My biggest and most enjoyable Deer so far

I started out on opening day for CT. State Land Shotgun season by getting up at 4:30 in the morning to get dressed and load my truck and head out. In this area where I am hunting it sometimes gets busy with hunters, especially on opening day. I wanted to get there early just in case, ok maybe I just couldn’t wait so that is why I left at 5:00 a.m.

I parked my truck at about 5:30 and grabbed my gear and strapped on my climber to my back and headed out. I was happy that I did not run into any other hunters because I like to be on stand and have them push the deer around as they walk in.

It took me a half hour to get to where I wanted to go. I got to the grass pond and set out a couple of scent bombs and proceeded to climb my tree. By the time I got up and situated it was almost 6:15 a.m. and you could see the sky starting to lighten up. It was perfect timing which made me relax a little.

I sat there and started to see squirrels running around gathering their breakfast and the early ducks flying overhead as they were leaving the swamp which was directly out in front of me about 150 yards away. As I sat there watching the forest come alive with the hustle and bustle of the little creatures scurrying around I got to watch the sun come up over the swamp and see my breath in the cold morning air and it made me think, This does not get any better than this. I was so at peace that I forgot all about feeling like crap do to Lyme disease and Lupus which is beginning to make me feel like I am twice my age.

I heard a couple shots go off shortly after sunrise which sounded like they were behind me and down in the valley which does not effect me what so ever other than making me jump a little. I sat there and believe it or not dosed off a bit seeing as I only had maybe if I was lucky 2 1/2 hours of sleep because I work nights. I all of a sudden heard a noise out in front of me and began to scan the woods when I saw movement.

First thing I noticed was the size of the deer walking in and then I got the glimpse of antlers from the morning sun. I quickly thought I would not have to much time because he was coming in from the down wind side and he would pick my scent up very soon so I quickly snapped the covers on my scope open and quietly took the safety off as I was lowering the cross hairs behind his shoulder. He stopped behind a small tree at 30 yards out and of course so I had to wait and then he took two steps out and I squeezed off a round.

I knew he was hit and fortunately for me he ran 10 yards closer toward me and stopped to look back the way he came from. I quickly lined up the cross hairs again and gave him a second shot which dropped him right where he stood which was 20 yards in front of my stand. I thought, that was nice that I did not have to track him.

I immediately grabbed for my cell phone and called my wife Heidi and told her I had a buck down and I could here my son Tyler in the background asking if that was daddy on the phone and Heidi saying that it was and that I had gotten a deer. To hear the hooting and hollering in the back ground made it all that much more enjoyable.

I was quite a ways in so it took me awhile to drag him out and actually I only got him half way out and then got help from my older son Adam because I was having a little bit of trouble. The two of us finally got him out and into the back of my Ford Ranger 4X4 and then it was off to home where pictures and hugs took place and then it was time to go get it checked in, the official weight was 136 pounds. I think the scale was off a little but, we will go with what they said.

I harvested this magnificent 7 point buck at 7:50 a.m. and by the time it was all said and done and he was hanging it was after two in the afternoon and then I had to get ready for work. Today is Saturday and I will be spending it skinning and cutting steaks, stew meat and washing/packaging the meat.