt there. Told him in a normal volume voice what had happened, and that I was still staring at the 8 point buck right now. He called his neighbor, and told me to get out of the stand, and meet him at the edge of the woods to get his rifle! So, I get down and walk that way quietly and slowly, not that sounds matters to this deer. I meet a guy I have never seen before, and he hands me a loaded rifle and says that shes ready to go, just take it off of safety. So, I walk back down to the stand, and the god dang deer is still there! I decided to rest the rifle up against the box stand to steady myself, and when I do that, the buck takes off and hes running to the back of the lane. I lay down on the ground and get into a prone position, as he gets to the back, he gives me one more broadside shot. I was moving all around trying to steady myself, and pulled the trigger. I missed, and the buck finally ran away.

I know this was long, but the first time I shot at a deer, I fired 6 times! No shame in my game, but I am ready to get back out there this weekend, now that my ears have recovered from 6 rifle shots!

I bought a Tikka T3X in .308, and I put a Vortex scope on it. She is being sighted in today! lol

Edit : After the phone call, I had time to snap a pic of him sitting there.