Larry A. Smail's Blog

  I told Laurie, and my step-father, Bob, I was only going after bucks this day. I did not expect to  deviate from that decision. I had to leave by noon, or so, to get ready for a meal at my in-laws, and I wasn’t wanting to butcher.

I saw the first deer early. I couldn’t identify the gender. The brush, and slight fog kept that from happening. I set down on a log, and decided I needed to capture some of this fog on camera. I see beauty in all things.                                                        

I walked backwards and set down on a log to watch a little. I spotted a doe standing about seventy yards. Shortly afterwards, another doe was visible eating ferns. I watched the two for about half-an-hour as they walked away.

I was entertained by two gray squirrels, and two red squirrels. I would still hunt  in the area, and walk back to this log from time to time.

  I could see a deer to my left. I began to reach for my camera when I noticed the antlers. A second late I realized the buck was legal. The scope centered on the front of the deer followed by the shot. The deer dropped before running down slope. I could hear the deer as he dropped again.

The drag was a tough one for the buck was big, and heavy. I had to cross a steep gulley, and up a slope before leveling off. There were lots of down trees, with brush, too. I eventually had to drag the deer across Cherry Run. I was beat. Bob, and I struggled loading the buck in Bob’s truck.

The buck sported seven points with a seventeen inch spread.