Larry A. Smail's Blog

     Bob and I walked up the hill in the pre-dawn grays. Recent rains had ceased but the cloud cover still darkened the sky. This changed as the sun came through around midmorning.

Bob, using a .44 magnum elected to watch a field until about 9:30 when he had to leave. He saw 5 deer. My smoothbore “Jeremiah” and I still hadn’t prioritized a desire to connect on a deer. Turkeys and photos were more important.

I listened for turkeys and was blessed to hear a Screech Owl and a Barred Owl too. Always enjoy their eerie wavering call. I had seen various deer by noon including two different buck. Around 11:00 I noticed a deer in the multiflora rose and autumn olive patches. I under estimated the range by, at least, twenty yards.  The deer was about 75 yards. I try to limit my shots with the smoothbore .62 caliber flintlock to 40 yards or less. Anyway, I missed! I spent an hour zigzagging around to ensure my hopes of a miss.      

Small buck at 5 yards

  I crossed a road where I saw other deer including a nicer white-racked buck and turkeys. However, the highlight of the day was while sneaking through a timbered area. I saw a black mass about 40 yards away and knew I was seeing a bear in its bed.  Shortly, the bear caught my scent and got up and soon began walking away. I couldn’t get a photo through the dense brush.

I was debating leaving for the day close to 5:00 was the time and I was tired and hungry. Within sight of my vehicle I could see a feeding deer. The stalk began. I passed up a couple of 50 yard shots waiting for a better one. The one deer became three. When I was about 40 yards from them a fourth deer spotted me and reacted. I hurried a shot from an uncomfortable position and after much searching realized a miss was indeed.                                                            

Groundhog

     I again, began heading towards the vehicle when a deer  stepped out in front of me. I cocked the hammer and lowered the gun. I was chancing this 50 yards shot the way the shooting was going for me this day. The deer back tracked and my exit continued.  Suddenly, that same deer was spotted about 35 yards away in the goldenrods. I instinctively raised and fired. the deer dropped immediately.

I had the deer home and skinned before 7:30. This deer will become steak and burger.

I saw the first juncos (commonly called the snowbirds) this day. Many robins were enjoying eating the grapes and dogwood berries.