Karen Andela – Central NY

A few minutes pass by, the wind picks up, and then – a red fox comes running down the hill towards my treestand! I figure, why not – I have chickens to protect, and I aim, take fire, and completely miss the running poof-ball of a fox. As I looked back toward where the fox came from…there stood a doe and large buck! They had no idea I was there, the hormones in the deer must have affected their hearing, as they stood about 50 yards away!

I slowly moved into position, reloading my shotgun (that my husband gave me) as I turned toward the deer. I looked through my scope (it has a 6 inch eye relief, because my hubby knows I don’t like to glue my eye to the scope), and there were two small branches in the way of the kill zone of the buck, whose antlers shone in the light rain. I suddenly was distracted as I heard something to my left…two more deer! They were buck too! I realized that these were probably the buck that were fighting over the hillside. I now had a choice of a 2 pointer, a 4 pointer, or whatever pointer the big buck in front of me was. I immediately prayed for the Lord to distract the doe and large buck with the other two buck, and move the deer so I could take a clear shot. The Lord answered and I had the priviledge of dropping my biggest deer ever!

The shot rang out, the buck flinched and immediately dropped down on the ground. His antlers were sticking above the fallen tree he laid against! The doe and other two buck just watched my trophy, and didn’t go anywhere. So now I am shaking like crazy from the excitement, thinking I had just re-enacted a hunting video, trying to reload, wondering if I should take the doe also…and I watch the 2 pointer go after the doe. They decide to court somewhere else in the woods, and sulky 4 pointer still stands around, 20 yards from my stand. I enjoy the moment, and then finally he leaves.

I found my radio in my hunting coat pocket, and barely holding still, was able to radio my husband that I just dropped a buck. He came over to my stand about 5 minutes later, and I wasn’t out of the stand because my legs were still shaking. After taking my gun, he walked with me up to my buck…he was a beautiful, wide 8 point buck! His antlers were just outside the ears (which is good I’m told), and a good size body. My hubby did a wonderful job placing my stand and preparing me for the outdoors. I feel that by the grace of God and my hubby’s love for me, I was able to harvest my biggest buck ever.

I don’t have a good photo, because my camera froze in the coat while it hung in the barn (for scent cover). I do understand if this story doesn’t qualify because I am the wife, but I wanted to share what my hubby did for me. By the way, season here is almost over, and he hasn’t been able to get a deer yet. He is happy for me though. Thanks for sharing my hunting story!