On Monday, my son Eric was the only other hunter in camp with me. We might have been a tad late leaving for the stands.
In the first 30 minutes at the driveway stand, I had this buck walk out at 30 yards. I was skunked in the last two years, grandson Tommy was in town and I wanted him to see a buck, so I couldn't bring myself to pass this one.
He didn't make it out of the field.
After assessing "ground-shrinkage", he should probably have been given another year. But we were on the board. 8 points, 16" spread, 140 pounds field dressed. That's Eric and Tommy who assisted on the recovery. Joan took the photo.
Helping me string him up.
The weather was pleasant enough for a mid-day spin at the playset.
Monday evening hunt. I'm in pond stand and Eric in main field. These three does and two small bucks out in front of me.
These four does between Eric and me. Eric had a shooter buck move down the line of pines. He gave him one good broadside look but Eric didn't get the shot off.
Beautiful night. The does eventually noticed my buck hanging on the tractor over by the barn - they got spooked and ran toward Eric.
Sunset photos.
Eric's long term friend, Creigh, made it in after the hunt Monday night. He had to be on a flight Wednesday morning so he had one day to hunt.
Tuesday morning I went to the barn field. I had this buck prancing around in front of me for some time.
I didn't know how to direct him over to the other two guys.
Looked like he was heading that way. But no shots from anyone that morning.
Mid-day exercise.
Checking out the pond.
We need to work on his glassing skills.
Camera tour. And holiday greenery collection.
Starting the caping job on my buck.
Grandma's helper felt that the cake needed to be sampled for quality control purposes.
Evening hunt. Creigh's last chance. We don't charge extra for the wasps in the stands.
Does out first as always.
Creigh sees the shooter enter the field. He takes time to photograph it before shooting it.
Buck down in the field just to the left of the point. It turns out it was a spine shot and it took a finisher from first Creigh, then Tom before he was done.
He was a big bodied, mature looking buck. First deer for Creigh! Now about 12 hours from when he has to be on a flight out of Cincinnati. Check out the G-3.
Recovery - need the machine for this guy. 9 points, 180 pounds field dressed.
Creigh wanted to do it himself so he had a "hands in" learning experience.
20.5" outside spread.
That's a fine first buck. We got him gutted, hung and then had dinner (Joan did Thanksgiving turkey again).
After dinner we caped it.
Dwarfing my little buck.
Long time buddies. Sometimes serious schemers. Creigh got on the road after 10:00 for the two hour drive home so that he could get up and catch a plane. Made the most of a one day hunt.
Eric and I loaded out the two bucks for the Amish processor. We also made a small diversion to Miller's for a little shopping.
Oops, missed this one earlier.
So now it is Wednesday. Eric's last full hunting day. No joy on the morning hunt. He had told me that he was hearing deer move in the woods edge when the does were in the field. I told him he needed a grunt tube to call out the buck. So I loaned him one for the last night.
Sure enough, near last light, he calls a buck out into the field to join the does. Takes the shot with the new 45-70 and the buck bolts out of the field. He's not sure of the hit and I walk over in the dark to help trail him. It took a while to find some blood but then it was easy - massive blood trail led us just inside the treeline and there he was. Typical Graham drama - last light, last day. Eric's first deer too!
First Buck!
Tommy to help with the recovery.
A very nice typical 8 point with an 18" outside spread. Field dressed at 165 pounds.
We got him gutted, had dinner and went to bed. I got up in the morning and got him caped.
Joan graciously agreed to make the run to the taxidermist. So I grabbed a muck bucket, put in a bag of ice and put in Creigh's buck first.
Then I added Eric's and mine. Joan didn't want it in her car so she took mine. I put the bumper hitch on her car and ran the carcass over to the processor. Next we have Dave out this weekend. The really big ones are still out there. I'm feeling a little puny over my deer but so glad that Creigh and Eric scored. It sure is a lot more fun than getting skunked.
