So here we are, sitting in my Double Bull Blind, watching the sun go down, counting the minutes until we have to run down the hill and jump in the boat so we can navigate China Rapids before dark. I looked to my left towards the ravine, directly into the sun and I catch a glimpse of a Doe trotting down the ridge towards the river. I nudged Michele to get her attention as a fawn appears right behind her mother. Why are they trotting? Another Doe appears and then stops, looking over her shoulder backup the ridge. Holly crap, get ready! We make a quick adjustment to the chairs and got the shooting sticks in position. Michele is almost looking directly into the sun and can't see anything through the scope, so we move back into the back corner of the blind so her scope is in the shade.
I don't think a minute passed when we caught movement in the grass! I can't believe it. It is almost sundown, the last hour of the last day of the hunt and a nice buck has his nose down chasing the Does down the ridge. He came out of the trees with a mission in mind but decided to slow down when he stepped out into the open. Buck fever instantly pulsed through my veins and all I could say was SHOOT. Michele on the other hand was cool and collected and whispered that she didn't have a good shot yet. Shoot was all I could say and then kaboom. We were setting back in the corner of the blind and the muzzle of the .243 Winchester was about two feet inside the window of the blind. I think the concussion lifted the blind about a foot off the ground and I could barely hear myself roar "you got him" when I saw the bucks feet reaching towards the sky. When the dust settled I didn't open the door to the blind to get out, I just stood up and pitched the blind to the side in excitement. I don't know who was more excited but all I can say is this was one of the most exciting hunts of my life. It was Michele's first buck and the excitement was on overload.
After taking a few pictures I looked at the time and it was 5:04pm, thirty minutes before the end of the season. I sent Michele back to the blind to get her tags as I started field dressing our third kill of the year. Two the the three bucks were harvested within the last hour of their respective seasons. You always hear it on the Outdoor programs but to have it happen twice this year is unbelievable.
The original plan was to start down the hill at sundown but now we had to field dress the buck, fold up the blind and drag him 400 yards down to the boat. Running through China Rapids in the daylight was now just a pipe dream and luckily I remembered to pack the spot light. We called Terry with the good news and the bad news that we were headed towards China Rapids in the dark. I asked him to call search and rescue if I didn't call back in 35 minutes. I have run the rapids many times this last week and at the current water level I wasn't too concerned as long as my 25HP Merc kept humming like normal. The next twenty minutes was pretty scary but what a way to end a season. Memories I will take to my grave and a story that will be told many times in future deer camps.
Way to go Michele, congratulations on your first buck. We are going to eat good this winter.
Pinch me, am I dreaming?
