A Buck Down

The 2019 Michigan Deer season opener for me was slow. I was on stand early before first light. The wind was out of the west and not good for where I was sitting. The first doe came through about 7:30 and should have picked up my scent but for some reason she didn't.As the morning went on I only seen two other deer, one four point buck and another doe. Others in the group where seeing several bucks but, no shots where taken.The evening hunt wasn't much different, only seeing a few does.

 The second day was a little different. I didn't get out until about 9:30 in the morning. The weather was a bright sunny day, temps in the mid thirty's and the deer where on the move. The others where all ready on stand. I chose to hunt close so not to bother them. I headed down to the small clearing on the backside of the ceders and the cut field of corn.
It was a good morning seeing a lot of deer moving back and forth at the far end of the clearing. All out of range of my fowler. I did some grunting and rattling hoping to bring a buck in for a closer shot. I did have a young four point come in raking tree's and looking for the fight. He ended up only five yards from me before picking up my scent and bounding away.

 I sat until one before heading out to fix something hot to eat and drink then take a little nap in the warming sunshine.
I returned back to the clearing around three but moved further down  the edge. Picking a spot just inside of the ceders I sat and waited.
As time went by there where a few doe's that made there way out into the clearing milling about.
I then had a buck step out from the ceders about 15 yards from my right. He was a shooter! He stopped at the edge for a second or two then moved out across the trail to check a scrap on the other side. Presenting a 25 yard shot.

 Taking the shot the buck went down on the spot only to try and get back up. I had shot him in the spine and need to shoot him again.
With out getting up, I slid the gun to my side and removing another paper cartridge from my belt pouch and quickly reloaded. As I brought the gun up to prim the lock I discovered it was packed with snow. I quickly removed the snow and wiped out the pan using my hunting shirt and primed the lock. Getting to my feet and moving out into the clearing I was able to shoot the buck again putting him down. I again reloaded and approached the buck.

He was a fine 10 point buck. He was a three year old and a fighter for his left side had two of his larger tines broken off. He was a large and healthy deer and will provide a lot of meat for the table this winter.