this is my last days hunt of last season i wrote it hoping to publish in a magazine but no luck so far so i figured i would share it here.. thanks for reading and any thoughts ...
DON’T FORGET THE BASICS
By Wayne Davis
The date was Dec.1 2007. It was the day before season’s end, with the thermometer tagging in at a whopping 13 Deg. Not familiar with this area as this is the first time I have been here. I try to get a lay of the land and make note where I can see trails or paths. I have no shot behind me with a slim chance at backside angles. I sit in a stand that over looks a small creek 50 yards away. With a ridge on the other side of the creek that goes from my right to my left about 100 yards straight out in front of me. To my left is the swampy ragweed of the marshy land with about 150 yards visible. To my right are tall pine trees blocking my view, Then I see about 80 yards of a golden rod field then the road begins to curve to where I can no longer safely shoot. With a light covering of snow on the ground highlighting the freshly used trails and a cold front moved in the night before. Along with a warm up of 15 deg. on the way in the next few hours makes for a good hunt. I’m feeling pretty good about today.
As I sit in my tree stand contemplating rather to leave or just freeze and tough it out, I heard the snap. That sound as many hunters can tell you, Will make you warm up fast. I slowly glanced to my right and there it was. A nice high rack 6 point slowly browsing along the pathway about 50 yards out. Completely oblivious to my stand or me. His rack was about 10 inches over his head and about 3-inch tines with small brow tines. Not a record buck by any means but being almost the last day and having not being able to hunt because of medical reasons, This deer was a freezer full to me. Has I pulled up my trusty Winchester model 94 30-30 with iron sights I placed the sights on it and waited for a clean shot. As it came out of the thicker golden rod it slowly started to disappear. The vital shot never presented itself and the deer seamed to be shrinking. Thinking I was seeing things. I looked without aiming and I watched this beautiful buck disappear down a knoll I had not known was there. As I watched the antlers start to grow again as it came up the knoll and back into view all I could do was watch this freezer full of venison graze and travel on. Now it was between the road and me.
As I was watching him leave I thought of a few things. First, there were no cars in view could I have taken a shot. Second, had I taken a shot would it have been safe one, And third, Why was I even contemplating these questions, I didn’t hesitate about letting him go. After a few moment I realized why I didn’t shoot. I had ethics and morals. That is what made me pass on this shot to begin with. Could I have taken the shot and harvested this deer? I‘m sure I could have. Would I pass this shot if it presented itself the same way again? YES, Without a doubt in my mind.
As I sit there thinking more and more about how cold I was and when it started snowing to the point where I was turning white. I wondered if that buck was my last chance. Two and a half-hours later the sun was shinning and the wind picked up. As I sat there looking at every snap and every movement, I see six deer running along the ridge. With only one stopping to my grunt call I glassed it and figured it to be a yearling. It was boxy with a short face, Not to mention really small at the end of iron sights at over 100 yards away.
After another hour or so I happened to see a huge deer coming through the brush into the tall swamp grass heading towards the creek at a trot. Seeing another deer behind it I got all excited. I remember thinking “ Ok this is it, A doe being chased by a buck ”. “ I‘ll let it get on my side of the creek and take it has it steps out from under the half down tree ”. As the doe popped her head out I realized she was huge, the biggest doe I have ever seen. Shaking that off I waited what seemed to be a lifetime, In reality maybe 20 seconds. Holding my iron sights steady at the exit of their path I see it step out. A doe, smaller then the first but a nice sized deer, both made that six point look small. I realigned my sights on the monster doe. With a thunderous crack I see her drop. The second doe came pass me within 10 yards and stood for about 45 seconds. Only having one doe tag I watched her slowly trot off in the same direction that the buck went.
2 weeks later I picked her up from the processing plant and put fifty-two, one pound packages in my freezer. On an average around here in Upstate NY you get about thirty-five, one pound packages from a doe. Thinking back on that day, If I took that buck I would have compromised more then my chance at this trophy doe, I would have compromised my ethics.
I realize now, ethics and morals are what keep me inline while hunting and in the rest of my life as well. As we teach the hunters of tomorrow, Before teaching them how to shoot, track, dress and learn the fundamentals of hunting. Don’t forget the really important stuff. Thankfully I had my dad to teach this to me and I truly hold this close to my heart. On May 4, 2005 I lost my dad to cancer. I guess this is proof that when loved ones are gone they really do live on, Inside of us.
Pass on the joy and fun of hunting and by all means, don’t forget the basics.
