Well, I FINALLY got a buck today. A 9-pointer (whitetail, eastern count). It came from a swale to the west and ran by my nephew. He shot at it running twice and missed (too far). Then it ran by my old buddy Davey and he missed it twice. Then it ran toward me. It stopped just before entering my swale, about 150 yards from me. The 180 grain Speer Hot-Cor propelled by 56 grains of H-4350 from my Weatherby Sporter struck tight to the shoulder, midway between back and brisket, taking out the lungs (literally!). He turned toward me still following the doe. I prepared for another shot but none was necessary. The exit hole was quarter-size and just a bit farther back than the entrance, but still exiting through ribs. I love those Hot-Cors.

Man, from archery opener on 10/01 to today you couldn't prove by me there was a buck in the county. I was beginning to think God was trying to teach me a lesson, or something. My blessed wife kept reassuring me that God still loves me. Meanwhile, I've been hunting my fanny off all season with no meat to show for it. Thankfully, that's behind me. I'm accustomed to having 3 or 4 in the freezer by now. It's been a tough adjustment.

My neighbor tells me he saw the big one last night chasing a doe. Two of my neighbors have put arrows in him, yet he lives. I hope he chases a doe by me - we'll make steak for sure!

Anybody else get a buck this year?

Big Redhead
I'm both

Congrats on the buck! I know what is like to feel "cursed" LOL. The beginning of the archery season here in PA was like that for me. I finally just picked up stakes and found new and more productive hunting grounds. I have several does in the freezer and took a nice 9 point by rattleing last Monday. Rifle season starts here a 2 weeks, I still have 2 tags left and will head out with my daughter.

[ 11-17-2003, 18:50: Message edited by: Iron Buck ]

Congrats BR. Not used to the term "swale", guess it means hunting area. Sorta sounded like the deer came in riding a wave

Anyway, it's still archery only here and I havn't had much time to hunt so you are definately one up on me!

Thanks guys.

heavy varmint, according to Webster, a swale is "a low-lying or depressed and often wet stretch of land." I use the word when describing a low brushy spot in or near a crop field that is too wet to be worked, so it stays natural. The spot where I took my buck is dotted with these. I sit on a fencerow where I can see the deer move between swales. I've counted as many as 80 deer there on opening day.

There are a few other terms and words used by some of the old timers in my neighborhood that I have never heard elsewhere. Living here is like stepping back in time 100 years. Have you ever measured distance in rods? Who knows how long is a rod? The correct answer gets an attaboy.

Big Redhead
(The drill sergeant said, "Boy, you're red on the head like the d**k on a dog", among other things, until I qualified expert on the first attempt.)