Coon Camp Springs Mule Deer Hunts – Part 1
Well, I’m back.
It was an eventful couple of weeks at Coon Camp Springs… too eventful, in fact, for me to simply summarize the hunts in a single post. Instead, I’ve decided to write up each hunt separately (although there’s a great connection between the first two). Here’s the first part, then… hope you enjoy it!
The huge mule deer stood broadside… not 40 yards from where I crouched with my hunters, glassing the thick brush. “I can’t see his head,” said Tom Henry, the senior of the father-and-son team. “Is it a buck?”
His son, Nolan, whispered back. “It’s huge, that has to be a buck’s body.”
“Does anybody see horns,” I asked?
It seemed like we were standing there for several minutes before I was able to spot antler tines protruding well above the juniper branches that obscured the deer’s head. Once I saw that, I was able to piece together the rest of the rack and head. I had been looking too low… this sucker was big! It was definitely what we were looking for.
“It’s a really good buck,” I hissed. “Kill it!”
“Did he say it was a buck,” queried Tom?
“It’s a buck,” answered his son. “He said, ‘kill it.’”
“What,” said Tom?
“SHOOT IT!”
At the crack of Tom’s .270, the buck hopped and kicked out his back feet, then tore out through the brush. His right leg was flopping. To all appearances, it looked like a textbook shoulder/heart shot. I breathed a sigh of relief, and started out to follow what I expected would be a really short blood trail to a really dead deer.
The last time the elder Henry killed a buck with his son was almost 35 years ago, when Nolan was a youngster of around six. They’d hunted together since then, but it seemed that Tom was destined to go home empty-handed every time he joined Nolan in the field. This year he’d bought two of our PLM tags at Coon Camp Springs as a birthday gift for his son, both as an opportunity to spend that time together, but also as a chance to break that long, unsuccessful streak.
This was the first full day of hunting with these guys, after spending the previous evening checking the zero on their rifles, touring the property, and scaring the coyote population with a few long shots. Since we had a little daylight left, we even sat and glassed for a while before heading back to camp for a big dinner of wild boar sausage with apples and wild rice.
At first light, we were back on that rock. Shortly after we settled in, I spotted some does off in the distance. They were way off the property, but we watched them as they slowly worked their way toward our fenceline. There were about eight or nine deer in the field, but no bucks that we could see (they were over 1000 yards away). Suddenly, Nolan hissed, “deer!”
I looked toward where he was pointing and saw the big bodies of two bucks on the ridge. Through the Leicas, I was able to immediately make out a thick, wide, four-point rack on the lead animal. The deer directly behind him was also a good buck, although his four-point antlers were a good bit thinner. As the deer moved behind some brush, I spotted a third buck, not as impressive but decent. The bucks obviously had an agenda to be someplace else, as they walked steadily across the hillside. Nolan whispered back up to me, “I think I can take that front deer!”
I hit the rangefinder button and ranged the buck at 572 yards. “Hold off,” I told him. “He’s too far for a good shot.”
Nolan chafed, but held his fire as the deer moved steadily along the sidehill trail. “Come on,” I whispered. “We might be able to close the gap if we go down this line of junipers.”
We slipped around, using the cover of the rock, and then the junipers to get closer to the ridge. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, the bucks had reached the thick cover. Since it was the first day, and the deer were unaware of us, I opted not to try to push into the thicket. I’ve tried to stalk through that stuff before, and it’s almost impossible to be quiet. If we pushed those deer out of the safety of their bedding area, I was pretty sure they’d just relocate across the fence onto our neighbor’s property. If we left them alone, odds were good that they’d stay around and we’d get another shot at them later in the week. Nolan and Tom agreed with my reasoning, so we decided to go back to camp, have a little lunch and then head over to another area that I knew usually held a buck or two.
Nolan was eager, and we didn’t sit around the table for long before we loaded up and headed down the trail. The mid-morning was warming up, and with the moon closing on full, I wasn’t really hopeful to see any deer on this little jaunt, but it was better than sitting around the cabin. You can’t kill deer sitting by the fire. Besides, a lot of great deer are taken when most hunters are napping the mid-day hours.
As we moved down the logging road, I felt the wind shifting. A look to the western sky showed clouds growing pretty fast, and the wind picked up rapidly. My original plan had been to still-hunt about a mile and a half to the fenceline and then make a long loop back to the truck, but the rising wind and gathering clouds suggested a change in plans, especially since we hadn’t even packed lights or rain gear.
With the wind practically roaring, and a definite feeling of rain or snow in the air, I decided to cut the “walk” short and head into a spot I call “Holly Springs.” I know that there are good bedding areas there, and I usually see a couple of good bucks here every season. The tracks around the road testified to the fact that there was something pretty big running around. Usually, though, the area is too thick to try to stalk through, even hunting solo. With two hunters in tow, I’d never even try to walk through this spot under normal conditions. But with the wind making so much noise and blowing the perfect direction, I felt confident that we could work the area… as long as we took it slow and easy.
Before we entered the thick stuff, I told Tom and Nolan to chamber a round and be ready. Nolan declined and nodded to Tom. “I trust you,” he said. “You go first.”
I put Tom slightly ahead of me, and we started into the junipers and mahogany. I think Tom thought we were just gonna cruise through to the truck, and I had to slow him down a little. “We’re going to be right on top of them,” I warned. “We need to go real slow.”
We hadn’t gone fifty yards into the woods when we encountered the buck, Tom’s shot, and the subsequent tracking job. As I mentioned, I was confident that we were trailing a dead deer. The shot had been so close, and the deer’s reaction was textbook. The deer slipped over a rock wall, and I was sure we’d find him down in the tangled brush.
But we didn’t. What we found was a slight blood trail… very slight.
Tom was shooting a .270 Winchester, loaded with 130gr Core-Lokt ammo. With a chest shot (which is what I thought we were seeing) there should be blood splashed all over the landscape. The fact that we were only seeing drips and splotches made me a little nervous. But I’ve seen weak blood trails on well-hit deer before, so my confidence didn’t wane too much. We followed, but the blood got more and more sparse.
Finally, about 200 yards from the shot, as we stood over a tiny blood droplet, I glassed the nearby trees and spotted the white face of the buck looking back at us from under a juniper. He was only about 65 yards away at that point. At first I thought his head was up, but then saw that the thick antlers appeared to be tangled in the branches. Nevertheless, I told the hunters to be ready, and move up slowly while I moved around to the side for a closer look. It was looking good, and I was happy for it to end this way… less than fifty yards from the road.
You probably already know what happened next. The buck wasn’t dead. Nolan started to take a shot from head on, but before he did I made the mistake of asking Tom if he was going to mount this deer. If he was, a shot in the forehead with Nolan’s 7mm Magnum would have been hard for a taxidermist to repair. This made Nolan hesitate, and the deer lurched to his feet. Before Nolan could recover, the buck was off on a dead run. Even with only three legs, these deer can move!
The escape told me two things. One, the deer was definitely not hit in the chest… or anywhere else vital, for that matter. The second thing was that we were in for one heck of a trailing job.
The blood-trailing job we did on this buck was worthy of the books, but since I’m not writing a book, suffice it to say that it was a real nightmare. It was also a true team-effort, since every time one of us would lose the trail, we’d mark the last spot and the others would spread out until someone else picked it up. We trailed through bunchgrass meadows, juniper thickets, and over a wide, lava bed. For the most part, blood sign was limited to spots the size of a pencil eraser.
When we finally came up on the buck again, watching his backtrail from beneath a juniper, Nolan didn’t hesitate again. Before I was even fully aware of what he was doing, the 7mm roared and the buck slumped from his hiding spot. There was much rejoicing.
It turns out that Tom had somehow pulled his shot badly, and his bullet went through the “elbow” of the buck’s offside leg. It was a crippling hit, but very likely would not have been fatal in itself. Had we not found him though, the buck would most likely have died at the teeth and claws of coyotes within a few days. I was thankful that we found him, and especially grateful that this father and son are true hunters with a strong sense of ethics. They stuck with a blood trail that many people would have abandoned long before. Kudos to the both of them!
Tom’s buck was a classic 4-by-4 with a 23 1/2″ spread. Completely dressed and caped, the carcass weighed 148 lbs on the butcher’s hook, and I’m pretty sure it was close to 250 lbs live. That’s one buck tag filled. The weather moved in the following day, and deer movement seemed to shut down. At the end of the day, Tom had to get back to the city for work, so he and Nolan packed up and headed out. Nolan said he’d be back as soon as he could to see if we could fill his tag.
Stick around. Nolan’s story is coming next and it really makes for one of the most rewarding hunts I’ve ever been involved with.
Man what a neat story Phillip,
Sure wish I could have been there this year. We gotta’ take a picture of the full body mount of mine from last year there at Coon Camp Springs for Daves portfolio.
November 5th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Michael, please do send me a picture of your buck and I will put it up on our deer page.
November 5th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
what a neat story
And hunters wonder why those of us who don’t hunt have genuine issues with it. I know it’s customary to leave animals after they’ve been shot, leave them to die, track them, hope to find them, sometimes lose them. I’m an old country soul and sadly, cannot avoid the fates I often witness for our animal residents.
In a nearby community to mine, there is a wild turkey roaming right now with an arrow through its side. None of us can catch him, and neither has the wildlife team we called been able to snag him. He’s developing infection but can live for a long time in this condition. People in the area are horrified and didn’t realize this is sometimes the side effect of hunting. Here, in this post, you’ve established that even precise and experienced hunters such as yourself can lose animals this way.
I came upon a hunting scene not that long ago in Montana. Watching the agony of an animal suffering not just for minutes, but for hours or a day (or days) was simply unfathomable to me. The hunters in question would not shoot the animal in the head for the same reason. This was a hunting zone near public areas, otherwise those of us who witnessed it wouldn’t normally have been privy to the hunters’ private world, to see how it really went down.
I can’t explain to those of you who kill for sport, what it’s like for those of us who deeply care, to watch another living being suffer this way and be able to do nothing. Emotional agony doesn’t even describe it. You, as hunters, count on the general public not seeing these things. It’s not transparent and more people would be shocked by how un-quick many of these deaths are. They’ve been led to believe most hunting deaths fast, humane, compassionate.
But some of us have been around it long enough to have experienced at least a few scenes like the one you describe in this post. I still have nightmares about things I witnessed many years ago. It’s legal, there’s nothing I can do to stop the legal killing. But my heart breaks in 1000 pieces over it. Of course, that notion is subject to ridicule when I express it in a place like this. Compassion often seems to be ridiculed when its inconvenient.
You said: “Had we not found him though, the buck would most likely have died at the teeth and claws of coyotes within a few days.”
I hear hunters say this all of the time, as if “a few days” is an acceptable amount of time for any living being to live with that type of injury. Furthermore, you may not realize it, but more often than not, septic infection is what takes hold. And then, possibly predators. I’ve heard duck hunters say that their missed, injured ducks are going to be “coyote food.” In what universe? These ducks languish in wetlands where predators often don’t find them. And I’ve seen at least one shot duck retrieved after a week in a condition I can’t even bring myself to describe. Not dead, either.
It’s all a matter of course for you, I know. After a lifetime of hunting, you’re undoubtedly hardened to anything that might even be construed as feeling agony for the animal.
But I’m just saying you shouldn’t be surprised at the strong response the non-hunting public has to hunting, based on stories like this — inflicting such pain for the sake of personal enjoyment and gain. “Neat story,” indeed.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Mugs,
This is the reality of predator/prey relationships…whether human/deer or lion/deer. It’s not always clean and instantaneous, no matter how hard we may try. The difference is, that most of us human hunters, no matter how “hardened” our language may be, DO feel for the agony of our prey. This is why we take the extra effort to find it when it escapes, unlike pretty much any other predator.
While I’m painfully aware of the importance of the image of hunting, I’m also painfully aware of the cost of lying about what we do… or about painting this sport as anything other than it is. There was a time, perhaps, when I’d have hesitated to tell this story. But that time is past. I don’t believe in hiding reality. Folks will disagree with hunting for “sport”, regardless of what kind of spin you try to put on it.
But the way I see it, the real story here is about the extra effort that hunters will take to retrieve an injured animal, and to put an end to its suffering. We’re not always successful, but those who will put in the effort that my clients did are excellent examples of the kind of ethics that many (most) hunters embody. This was a terribly challenging trail, and there were several times when these guys could have called it off. I had serious doubts myself about the likelihood of finding this deer, but we stayed at it. As dark closed in and we knew snow was coming, no one wanted to stop… even for the night. Fortunately, just before dark we found the deer, because we didn’t give up and we did care.
None of us relished the idea of that deer being taken down later by coyotes, and that thought did not make anyone feel better about the situation. It’s just part of the reality that sometimes we’re imperfect.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Well said Phillip!
As always you are able to place into perspective the “Reality’s” of hunting and life in general.
This person Mug’s took one little statement and construed a whole “made up in their mind” story line behind that single statement.
Again as they always do, anthropomorphizing our prey and sustenance animals.
We all know that fact # 1 when dealing with animal vs human pain threshold’s that an animals nervous system is much less complex than a human being’s (less than 50 per square inch of skin as opposed to our 1,000 0r more)
So the pain which we feel from a razor slice to the finger is nothing more than the comparable pin prick to an animal.
It really was a “Very Neat Story” of Hunt, Stalk, and dedication to the Recovery of the ” Prey”!
At least that is how I interpreted the story.
And I am sure that is not how a B-complex vitamin and protein deprived individual has already pre-judged and interpreted the above story, for the benefit of their judgmental philosophies.
November 6th, 2009 at 2:57 am
[...] Coon Camp Springs Mule Deer Hunts – Part 1 [...]
November 6th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
We all know that fact # 1 when dealing with animal vs human pain threshold’s that an animals nervous system is much less complex than a human being’s (less than 50 per square inch of skin as opposed to our 1,000 0r more)
So the pain which we feel from a razor slice to the finger is nothing more than the comparable pin prick to an animal.
First, I appreciated the responses.
Second, I’d say prove it (to the above quote). Yes, you would tell me the same. The difference is, you can’t prove they don’t feel the pain we do, and the burden is on you to do so if you’re going to inflict injury and rationalize it based on that assessment.
In fact, some biologists are taking a completely different tack these days, speculating that we’ve long underestimated animals on many levels, including their ability to feel pain as we do. Even pigeons are now known to be self aware (recognizing themselves in mirrors), distinguishing between artists and works of art, etc. These are things we didn’t previously “know” and I would argue that we overestimate how much we do know. Animals can’t tell us. And we use that against them, unfortunately.
I’m sorry but I’ve seen animals in agony. They do suffer incredible physical pain and fear. Often, animals are stoic so people will interpret their responses as non-feeling. But you’re hunters — ever seen a badly aimed bow on a deer and how the deer reacts? People say deer don’t cry out. How about a bow-hunted turkey, anchored to the spot? My experience isn’t limited to what I read in this blog post. But the post saddened me deeply because it just reinforced in writing what I’ve sadly learned in my life. I was looking for hunting season information to see if the turkey hunting in my area is legal. I’m always dismayed at what I find.
By the by, I didn’t miss the point about tracking the deer and I agree with you — you are better than most for doing what you did and do. At the same time, I often hear “we left the deer until morning when we could better track it.” It’s not anthropomorphizing to suggest that deer suffered a great deal in those hours the hunters were away. I know you’ll never be able to explain to me in a satisfactory way, but I can’t fathom how one could go and eat dinner and have a few laughs when you know an animal you shot — whose life is in your hands — is languishing in the dark with that type of injury.
For me, that’s the inherent problem with sport hunting. It’s an elective injury that often (not always) but often does not relate in any way to necessity. And it can be handled any which way, as the writer Phillip says. You can choose to track the animal or not. It should be a mandate. I mean you take it upon oneself to take a life. And then, you have the freedom to choose whether or not you carry out that mission? I think we humans ought to be better than that. I know you’ll disagree, you’ll argue for a hunter’s freedom, a hunter’s choice. I think life and death matters should be more grave than that.
But again, the turkey with the arrow in its side is fresh in my mind, as he’s still wandering about. We’ll probably only be able to retrieve him once he’s so sick from the infection that he can no longer be saved. That hunter didn’t do what Phillip did — didn’t take the “sport” seriously enough to realize it was probably a bad shot and that turkey hunting with a bow is a very tricky thing. I personally think turkey bowhunting should be illegal. There’s no easy way to kill a turkey with a bow and there’s no licensing stipulating one needs to have the competence to shoot at them. There are no regulations about how adept one has to be to shoot at living things. That to me is just plain wrong. Whether you believe animals have feelings or not.
November 7th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Mugs, you raise some interesting points.
But first, disprove what Riddle said.
See, it’s a two-way street, isn’t it? And who will ever “prove” that animals feel pain the same as we do? Much of what has been ascribed to “self-awareness” has been logically challenged as nothing more than conditioning and training… or simple projection.
Hell, for that matter, who is to say that all humans feel pain the same? Many soldiers, wounded in battle, have said that they didn’t even feel the injury when it occurred. The same has been said by individuals wounded by accidental gunfire.
That’s pure academic theorizing at this point, and really, the fact is, you’re dead right on the key question. The question of how hunters can go out and do what we do when we know there’s a risk of causing pain and injury is a big one. I don’t have the answer to it. Yet I also feel, as deeply as a human can feel about anything so esoteric, that it’s still right. That’s the bottom line right there.
Hunters accept that risk, and then try pretty hard to mitigate it. I think that the vast majority of non-hunters, on the other hand, have no inkling of the amount of suffering perpetrated on their behalf, simply because they’re unwilling or unable to do it for themselves. If most of them saw the things that happen in the slaughterhouse, dairy farms, or poultry farm, they’d be aghast… not to mention what happens to “vermin” and “pests” in the name of agriculture, housing development, and highway transportation.
But this isn’t an “us vs. them” discussion, really. I don’t mean to set hunters up as somehow “better” than non-hunters or anything like that. I’m just saying that, in general, we do recognize the realities of life and death… and the suffering that’s attached.
And I think it’s a good thing for any hunter to challenge himself or herself on your point. How DO we feel about the possibility that we’re causing this terrible pain? Maybe a deeper consideration of that would make some folks stop before they do stupid things, like taking crazy long shots, flock shooting, or using a weapon that isn’t adequate for the job.
For what it’s worth, I think that you underestimate “most” hunters if you don’t think that the majority would have tracked that deer as hard as we did in this case. Some have less skill than others, which is a shame, and they would have failed at the task.
The thing is, my experience, and those of other hunters, isn’t limited to what we read (or write) on this blog either. For my own part, I’ve shared the field with literally hundreds of other hunters, and I couldn’t even tell you how many I’ve corresponded with over the years. The opinions and ethics run the gamut, but by and large you’ll find that not many of them would willingly leave that turkey running around with an arrow through it.
It strikes me that some folks think simple persistence is all it takes to find a wounded animal. When non-hunters find an animal that may (or may not) have been wounded by hunters, they automatically assume that someone shot it and just left it. The more likely case is that the hunter tried and failed. That doesn’t make it better, perhaps, in the eyes of someone like yourself, but that is the truth of it. And those who won’t try are scorned as much by hunters as by anyone else. That’s the truth as well.
I’ll add that I do believe that there should be certain regulations requiring competency. Many states actually do require bowhunters to pass a basic skills test, and this is a trend that is gaining acceptance. Competency is also becoming a standard part of hunter safety training in some places… where resources are available. It’s a lot more complicated than simply saying “this is the new rule,” though.
And really, it’s a damned shame that this should be the state of things, because there was a time when competency with your weapon was a point of pride, and most kids were taught early to shoot before they were allowed to hunt. With the urbanization of this country (and due in no small part to the efforts of anti-hunters), these traditions are failing. As a result, we’re seeing more hunters take to the woods without mentors and without the traditional ethics.
Things aren’t perfect in the world of sport hunting, and they never were. But even within our community, we’re struggling to find an ethical standard, because we DO recognize our humanity and we DO see that there is a responsibility here beyond our own desires. Personally, I believe that in many cases we’re going overboard as apologists, and to appease the folks who don’t understand our sport, but I do think we have a responsibility to kill cleanly and quickly, to follow up as best we can if we fall short. I’m also confident that this is a majority opinion among hunters.
You can’t use exceptions to disprove a rule, Mugs. That turkey you keep referring to is not the norm, and you know as well as I. It is exceptional, and that’s why it stands out to all of us.
November 7th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Two two great hunting stories and enjoyed reading both of them. Glad the deer was found and my congrats to the Father and Sons…priceless photos!
PS: Love your truck tag!
November 8th, 2009 at 9:33 am
[...] Coon Camp Springs Mule Deer Hunts – Part 1 [...]
November 8th, 2009 at 10:59 am
What a great story, Phillip. And what a great buck. Kudos to all of you for sticking with the blood trail and not that buck become coyote food. He looks so much better being held up by a proud hunter.
I can’t wait to hear Nolan’s story.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Phillip, great response, you make some excellent points and (yes, I did notice) some concessions on my points. I appreciate that gesture. By the by, I mentioned the fact that you could ask me the same — to prove an animal feels pain. But I also argued that it’s incumbent upon those who insist animals do not suffer to prove this when they’re using that to justify harming and killing those same entities. I’m erring on the side that they do feel pain because they share so much of our nervous system and physiology. I think it’s counterintuitive to assume otherwise when you look at the biology of it, and also animal behavior.
I won’t argue about commercial meat and slaughter operations. Don’t eat it, know all about it first hand.
The only thing I will take the time to challenge is the rarity of injured but not collected animals. I suspect that you have never ever in a million years left an animal you can track. But in as much as I’m putting my non-hunter’s filter on hunting, I think you’re also putting your responsible hunter’s filter on a wide disparity of humans who have no such qualms wounding or otherwise shooting like fools. Or even shooting responsibly but still injuring, as in duck hunting. To me, that’s an unacceptable effect of a sport that’s engaged in for fun. That’s the bottom line (I believe) for a lot of us, but I’m only speaking for myself.
As I mentioned in my first post, I’m an old country soul. So besides being around hunting and killing more than I wish I had been, I’ve come upon quite a few shot, wounded or otherwise deliberately harmed animals during hunting season. Including “incidental” take like cats, horses and goats. I know. That’s not “hunting.” But I’ve heard more than one young or ignorant hunter brag about the shots they take and the animals they shoot that I guarantee you, most hunters wouldn’t find acceptable. Oh, and I can’t even count the many, many squirrels and songbirds just left after being shot off their perches, often shot by kids whose hunting parents think it’s great idea to set them loose with a BB gun or these days, air guns.
A turkey with an arrow is an anomaly in a residential development, to be sure. But believe it or not, there was a similar incident last turkey hunting season near this area. And one before that. It’s adjacent to unincorporated open space which is where we suspect these poor turkeys are being hunted (or rather, wounded) legally (or that’s what I’m assuming until I learn otherwise). I wish the people shooting at these animals could see what happens because of their carelessness or bravado. Living with the consequences of the injury and suffering one has created should be part of the training. I know it’s not. But it should be. But show me a hunter who wants to put any more restrictions or mandates on hunting and I’ll show you a hunter who’s about to hang it up. Like my duck hunting friend, but that’s another story.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Mugs, I should point out something, and I hope you’ll forgive the extrapolation… but you said, “To me, that’s an unacceptable effect of a sport that’s engaged in for fun. That’s the bottom line (I believe) for a lot of us, but I’m only speaking for myself.”
I think the bottom line is that every aspect of this sport is unacceptable to you, and I can appreciate that as your own movie. These are the lines you’ve drawn to live your life.
But recognizing that, I also understand that in your criticism, you’re trying to leverage the aspects of the sport that are most vulnerable, like prying at a scab until it bleeds. Every negative example you point out is something that the majority of hunters are trying to bring to an end… the kids shooting songbirds, the idiots who shoot first and check the target later, and so on and so forth. There are a lot of them out there, no doubt, but the rest of us are making an effort to weed these people from the community.
The difference is, and what lets most of us continue to hunt, is that we recognize those aberrations and we know that they are not us. Fortunately, the majority of non-hunters recognize it too. It’s not a filter I apply. It’s simply the way it is.
Yes, there are still losses, and unrecovered animals and birds (especially birds). Most of us reconcile it with ourselves in some way or other, generally by trying as hard as we can to avoid those losses, but I also know that none of our justifications or deferrals will really make a difference to your opinion. It’s something we live with. If I could explain it in a better, more appealing way, I would, but that’s really it. It’s not perfect, but as I’ve said before, who among us is?
November 8th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Now that is more in tune with this blog Mug’s!
Your thoughtful and respectful response to the editors “polite” answers to your accusations were commendable.
And as the editor here says, your opinions will ultimately remain the same no matter which direction the conversation tends to run.
But, being polite and not sarcastic will keep the dialog at a nicely flowing pace, I can assure you though that had you visited my blog, I would not have been so tactful,patient nor nice!
November 10th, 2009 at 5:46 am
Phillip, I have had the opportunity to read all of the blogs regarding our hunt and my son’s hunt with his son. I appreciate you giving folks an apportunity to express all sides.
Let me start by thanking you and Dave for a wonderful life long experience. My motive in selecting to hunt this year at Coon Camp Springs was three fold:
1. To assist with the restoration of the area. I know that the funds go back into developing the environment and restoring the natual habitat.
2. I have hunted all my life on and off with my son and at the age of 62, I thought it would be a very nice opportunity to spend time together as we did when we were both younger.
3. My family much prefers natural wild meat. No hormones, additives, colors or perservatives. Mugs addresses the slaughter houses. It does little to make comparisons, but the tracking time that ultimately bagged our buck, pales to the torture and abuse our commerical beef, poultry and pork endure.
For point of clarification, I took no pleasure missing my shot. I can reflect back several years ago, my first buck was a much better shot. In the early 60’s my boss and I were hunting coastal deer. Coastal deer are not very big, but very evasive. A buck jumped up in front of my boss and he could not get a clean shot. The buck jumped to my right and headed straight down the hill to a logging landing. I took my same 270 at about 200 yards and dropped the buck. I amined and hit the buck directly behind the head. A clean and quick shot. There have been several in between this recent hunt.
In preparation for the hunt, I made careful preparation in conditioning and sighting in my rifle. Three weeks prior to the hunt, I shot a box of shells at target practice. Once I adjusted the scope, several shots were within center target at 100 yards. As you know, you and Dave required an additional sighting at 100 yards at the camp. As I recall, I was just 1 to 2 inches low of center. With that we all headed back to camp waiting for the next day’s hunt.
My shot at the 4×4 was just as Phillip described. I will add my thoughts. It was very windy and cold. I was out in front as Phillip described and he had to slow me down a bit. As we turned toward the forest, I spotted a very large deer, from the shoulders back. I could not see the head. When I first scoped the deer, I was very steady and had a perfect shot at the heart. I asked both Nolan and Phillip if it was a buck. Nolan said that it was huge and it must be a buck. That was not good enough, and I kept waiting to hear from Phillip. What seemed like a few minutes, but was probably shorter, both Nolan and Phillip responded, but with the wind I could not hear clearly what they said. I then made a cautious move, but one that turned badly for my shot. I turned over my right shoulder to read Phillips lips or hear him more clearly. Once I confirmed that it was a buck, I turned back quickly and by doing so, pulled my left arm down enough to miss my mark. No excuses here, just an explanation on why I missed the mark. An important learning experience.
I must let Mugs know, that I had pledged never to hunt again, if we were unable to ultimately secure the buck. I felt if I could not make a clean shot that resulted in a clean kill, I needed to rethink my hunting skills. I had equally pledged, that we were not going to give up on the tracking. We did spent hours in the pursuit, and I am proud of my son and Phillip for staying with me. There was no giving up on anyone’s part. Ultimately, the buck ended up at buck camp under snowing conditions.
I know that many hunters hunt for the sport and that is fine with me. My motives were listed above. For thanksgiving, I will feel good about providing my family with meat that is clean of additives that are in many cases harmful to the body.
Whereby I am not happy or pleased with my poor shot, I am pleased that we ultimately stayed with the tracking. Most importantly to me is that I waited for a clear communication from the guide. My turning did pull my shot off, but it was very important to me that I was shooting at a buck and I needed the confirmation before I fired.
Best Regards,
Tom Henry
November 13th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Thanks for dropping in, Tom, and for adding your perspective. It’s only through the eyes and mind of the shooter that we can know the true sequence of events, and you laid it out clearly.
No one WANTS to make a bad shot, but even the best of us do it sometimes. It’s what we do after the shot that makes the difference, and as I’ve said before, Tom and Nolan did exactly the right thing… they stayed after this deer until it was brought to hand.
Tom, it was a pleasure hunting with you and your son (and your grandson), and I look forward to our next opportunity! Hope ya’ll can make it again next year.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:07 am