Post by deershed on Oct 24, 2006 23:00:23 GMT
Finally got my hands bloody for the first time this season,I scored on a early muzzleloader season buck.
I was hunting public ground at McKee Beshers that gets pounded hard.I hunted it for the first time last season in the early ml season and after walking in at first light ran into a dozen other hunters before finding a place to settle in.
This year after having an idea where I wanted to hunt from last season I was set-up and waiting up a tree a half hour before daylight.
The only thing I saw til my move around 9 am were a couple coons passing at first daylight.Around 9 I moved my stand about 80yds. where I had a better view and settled in again.
After about an hour of seeing nothing I see antlers flashing around in the thick stuff.It was a buck working a scrape and all I could see were his antlers moving around.I could see the outline of the deer's body but,it was thick.
After about 5 mins. of watching him work the tree over I was starting to worry that if he started walking I'd loose him in the thick cover.I decided to take my chances hoping the 250ga. shockwave would cut a path through the tangle of branches.
After the shot I bent down trying to see through the smoke and see the buck running straight towards me.At first I thought I missed the way he was running then he turned and ran past broadside.I had no trouble seeing the hole dead center in his shoulder.He went another 40yds then feel over.
He's not big but,nice concidering how hard this area gets hammered.I counted no less then 31 shots before my first move including a cap where someone's gun didn't go off.
Fri. and Sat. were devoted to trying to get Stacy my 11yr.old one with the Omega.Fri. evening we had 4 doe come in from behind us and catch us off gaurd.Stacy got off a rushed shot and took a good one between the eyes with the scope. ;D He was fine and never hesitated taking another long shot Sat. morning.I knew he'd never hit it but,wanted him shooting that gun again before he got gun shy.
Here's a couple pics..
I was hunting public ground at McKee Beshers that gets pounded hard.I hunted it for the first time last season in the early ml season and after walking in at first light ran into a dozen other hunters before finding a place to settle in.
This year after having an idea where I wanted to hunt from last season I was set-up and waiting up a tree a half hour before daylight.
The only thing I saw til my move around 9 am were a couple coons passing at first daylight.Around 9 I moved my stand about 80yds. where I had a better view and settled in again.
After about an hour of seeing nothing I see antlers flashing around in the thick stuff.It was a buck working a scrape and all I could see were his antlers moving around.I could see the outline of the deer's body but,it was thick.
After about 5 mins. of watching him work the tree over I was starting to worry that if he started walking I'd loose him in the thick cover.I decided to take my chances hoping the 250ga. shockwave would cut a path through the tangle of branches.
After the shot I bent down trying to see through the smoke and see the buck running straight towards me.At first I thought I missed the way he was running then he turned and ran past broadside.I had no trouble seeing the hole dead center in his shoulder.He went another 40yds then feel over.
He's not big but,nice concidering how hard this area gets hammered.I counted no less then 31 shots before my first move including a cap where someone's gun didn't go off.
Fri. and Sat. were devoted to trying to get Stacy my 11yr.old one with the Omega.Fri. evening we had 4 doe come in from behind us and catch us off gaurd.Stacy got off a rushed shot and took a good one between the eyes with the scope. ;D He was fine and never hesitated taking another long shot Sat. morning.I knew he'd never hit it but,wanted him shooting that gun again before he got gun shy.
Here's a couple pics..
When I was living down there they were always out there with pots, pans and signs protesting in the parking areas opening day of gun season. I guess maybe that hunter harassment law has put a stop to it. Were you hunting close to the Pool store side of McKee Beshers?
