Weather man called for lots of rain, cold and 20-30 mph winds. I thought to myself, "TW, what the heck are you doing this for?" Ain't no deer gonna be up and moving in this! Well, I was wrong. I was hunting on a friends 118 acre ranch not too far from where I live in Albany, Oregon, hoping to get my first deer ever. He had told me of these three does that he had been seeing on the lower pasture near the Santiam river, and gave me permission to have a go at it.

Ron had told me that he was seeing the deer during the afternoon and towards evening. So, my game plan was to sneak in around 10:00 am and set up. That said, I headed into his lower pasture on foot and found a place to set my stool. It was pouring down rain by this time and the cold quickly seeped into my clothes and started my body to shivering. Naturally this was against my demands to stop.    :D   After about 15 minutes of that teeth chattering, body shaking, snot nose running episode, I decided to do some stalking.

I hadn't been on the move more than 5 minutes when, my mind says, "Freeze!" But, my body said, "To late, this foots going down."
And bam, I'm busted by those very three does. Now the fun begins. These does are about 60 yards from me across a heavily wooded gully and on the opposite side. I spotted them only because I was moving very slowly. Granted, this didn't stop them from seeing me!

After about an hour stare down with one of the does, I'm shivering so bad, I just know she can feel the vibration through the ground, two of them bed down and she turns her head slightly to the right. This gives me time to duck down behind a briar patch. I give myself a couple of minutes to let things settle down, primarily my chattering teeth, and begin a slow crawl down into the wooded gully. This combat crawl consisted of pouring down rain, mud, moist cow patties, mud, snot pouring down my face and did I mention mud?    :D    

I make a calculated guess and figure I've closed the distance to 40 yards and lift my head up to see where the deer are. DUMB!       You guessed it! After too much cold seeping into my body, I slowly knocked my arrow, rose to a kneeling position, took aim..........but, there was nothing there.       With two days left of my 2008 hunting season, I am still seeking that ever elusive first but, will be just as happy if it ends with todays episode.

PS: These were the only deer I've seen this whole hunting season. Thanks for tuning in.

Well take this to the bank.  When it rains and blows get your butt out and hunt blacktails.  All others will be warm and cozy but the blacktail loves the storm and gets out in the open cut areas.  We took more blacktails then you can count when the weather turned bad.

Mike

 great hunt and attitude. That's what I'm talking about. Thanks for sharing a great hunt.

Hey Sarge, thanks for sharing!

I'm heading out tomorrow into the teeth of the blizzard up here in the Cascades to try find an elusive Blacktail buck.

Good luck this weekend and email me pics of your deer Sunday evening!    

Way to go ,and best of luck to ya in the next two days I'll be out also

Fantastic story wannabe! Those are the moments that make this sport so fun and exciting. Keep at it and keep us updated.

Our second bow season is coming up day after Christams. My friends and I will be doing the same exact thing you just did. Can't wait!

Stay after them!

Great story on what sounded like a great hunt! Congrats!

Good stuff TW. You went the distance under tough conditions and got close. Good for you! Like Ron, I will be up at snow level tomorrow giving it one more try. Hoping that big rutted up buck that I almost hit last weekend is still in the area.

I just checked the regulations again on the late season....it ends today! For some reason I thought it ended on Sunday. I have to work today! Well my season is over...anyone have a good recipe for "tag soup"?  Hard to swallow anyway you make it!

Snag, unless I'm reading my regulation wrong, the late season ends tomorrow. Dec. 14th. Today is only the 13th. Best of luck to ya.

Thanks everyone. I'm on my way out for one last try at 'em. After yesterday, it has been a good season. Just love being in the woods! Good luck to those of you who still have some hunting left. Look forward to the stories.  

Yep, I was looking at 2009 regs...thought it was weird that the season would end on a Sat....? I'm huntin' tomorrow! Oh Boy!

Great story TW. I felt like I was right there with you as I read it. Thank you for sharing!

That's what I'm talking about

Jer Bear

I loved your story! I was with you every drip and kneeprint of the hunt! You certainly captured the essence.

Snag...I have a lot of tags I could send you if you are really making soup.
Killdeer  

QuoteOriginally posted by snag:
Yep, I was looking at 2009 regs...thought it was weird that the season would end on a Sat....? I'm huntin' tomorrow! Oh Boy!

Buy them books and send them to school...              

Good luck Oregon boys & girls!!!

 

That's what happens when you have too many things on your mind...like trying to keep your business afloat.

Good read...  

Well, Snag, did you make meat?