The other 3 hunters were due in that day so I decided to work my way toward the west to meet them and maybe help them with their packs. I arrived at my old ground blind along a large swamp at 0900 where I had shot 2 deer from, one being a 14 point in 1996. I sat there until 1100 and thought I might get up and still-hunt along the swamp and westward. Then I had the idea to do some grunting before I took off (couldn't hurt). I blew the grunt call 4 times (one in each compass direction). To my surprise, deep in the balsam swamp I hear a branch break. I was sure that something was out there. As I peered into the swamp for about 5 minutes, I finally saw a deer working his way through the masses of evergreens and saplings. He was angling slightly toward my rear (I was facing due west). I tried to find an opening through the brush and saplings but I couldn't. He stopped teasingly at the edge of the swamp and hooked a tree. He was facing directly toward me, with no decent shot. My heart was pounding. I was in the "sitting" shooting position with elbows on knees and ready. He walked up out of the swamp directly at me and with a tree still between him and I. He stopped abruptly when he hit my tracks along the edge of the swamp (that's not good). He was surveying the area now, and about 50 yards downhill. I leaned forward to get the crosshairs on any part of his vitals. I thought I had a decent shot and squeeeeezed the trigger......click.....The firing pin goes home...did I forget to chamber a round? The buck now on alert is looking around. He does not see me (I'm in white "predator camo" on the ground). I ease back the bolt only to find that I indeed had a round in the chamber. So I slid the bolt back far enough to re-cock the gun. Again I took careful aim...click... again the pin went home. The deer then took a few steps to the east, which was now completely out of sight. I eased the bolt back and chambered a fresh round (I should have done that the first time). I slowly stood to see if I could see the buck. There we were eye to eye. My white and black camo against the fresh inch of snow was still puzzling him. I slowly eased the rifle to my shoulder. With my full face mask still on I took one last breath before I shot...oooops, fogged the scope (damn, could anything else go wrong). I eased the gun down and slowly, without looking down, used my gloved thumb to wipe the scope. I raised my rifle and once again I could see the deer still head-on and only 1/4 of the deer showing. I could see he was tensing was up for flight, (I'd seen this before) I rushed the shot...BANG...I waited for the deer to fall. He stood there. No way! I missed. Then he makes his move, and bounds to the west. That was the broadside shot I had wanted. I grunted with my mouth in an attempt to stop the 9 pointer. I quickly realized he was no longer playing my game, so I jerked my rifle up as he turned directly away from me and wisely headed back into the swamp. That deer was running away with my rack! BANG...shot number two rang out with no reaction from the deer. He is now 30 yards into the swamp and at least 70 yards away. I now could see only a patch of brown through balsams and saplings...Last shot I'm sure. BANG! Shot number three rang out. I eyed the opening for some sign of a running deer and then I saw feet go into the air. Holy cow I got him. The toughest shot was the one that found its mark.
The shot hit him in the back of the neck and dropped him in his tracks. Wow...did that all just happen? The boys will never believe this one. As a rule when 3 shots are heard in the woods that far apart, the deer has usually won. I worked my down into the swamp and found the majestic animal. He was a young deer, but the genetics of the Adirondacks made him bigger than most around the country. I was six miles from the nearest road and sitting in a swamp up to my knees. The sky was a gorgeous shade of blue and the snow decorated the balsams all around me. I took a minute to reflect how lucky I was to be standing knee deep in that swamp. When the boys finally came by after about 2 hours they got a little surprise!