November 26 marked the beginning of the fifth rifle deer season since my hunting-savvy father passed away, which added to the emotional impact of my daughter’s decision to wear grandpa\u2019s fluorescent orange hunting hat.<\/p>\n
The sentimental selection helped mute some of the potential distractions of the day \u2014 the increasingly steady rain didn\u2019t seem as wet or as cold as it normally would. The lack of deer sightings early in the day weren\u2019t as discouraging as typical, either.<\/p>\n
We saw a small doe early in the morning, walking along a field edge toward us, but then nothing for a few hours. At 10 a.m., the increasing rain and lack of other hunters in the area increased the odds that the deer were likely bedded down in the thickest parts of the nearby wood patch until the weather broke.<\/p>\n
Dad was a huge advocate of stationary hunting \u2014 of picking one spot overlooking a heavily traveled deer path and letting other hunters do the moving that would eventually push a deer toward us. At times, he was the one who would make the drive to push deer my way.<\/p>\n
However, he taught my brother and me that there are certain circumstances that required a change in strategy. This was one of those moments.<\/p>\n
1 walked through a small patch of woods next to a small lake, following some impressive tracks planted in the mud of some well-worn deer paths. I\u2019d walk a few steps and then stop and survey the surroundings. Dad always emphasized the importance of stopping here and there \u2014 to make the deer nervous that you spotted them and forcing them to make a move.<\/p>\n
Sure enough, about 10\u00a0yards into the woods,\u00a0a deer jumped up and ran\u00a0off just ahead, white\u00a0tail up high to warn others\u00a0that danger was lurkingin the woods. It was too\u00a0thick to see if it was\u00a0a buck or a doe, and it\u00a0seemed silly to keep crashing\u00a0through the brush and\u00a0pushing deer ahead of\u00a0me that I\u2019d likely never
\nget a shot at, so I changed direction and worked my way to a trail that circled the lake.<\/p>\n
As I surveyed the trail ahead, a crash came from the right and a massive buck jumped into the path. It had to be at least an eight- or a 10-pointer. He and a doe then bounded up the trail and around the curve ahead.<\/p>\n
It all happened too quickly for me to react or to take a safe shot. That was another of dad\u2019s rules of the hunt: take only a shot you are confident in. There is nothing worse than wounding a deer to suffer a long and painful death.<\/p>\n
I debated whether to continue up the trail or not. Obviously, Mr. Massive Buck would be long gone, but something told me to go ahead anyway. It was some sort of a gut reaction, and dad had encouraged us to follow our intuition when hunting.<\/p>\n
About 15 yards around the lake, I saw something move ahead and stopped to investigate. Mr. Massive Buck turned off the lakeside trail and went into another heavily used deer path near a thicket. Suddenly, another buck came out of the same thicket and started walking toward me slowly. He wasn\u2019t as large, his rack not as developed, but it was obvious that he was legal. Three tines were easily distinguishable on each side.<\/p>\n
I shouldered the .308 and scanned the surroundings to make sure any shot I took would be a safe one, yet another echo from both my dad and the golden rules of gun safety. Make sure your target and whatever is beyond offers a safe shot.<\/p>\n
The six-pointer continued to walk cautiously toward me and then angled away and paused \u2014 offering the perfect broadside shot. I prayed that my shot would be safe\u00a0and immediately effective. I squeezed the trigger and the six-pointer dropped where he once stood.<\/p>\n
My daughter, who decided\u00a0she didn’t want to bring\u00a0a gun on this hunt but\u00a0came along for the experience,\u00a0texted me to ask if I\u00a0got one. I told her I\u00a0did, and she came running.\u00a0This was the first deer\u00a0I shot while she was along,\u00a0and there are few things\u00a0more satisfying than sharing\u00a0a successful hunt with\u00a0your family. I\u2019ll never\u00a0forget my son\u2019s first\u00a0deer, and I\u2019ll never forget
\nthis hunt.<\/p>\n
At least six of dad\u2019s favorite hunting lessons led to success that morning: Changing strategy based on the elements; following the signs, such as heavily used deer paths with lots of fresh tracks; not underestimating the importanceof strategic stops during a drive; following your intuition; taking only a shot you are confident will be effective and safe; and sharing the success \u2014 and lessons \u2014 with\u00a0the next generation.<\/p>\n
The only part of dad on the hunt may have been his orange hat, but he was still definitely there \u2014 through the example he set while I was younger\u00a0and the lessons I hope to pass along to his grandchildren.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d also like to believe that he was somehow involved with Mr. Massive Buck\u2019s efforts to push the six-pointer my\u00a0way \u2014 one last opportunity to drive a deer toward me like he did so well when he was alive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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