Charlotte and I were blessed with a last minute deer hunt in south western Ontario. One of my old partners from the PD had to back out of his commitment with the outfitter so we stepped in with only three days to hunt....

We literally packed up after work and started driving through the night. Well, we bagged our first deer just as we entered the great state of Wisconsin on the Upper Michigan side. At least Charlotte was driving her own truck at the time the deer ran in to us so she can't blame me for crashing her truck...SMILE

We arrived in camp around noon the next day anxious to get started. By 2pm we were perched in our heated shacks watching the mix of Canadian sun and clouds wisp across the sky with high hopes of seeing a deer worthy of our deer tags. As I often do, I spoke with Glen Anderson, our guide, to determine where my favorite hunting partner, Charlotte, would have the best opportunity to score on a nice deer. In good fashion Glen placed her over looking a beaver dam that he had planted about 10 acres of clover adjacent to. It worked! Just before dark this heavy tall tined 12 point walked out in the corner of the field and she was quick to judge him as a shooter. After a well placed shot and a short recovery, she was elated at her good fortune. There was no ground shrinkage and she was the proud owner of her first ever Canadian Whitetail Deer...


Well, it was my turn, and now that Charlotte was tagged out she could now set with me and video the hunt. On day 2 we sat all day in one blind and enjoyed the bald eagles, ducks, geese, fox and numerous other critters going about their daily routines along the Rainy River banks. At about noon we saw our first buck and it was a nice 10-point. After careful review, I elected to pass after seeing the size of deer Charlotte took. Okay, part of me knew she would shoot a bigger deer (she always does), but part of me hoped I could at least shoot one close to the caliber she did. When darkness came the realization that I had only one day left to hunt set in and I did second guess my decision to pass on a nice 10-point.

The next morning came with high hopes, and I'll be darned if that same 10-point came out right at first light. I was filled with excitement to shoot this deer and prompted Charlotte to get the camera going as I prepared to shoot. Well, lets just say we flubbed that opportunity and never go the shot off..... At noon we moved a half mile to where Charlotte took her deer on the first night and I sat knowing it needed to happen tonight or it wasn't going to happen at all. I was perfectly fine with that due to the circumstances of the quick hunt and the fact it's "hunting" not killing. The time afield with my wife is always welcomed and the memories made always a blessing to us both.

We set all afternoon and only saw the occasional wildlife that did not have antlers or a white tail. No deer! As the light faded in the west I saw some movement in the tree's behind the clover field and it was most certainly antlers bobbing their way through the trees as the buck made his approach to the clover. I immediately prompted Charlotte to MASH the record button as I readied my rifle out the window of the blind. Much to my surprise, as I was judging the deer, it was the same 10-point I let walk one time, and eluded me the second time. I quickly released the safety of my Ruger M-77, and centered the cross hairs of my Trijicon scope on the shoulder of the buck. It was destiny that this buck again crossed my path and I swiftly squeezed the trigger and watched the deer fall in his tracks. We successfully harvested our first Canadian Whitetails and again made lifetime friends and memories while doing so....

Dan,

What a fine hunt. So much the better when you can share it with you wife.

Err, did she bag a bigger one than yours....?

Well done to the both of you,

Not bad for a "last minute hunt". Congratulations to both of you.

Nice bucks - can I ask how much they weighed?

quote:

Originally posted by Boghossian:
Nice bucks - can I ask how much they weighed?

Well we did not officially weigh them but I would estimate that Charlottes deer weighed around 250 lbs field dressed. I would think my deer would be over 200 lbs field dressed. Thanks...DAN

Nice bucks. Just to clarify for anyone keeping score, the Rainy River area is actually in northwestern Ontario, not southwestern Ontario.