I know… It seems like I let deer season go out with a fizzle, and not with a bang. I did do a fair amount of hunting after the big doe I shot, and had my sights set on ending the season with a really nice buck. My efforts proved to be futile, though, as I saw only does on the remainder of my hunts. Plus, nothing too exciting happened on them, so taking photos/recapping each hunt wasn’t a big priority. You’d have been quite bored, I am sure.
On the last weekend of the season, I decided to give it one last try. Two, to be exact, but the first was much more exciting than the second. I needed a fresh breeze and some activity, so rather than sit in a stand and not move for 2+ hours, I decided to throw my rifle over my shoulder and try my hand at stalking. Not creepy-mustache-windowless-van stalking, but quietly making my way past the ponds & through the woods, pausing every hundred yards or so to watch & listen, hoping to jump a deer. I took my time by the duck pond, having spotted something interesting. Widgeon and gadwall and…
Gators, oh my! We had some warmer days around Christmas, and apparently a few these guys decided to enjoy the weather as well. Who wouldn’t want to troll around the pond with a few dozen ducks for company? It was a little strange seeing the alligators out in late December, I have to admit. Mostly because THIS IS WHERE WE DUCK HUNT. As in, how much extra protection do my waders give me if a gator decides to attack while I am out in the water picking up a duck? What if a gator decides Prine looks like a tasty mid-morning snack? Yikes! I know, I know -. Probably a little dramatic. They move so slowly during these colder winter months. But… What if one decides to sunbathe in a duck blind? Does that seem crazy?
Yea… Not really, huh? That’s what is left of an old duck blind, and it seemed to be the perfect place for Mr. Chomps the Alligator to spend his afternoon. Pretty cool sight, however frightening it may be for a duck hunter! After a few minutes, I continued on my way. Around 4 miles later, I didn’t have much to show for my efforts, aside from finding a really nice rub from earlier in the season. Well, I did have a little bit of excitement.
That excitement came from jumping a group of does that got away before I could regain my composure. Honestly, I am not sure who scared who more. I was sneaking along the edge of some woods between a few low areas when a patch of bushes about 20 feet away from me started rustling furiously. Out jumped 2 does who did not look twice before taking off across the land. I was so startled that I barely got my gun strap off of my shoulder before they were 100 yards away. Then, just when I thought I had lost sight of them, 5 more does jumped out of the same bushes and took off after the first two. What?! I threw my rifle up and tried to get one in the cross hairs, but those deer were bounding and zigging and zagging so fast, I just couldn’t get a shot. Ugh. Honestly, if I’d had my shotgun with some buckshot, I probably could have knocked down two deer. They were ssooo close… It was perfect for buckshot. Less than ideal for a .308 caliber rifle.
I tried again the following day, trading in my rifle for my 12 gauge and some buckshot, but I didn’t see one deer. Didn’t even hear one. Ahh… Such is life, I guess. Maybe next season I will take both guns. Just in case.
