Shirtless and Shaking

2016 Deer season would be open at first light, so I woke up early to get prepared.

We got to the parking spot and headed down the hill and across the creek. That year I was hunting with my mom so that my sisters, Jessica and Lauren, could hunt with my Dad.

We all headed to Coon Point. Craig dropped my mom and I off at our spot and he continued his way up the ridge. I started changing for what could be a long and cold wait ahead, but that was not the case.

Before I could even get my new dry shirt on, I spotted a deer walking right at us at 50 yards, and I could clearly see it was a spike.

I told my mom to stop moving and she quickly realized there was a deer close by. I reached for the .243 and successfully grabbed it without spooking the deer, but as it got closer it realized something wasn’t right.

The deer spooked but only ran about 20 yards to our side before stopping.

Unfortunately, its vitals were perfectly protected by a small tree; it spooked again but ran along side us rather than away.

Shirtless and shaking like crazy due to the cold and the adrenaline running through my veins, I took the shot from a sitting position.

The spike ran just out of view to our left and we thought we heard a crash but were still unsure. We waited a little then went to look for blood. We found a blood trail and a dead deer only 50 yards from where we first started tracking it.

We realized it crashed not too far from where my Dad and sisters were set up. They joined us as my dad and I gutted the deer. I spent a good part of my day dragging it out of the woods.

That deer won me the buck pool and made for a great story when everyone got out of the woods.