I drew a Western Oregon muzzleloader deer tag this year. It’s good for a buck or doe in several areas around the state a week at a time or along the valley floor on mostly private land for about three months. There’s a big lake and waterfowling area with some dense ash groves on the edges about 15 minutes from my house that is huntable. It’s nice because I can go out in the morning and still be at work before too much happens. I’ve never seen anything but does there. I’ve found a good spot to sit where some trails weave together. All of the activity in this spot happens within an hour after sunrise. It’s very thick. A long shot would be about 40 yds. Great place for a tree stand if you were inclined to climb trees. Last time I drew this tag a few years ago I got a doe out there. I started going out the last week in October intending to shoot the first deer I saw. First day out I saw a buck. He chased some does that ran in front of me and he took the trail behind the tree I was leaned up against. No shot. So I decided that I would hold out and see if I could get a buck. For the next week or so I saw does. After a few more outings seeing a doe or two I wasn’t seeing anything. I started to get worried that I’d blown it. Heading into the last week of the hunt I was pretty discouraged I went out the Tuesday morning prior to Thanksgiving, got to my spot at about 6:00 and waited for sun up. 7:30 and nothing. I decided to give it 15 more and then head to the office. Just then I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye. All I could see was his head and he was going on a trail that would not take him past me according to plan. I had one window through a fork in a tree that I might get a shot. His head passed through that and he stopped. I could see his neck in the gap and I shot. I was listening for him to run while waiting for the smoke to clear but there was nothing. When the smoke did clear I stood up and could see him piled up right where I shot him. It was about 25 yds from where I was sitting. He was skinned and hanging in the garage and I was at work by 11:00. Not a bad morning out.
http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/srm66/media/Deer2014_zpsbe710ecb.jpg.html?o=0
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almost made me cry.....
