Ramblin's Hunting Lodge: Deer Season 2009.

Needles and I arrived at her Moms place Thursday night and I was excited that in a few hours it would be the first day of shotgun deer season. That night I lay in the bed wondering in which of my two deer stands should I set. I thought about the East but ultimately decided on the West one. I finally fell asleep around 2pm with a few hours it would be time to get up. 5:10am came all too soon and I was up and ready to head to my stand. The first day always seems to take forever to get ready. Clothing, Boots, Gun, Backpack full of crap and then you are on your way. I walked out the back door and noticed a raccoon in the driveway. I thought he was cute but little did I know how he would impact my day. I loaded my gun very quietly as to not scare the raccoon and and paused for a few seconds to watch him and even got a picture of him in the non existing light.

I then made my way to the stand and slipped into the woods a silently and I could manage. At just enough light to make out the shape of a deer was moving from the North and heading South at about 60 yards in the neighbors field. If he would have stayed in the woods I would have heard him but never saw him. As I couldn't make out what size deer it was I didn't even think about shooting. I grunted a couple of times and could see the deer move toward me a few steps and when he went behind a tree he just disappeared. I sat in my stand and the sun was on the verge of creeping up when I heard a noise behind me. I turned and strained my eyes in the limited light and saw the largest deer I have ever seen from the deer stand. He was a monster and heading my way. He was at 25 yards and broadside for a moment. To myself I thought this is it this the the year it will be my turn to get a nice buck. I raised my gun and leveled it off just behind his left shoulder. He never knew I was there. I squeezed the trigger and nothing. I lower the gun checked my safety was off and tried again. Nothing. I thought "You got to be kidding me!" But it was not a nightmare... It was real. I had the buck of a lifetime standing broadside at 25 yards and my gun wont fire. I eased back the slide and checked in the chamber. There was a shell but it wasn't ejecting but when I slide back the slide the next shell went up to slide into the chamber. I had to remove the shell and slip it into my pocket and then slide the slide forward again. This is when the deer heard me and ran into the still dark woods. I was disappointed and sick at what had just happened. I couldn't believe that I had that chance and couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. After thinking out what happened I think I know what happened. Remember the cute little raccoon that was in the driveway. I was so careful not to scare him when loading my gun I didn't slide the slide of the gun back far enough to cock the firing pin. If I only had it to do over again. My trail camera revealed to me the monster that I missed out on looks to be an eleven pointer. Its amazing the little things that effect your life in a big way. After I made it back to the house I had the feeling that I never wanted to hunt again. I was ready to hang up the gun and call it quits but after a while that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach went away and has been replaced by some disappointment but also the knowledge that anything can happen and it usually does when you least expect it. That evening the hunt was uneventful and no deer were spotted. The next morning I had 3 deer walk in just after daylight but then went West. About 10 minutes later with better light five doe move in to with in a few yards of my stand. I move into position and waited for the lead doe to step past the small water filled ditch. I took my shot and the deer ran into the cornfield and stood broad side at 40 yards. I could tell I hit her but the way she ran didn't make me very confident in the shot so I took another shot and hit her perfect. She buckled and coughed a few times while I looked around to see where the other deer ran to. I turned to see where she was and she was gone. I suspected she fell right where I hit her with the second shot. I sat in the stand the rest of the morning without checking and disturbing the area. After about an hour and a half I am ready to get on the ground and check on my deer. While walking to where I last saw the deer I heard a blow behind me. I turn to see 3 does running to the East. I find my doe laying right where I thought she would be. While kneeling down to filed dress my deer I had a yearly spike buck walk from the woods toward me and stand about 10 to 15 feet away. He turns walks away and then comes back. When I stood up he decided he no longer wanted to be there and headed South down the cornfield. The evening hunt came up goose egg. This morning I made my way to my West stand and didn't see a thing until I walked out. I jumped up a bedded down doe. I guess we will see what second season will have in store for me.