Poper
Member
So my son and I were finally able to rendevous for a deer hunt. We have been meaning to do it for several years, but between his work schedule and mine, it has been an impossibility until this year.
I drove for two days to get to sw SD and he drove 5.5 hours to the rendevous point where we two late comers met my brother and a family friend on another family friend's ranch to persue Bambi and his ilk.
Younger Brother and friend had already hunted a day and a half and had filled one Any Mule Deer Tag. It was mid-day Sunday when we arrived, so we missed the opener and half of day #2. Second half of day #2 was un eventful. We had another hunter in the field at the same time (we saw his car) and he received the nickname "Ralph". Late in the day of Day #2, we had found Ralph and we were all watching a picked cornfield for feeding activity from the cover of a barbed wire fence row that separated the cornfield from a small pasture valley watered with a small, clear creek.
About a half hour before sundown we watched a small yearling whitetail deer discover Ralph. The deer slowly approached Ralph (who remained perfectly still) within 5 feet or so, then gave a couple snorts and hopped back. The deer did this three or four times while my son and I watched from 40 or 50 yards away. It was all we could do to keep from laughing as the little deer was obviously unsure what Ralph was, but was pretty sure it didn't like him.
Ralph finally had enough, I guess, because he suddenly turned on the little guy and shooed him away. He went quite quickly, too.
While we waited for deer to come to browse in the picked field, we saw two flocks of wild turkeys walk into the field from the north. One of a dozen or so birds about 200 yards out and another of 30 or more about 500 yards away. Then along came a pair of coyotes looking for turkey dinner and chased the turkeys back to where they came from. Finally, some deer appeared at the edge of the far side of the field, about 800 yards or so away. Positive identification of mulie or wt was impossible at that distance even with my binocular. One was definitely a small racked buck, but way too far out for a shot that late in the day. We went back to camp well entertained, indeed.
First half of day #3 was uneventful. #1 son and I stuck pretty close together. We did a little still hunting and truly enjoyed each other's company.
Mid afternoon we returned to the spot of the night before hoping the deer might decide to feed a little closer to the fence. About an hour before sundown some deer again appeared at the far side of the field. However, they gradually worked their way towards us, but still were near the middle of the field.
About half an hour later... "Well," says #1 son, "I think I'm going to take a shot at the one that's been acting like a buck. I think I can see antlers, but I can't be sure." He had an "Any Deer" tag so exact identification was not an issue. It certainly was a deer.
"Hey, if you think you can make the shot, go ahead. Just be darn sure you do not put the crosshairs above his back. That's a sure recipie for a miss. You're zeroed 3" high at 100 yards."
The air was still, remarkable for sw SD, and the day had been unseasonably warm. #1 son was not chilled as he adjusted his body to the slight slope and got into a solid prone position. I was proud to see my instruction of "three deep breaths, slowly let a third of the last one out; steady.... squeeeeeze....BANG!" Flop!
#1 son is 6'-1" with size 12-1/2 feet. 448 of his paces later we stood beside his little 3x3 buck. Perfect heart/lung shot that struck a rib going in and a rib going out!
The best part? He used the rifle and ammo I had given him as a gift. - A Weatherby Vanguard in .30-06 in a Boyd's Prairie Hunter walnut stock and ammunition I had tailored to that rifle; IMR4064, CCI-200, RP case, and the good ol' Sierra 150 grain Game King.
Bang! Flop!
Proud Pop!
I drove for two days to get to sw SD and he drove 5.5 hours to the rendevous point where we two late comers met my brother and a family friend on another family friend's ranch to persue Bambi and his ilk.
Younger Brother and friend had already hunted a day and a half and had filled one Any Mule Deer Tag. It was mid-day Sunday when we arrived, so we missed the opener and half of day #2. Second half of day #2 was un eventful. We had another hunter in the field at the same time (we saw his car) and he received the nickname "Ralph". Late in the day of Day #2, we had found Ralph and we were all watching a picked cornfield for feeding activity from the cover of a barbed wire fence row that separated the cornfield from a small pasture valley watered with a small, clear creek.
About a half hour before sundown we watched a small yearling whitetail deer discover Ralph. The deer slowly approached Ralph (who remained perfectly still) within 5 feet or so, then gave a couple snorts and hopped back. The deer did this three or four times while my son and I watched from 40 or 50 yards away. It was all we could do to keep from laughing as the little deer was obviously unsure what Ralph was, but was pretty sure it didn't like him.
Ralph finally had enough, I guess, because he suddenly turned on the little guy and shooed him away. He went quite quickly, too.
While we waited for deer to come to browse in the picked field, we saw two flocks of wild turkeys walk into the field from the north. One of a dozen or so birds about 200 yards out and another of 30 or more about 500 yards away. Then along came a pair of coyotes looking for turkey dinner and chased the turkeys back to where they came from. Finally, some deer appeared at the edge of the far side of the field, about 800 yards or so away. Positive identification of mulie or wt was impossible at that distance even with my binocular. One was definitely a small racked buck, but way too far out for a shot that late in the day. We went back to camp well entertained, indeed.
First half of day #3 was uneventful. #1 son and I stuck pretty close together. We did a little still hunting and truly enjoyed each other's company.
Mid afternoon we returned to the spot of the night before hoping the deer might decide to feed a little closer to the fence. About an hour before sundown some deer again appeared at the far side of the field. However, they gradually worked their way towards us, but still were near the middle of the field.
About half an hour later... "Well," says #1 son, "I think I'm going to take a shot at the one that's been acting like a buck. I think I can see antlers, but I can't be sure." He had an "Any Deer" tag so exact identification was not an issue. It certainly was a deer.
"Hey, if you think you can make the shot, go ahead. Just be darn sure you do not put the crosshairs above his back. That's a sure recipie for a miss. You're zeroed 3" high at 100 yards."
The air was still, remarkable for sw SD, and the day had been unseasonably warm. #1 son was not chilled as he adjusted his body to the slight slope and got into a solid prone position. I was proud to see my instruction of "three deep breaths, slowly let a third of the last one out; steady.... squeeeeeze....BANG!" Flop!
#1 son is 6'-1" with size 12-1/2 feet. 448 of his paces later we stood beside his little 3x3 buck. Perfect heart/lung shot that struck a rib going in and a rib going out!
The best part? He used the rifle and ammo I had given him as a gift. - A Weatherby Vanguard in .30-06 in a Boyd's Prairie Hunter walnut stock and ammunition I had tailored to that rifle; IMR4064, CCI-200, RP case, and the good ol' Sierra 150 grain Game King.
Bang! Flop!
Proud Pop!
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