Larry A. Smail's Blog

Tuesday, October 16th, was breezy. I went into the area I was planning to watch for deer and settled in to await dawn. I began seeing deer, or I should say deer forms, just prior to seven.

Can you see the bedded deer?

As the dawn grew in intensity I began seeing more deer and much clearer.

Four doe fed in the field towards me, but still moving to my right some. I could see them at about fifty yards or so, when I noticed them looking to my left. More deer were coming into the field. I could see racks on two for sure and would later see four bucks in the field with a single doe. Interestingly, once the buck reached a point just out in front of me, I turned and the four doe were gone. I began taking photos.

    Three of bucks moved ahead and gradually worked downslope to the woods. The fourth buck went back the way they came. The doe began  to walk along the field’s edge exactly where I wanted her to go. She walk past at about thirty yards and I didn’t shoot. The doe was a young one and, at this time, I was hoping to get a bigger deer. All of this lasted until 8:55 A.M. What a morning watching all this action.

I began still hunting when I walked upon a bedded doe. This deer was about ten yards from me and holding tight. This doe was a small one, too. In fact, she may have been the one I passed on earlier. I took a couple of pics before she bolted. I would see her again at about 15 yards.

The noon hour was upon me and I started a trek diagonally on a gas well road. I spotted a mid-sized deer feeding up the slope along an old right-a-way cut. This cut has goldenrods and grasses and is almost grown shut with tree limbs. I began stalking her with success. Bad luck was about to occur. I heard someone driving on the road behind me. I motioned and the driver stopped. I waited for the deer to turn broadside or quartering away.  I shot and missed! The doe looked up but away from me and began walking away.  Was it human error or my new sight?  I know I sometimes fail to place my cheek tight on the stock allowing for the front sight to shoot high. I may need to explain what firearm I am using. This is a French fowling piece common in the late 18th century. I named the 62 caliber (20 gauge) smoothbore, Jeremiah, in honor of an ancient Jewish prophet. The barrel has no rifling, so accuracy is not that great. I try to limit shots to under forty yards if possible. I can shoot lead shot for turkeys and other small game if desired.