ChrisM
11-16-2009, 12:44 AM
WARNING: Lots of words ahead. If you want pics they're at the bottom.
Last weekend was the first time I'd ever gone out deer hunting. Sure, i went on an overnight trip once last year in Boston Bar, but it was rushed and my friend and I were entirely unprepared for a hunt so I count that as camping with guns. All we got from that trip was scope bite and a speeding ticket.
Hardly one for the books.
This time though - it was different. As a new hunter, my friend and I were able to apply for doe tags in 8-9 at 1.4:1 odds - After what seemed like forever we found out we both made the cut!
Now, as a beginner, i thought it necessary to ensure that I had two boxes of ammo for my second hand Parker Hale 30-06, enough slugs to take out a bear sanctuary (because of COURSE i'd be carrying by shotgun on my shoulder and my rifle in hand because when you're alone in the woods there MUST be bears everywhere). I also made sure that I had head-to-toe camo so that I would trick the deer into thinking I was part of the scenary.
As those of you who are laughing at me know, I too now realize that:
A) No amount of camo will make you a better hunter
B) Of the 40 rounds that I had, it only took one to get my deer
C) The shotgun stayed in the case the whole trip.
However, that Saturday morning (Nov 7th), after a night of wine, beer, and excellent pasta from our hunting partner who once had his own restaurant, we set out in the hills behind Skaha Lake to find our quarry @ 6am.
After unloading the ATV's we paired up (there were 4 of us), and set on our way.
Not more than 20 minutes into the day I heard over the walkie-talkie "Chris, I got one!" My novice hunting partner nailed the first LEH Doe of the day! Thrilled that we had meat to take home, my excitement turned to anxiety about whether I would have the same good fortune.
My partner and I continue on the main road and veered onto a more grown in trail.
Then I saw it: a flash of white dashed across the trail we were on. I excitedly tapped my partner on the shoulder to stop the quad. I tried to point out what I saw but he couldnt' make it out. I slowly got out of the ATV and pulled my rifle from the gun-boot. Bringing my $5.99 CdnTire special bino's to my eyes, I cursed as I had to clear away the fog, adjust the spacing of the lenses, and tried to focus in 80 yds ahead.
Then I saw it - a Doe staring right at me - showing me her broadside. I chambered a round and slowly crept up an embankment immediately to the right of our ATV. The Doe remained stationary and I took my time to lay prone and sight her in. As I cursed my Tasco scope, I finally lined her up. Confirming that she was a doe I dropped my sights onto her chest and squeezed off the only round of the trip.
She dropped on the spot and her friend who had been hiding in the bush took off into the woods - my partner went after her and I walked up to make sure it was a clean kill.
Sure enough it was.
After spending yesterday at my friends place learning the less glamarous art of the hunt, she is taking up the upper tray in my freezer.
If you did, thanks for taking the time to read about my first hunt. Taking the shot wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined it, and I look forward to doing it again. I promise next time I'll use more pictures and less words.
Cheers,
Chris
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/deer-pose-1.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/two-beginners-two-does.jpg
Last weekend was the first time I'd ever gone out deer hunting. Sure, i went on an overnight trip once last year in Boston Bar, but it was rushed and my friend and I were entirely unprepared for a hunt so I count that as camping with guns. All we got from that trip was scope bite and a speeding ticket.
Hardly one for the books.
This time though - it was different. As a new hunter, my friend and I were able to apply for doe tags in 8-9 at 1.4:1 odds - After what seemed like forever we found out we both made the cut!
Now, as a beginner, i thought it necessary to ensure that I had two boxes of ammo for my second hand Parker Hale 30-06, enough slugs to take out a bear sanctuary (because of COURSE i'd be carrying by shotgun on my shoulder and my rifle in hand because when you're alone in the woods there MUST be bears everywhere). I also made sure that I had head-to-toe camo so that I would trick the deer into thinking I was part of the scenary.
As those of you who are laughing at me know, I too now realize that:
A) No amount of camo will make you a better hunter
B) Of the 40 rounds that I had, it only took one to get my deer
C) The shotgun stayed in the case the whole trip.
However, that Saturday morning (Nov 7th), after a night of wine, beer, and excellent pasta from our hunting partner who once had his own restaurant, we set out in the hills behind Skaha Lake to find our quarry @ 6am.
After unloading the ATV's we paired up (there were 4 of us), and set on our way.
Not more than 20 minutes into the day I heard over the walkie-talkie "Chris, I got one!" My novice hunting partner nailed the first LEH Doe of the day! Thrilled that we had meat to take home, my excitement turned to anxiety about whether I would have the same good fortune.
My partner and I continue on the main road and veered onto a more grown in trail.
Then I saw it: a flash of white dashed across the trail we were on. I excitedly tapped my partner on the shoulder to stop the quad. I tried to point out what I saw but he couldnt' make it out. I slowly got out of the ATV and pulled my rifle from the gun-boot. Bringing my $5.99 CdnTire special bino's to my eyes, I cursed as I had to clear away the fog, adjust the spacing of the lenses, and tried to focus in 80 yds ahead.
Then I saw it - a Doe staring right at me - showing me her broadside. I chambered a round and slowly crept up an embankment immediately to the right of our ATV. The Doe remained stationary and I took my time to lay prone and sight her in. As I cursed my Tasco scope, I finally lined her up. Confirming that she was a doe I dropped my sights onto her chest and squeezed off the only round of the trip.
She dropped on the spot and her friend who had been hiding in the bush took off into the woods - my partner went after her and I walked up to make sure it was a clean kill.
Sure enough it was.
After spending yesterday at my friends place learning the less glamarous art of the hunt, she is taking up the upper tray in my freezer.
If you did, thanks for taking the time to read about my first hunt. Taking the shot wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined it, and I look forward to doing it again. I promise next time I'll use more pictures and less words.
Cheers,
Chris
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/deer-pose-1.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/two-beginners-two-does.jpg