Well, After many hours in the woods, I tagged my last WT deer for the season.
The morning started off late because the diesel was cold and didn't want to start, but finally it cranked and away we go. At least the wind wasn't blowing 25mph like it had been for the last few days.
I really wanted the wife to fill her last tag so she went to what we felt was the best area. I went a couple of ridges over and sit overlooking a nice hardwood bottom.
After an hour or so with no activity I decided to do some still hunting and check out an area I hadn't been to since earlier in the season.
I topped a ridge that had an old cutover running along it and started finding quiet a few fresh rubs and scrapes. I said to myself, self, this is a pretty nice deer from the way he is tearing up these trees.
As I knelt down to inspect a 6" dia. holly tree that had been polished white I caught a flicker of movement on the other side of the bottom about half way up the next ridge. I froze! Looking in the direction of the movement a deer just materialized 75 yds away behind a bush with it's head down where I couldn't tell if it was a buck or a doe. Then he picked up his head. My heart instantly jumped into overdrive. He took a couple of steps staying behind several trees and bushes not offering a shot. I watched him for several minutes and it was as if he knew there were crosshairs waiting for him to step out of his cover. Then he turned and headed towards some really thick cover and I thought I was going to have to just watch him disappear. Just as he started into the cover he stopped and looked in my direction for the first time. There was about a 6" opening between the trees that framed the back of his shoulder perfectly. I centered and squeezed the trigger on the 7 Mag. He dropped like a ton of bricks hit him in the head.
He's not a mega monster but for high pressured public land I'll take him any day.
It's not totally over tho, I still get to guide the wife around hoping she can tag out.



Hope you all have/had a safe and productive season filled with memories that will last a life time.
Happy New Year to everyone.

[ 01-01-2003, 17:00: Message edited by: Nutoy ]

Nutoy, that's a wonderful buck! Great story too.