Dyed-in-the-wool flintlock hunters expect weather like this day. The temperatures were low and bitter on this, January 7th, 2015, day. The winds were brisk. I have hunted in more severe weather conditions during the after-Christmas primitive deer hunting season. This was an exceptional day to be in the woods. 
Deer were everywhere! I was seeing many deer and by 9:00 A.M. I had viewed sixteen deer! I even missed two! The first miss was a doe that had been feeding and stopped to look at why the other deer behind her were acting strange. A tree blocked the front shoulder area. I leaned way to my left to expose the area. I remember using my right index finger to slide behind my glasses to wipe away the tears from the cold wind. I missed!
I was trailing another deer when I spotted a doe bedded behind some fallen trees. The thirty yard shot could have been an easy one, however, the deer unnerved at the very same second I squeezed the trigger. I missed.
Later, I was sneaking among crabapples and goldenrods when I spotted a doe standing watching me. The shot was true, but back a little farther than I wanted. I followed the deer and harvested her about 12:45 P.M. Unfortunately, the kill zone was way down over a steep hill. The drag would be hard until I reached the top.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
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