Larry A. Smail's Blog

The skies were various hues of orange and red as Bob and I  approached the pre-determined meeting place with cousin Donnie. I had seen two deer while in transit and Donnie watched three enter the strip of woods we were planning on hunting.

I, as the dog, had the job of walking about chasing deer. I’ll soon be barking and lifting my leg on hydrants!

the first drive was actually was a two-pronged drive. I was to circle around and come towards Donnie Boone and Bob Crockett from one direction. Upon reaching them, the plan was for me to go up and over the hill to a field before circling and coming towards the boys from the opposite direction. The drive works. They saw two deer going in one direction, but not offering any shots.                                          

The second part of the drive pushed around 8 deer past Donnie and a red fox! Donnie raised and fired and a deer dropped only to get up and take off. He, of course, felt bad about the shot. he said he hastily shot before he was ready. I saw the deer down in the snow ahead of Donnie as it raised for the take off! I am not kidding when I say “take off.”

After we realized the deer wasn’t down ahead of us the painful tracking began. I say “painful” for the deer wouldn’t stop and attempting to unravel many deer tracks was to be a chore at times. The deer continued to circle the hillside until it finally broke and went straight up over the hill right past Donnie, but on his right side. (Donnie shoots left-handed, so the deer wasn’t in place for him to get turned around for a shot.) the deer entered the field and made a complete 360 degree circle running past Bob at full speed. (Donnie, however, did see the hit on the deer. It was in a non-vital area below the back bone and above the vitals. This made us happy as the rains began.)

The search for the deer included several hours of trailing and well over a mile in chase. We were getting soaked and concluded the deer was seemed to be doing very well since it had apparently went down the hill and crossed the road.

We decided to head home and both decided to shoot the flintlocks off since the rains had become very moderate. Both firearms failed to go off initially until fresh powder was placed into the pans.

I had seen several squirrels and 4 deer and one grouse during my jaunt.