I got back from heaven and I didnt even shoot a deer.

[Spec ops Grunt]

I just got back from hunting. My Dad's friend has 240 acres of land were we went hunting. I saw a doe that we stared at for about 30 minutes and it just stared back at me. I couldnt hit it cause of brush and it was a head-on shot. It just layed down. When we went to see it it was gone. Than later we saw a couple of deer run in a open area by the house. When we looked for them they were gone.

While talking, a greyish Mountain lion or something poped out, so we went after it. (It has been eating deer) It wasnt there.

Earilier that day the Guy's son shot a deer with a .223. We went and looked for it later because they lost it. It was probably barley hurt. We couldnt find more blood, and after an hour of searching we gave up.

All in all it was one of the best times I have had.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Not every hunt produces game.

Glad to hear you had a great time. I was a bit more sucessful in Missouri. Took 2 doe's and missed out on an 11 point buck.

 

[22-rimfire]

I wish folks had more respect for deer than to use a 223. It is a receipe for failure and wounding game that later die.

I saw 6 does today. No bucks. Glad you enjoyed your hunt. Tomorrow might be the day for a big buck!

 

[countertop]

I wish folks had more respect for deer than to use a too small cartridge and after injuring it (let me guess, it was a gut shot, right?) only tracking it for an hour.

Around here thats called a slob hunter and hardly constitutes making a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal. In fact, its a quick way to lose your hunting license and your firearms.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I've lost one animal in the woods. Because I just might have been under gunned. 30-06 hand loads on a bear at 300yds. Witness that saw both of my hits that should have been kill shots. Big bear. That winter I bought a .30 cal magnum. A .223 is not designed to kill anything more than 40 pounds. (Yes, even in the military. It's designed to mame and injure.) Entirely too weak for deer. Disgusts me that someone would use such a round on deer. Well placed head shot, maybe.

I've been accused of having more gun than needed in the woods. I pack the Ot-6, or 30-338, AND my .44mag. I never intend on leaving an animal in the woods again. And haven't. I've never recovered a bullet from game. Entrance and exit wounds. Two holes to bleed from.

My first Whitetail hunt, this year, too much gun for the distance. http://www.cnw.com/~hotrod/Hunting/5x6_2005Whitetail.JPG

Still, I'm glad you figured that was heaven. That's part of the hunt. Just being there. Getting out away from the city. Rubbin elbow's with friends or family. Seeing wild animals. Even if you don't fire a shot, Those hunting days, times around the camp fire, are great memories never forgotten.

-Steve

 

[444]

I got back from heaven

I thought you were talking about West Virginia, but I realized that is almost heaven.

 

[countertop]

Dude,

I was hunting heaven this weekend. A gorgeous secluded valley along the Virginia/West Virginia border. Only thing missing, of course, were the bucks

 

[Lennyjoe]

You guys are making me miss home. WVA is lovely.

 

[Idaho Elk Hunter]

I miss WVA in the fall. Probably will never see it again