It was openning day of the '94 season and, of course, I got a late start! I woke up around 6:00 a.m. and since my early start was shot all to hell, I went to McDonalds for some grub. It was close to 7:30 when I climbed that scary climb into my tree stand. It wasn't 15 minutes or so when I saw something moving about 100 yards away. I was afraid that whatever was coming could hear my heart beating! After another LONG 15 minutes, a doe and 2 yearlings came into sight, almost walking right under me. I watched these deer walk about for a while. Around 9:30, I'm still in my tree stand sipping on my hot chocholate when this doe came bust'n ass from around the hill. She ran right under me. She came and went all within less than 10 seconds. I know she was running from either a hunter or another deer. As I directed my attention to where she came from, I saw the biggest buck of my life. I had no time to be nervous or fidgety. He was coming and he was coming fast! He ran under my tree stand just like the doe did. I was already standing. So when he was under me I pointed the rifle down and instantly my eye went to the scope, which was pointless! All I could see was brown! I pulled the trigger with everything I had. I didn't hear the rifle blast. I knew it had gone off because I felt the recoil. But, I didn't hear it at all. I had no idea if I got him or not! I watched as he went out of sight.and shot once more. Then, I heard what sounded like a tree falling. I climbed down from the stand. By the time I touched the ground, all the nervousness, shaking and everything else had kicked in. As I walked over the hill where I had last seen him, I saw his rear quarter through the brush and said, "OH YEAH!" when I seen the huge rack I yelled, "HELL YEAH". You can ask my brother, he heard me!
My Brother and I had a time getting him out of the woods. But that's another story. The buck and experience were so great that he was named "The Vision Buck."
Kevin Smith |
