No ducks, just deer

[Ed L.]

Our firearm deer season opened Friday and after not connecting in the past two years, finally one in the freezer. My area has produced some nice deer over the years but the deer movement has changed and I haven't changed with it. Friday morning a nice 9pt buck out of what I thought was an acceptable range for a slug gun went past so I didn't shoot. As luck would have it, 25 minutes later he returned and somewhat closer. I put the cross hairs on him leading a bit as he was walking and it was still a long shot. I fired and he went down like a bucket of rocks! That was the longest shot I've made on a deer with a shotgun. Once I found the deer and put a marker on the tree next to him I went back to my stand. I pulled out my range finder and it indicated a yardage of 92 yards. Not a long range for many of you but in this timber you don't usually see much over 60 to 70 yards.

Yesterday I had another opportunity and thought my lucks not that good. Another deer in the same area! I line up and it's a nice doe. Just before pulling the trigger I noticed movement off to my right. A yearling! I put the safety back on. They got a pass. As my partner and I are the only ones hunting this area anymore hopefully next year there will be two nice does in the area.

Now with the forecast coming in with lows in the 20s and highs in the 30s hopefully some ducks will come down before the river freezes over and our waterfowl season closes on December 16th.

 

[greg setter]

That is a really nice deer Ed, and a very good shot with a slug gun. I haven't hunted deer in about 20 years now, but I hunted in the Catskills with a rifle and in Jersey with buckshot and the woods are as you describe. It is rare to even get a shot at the range you described where I hunted also.

 

[Ed L.]

That is a really nice deer Ed, and a very good shot with a slug gun. I haven't hunted deer in about 20 years now, but I hunted in the Catskills with a rifle and in Jersey with buckshot and the woods are as you describe. It is rare to even get a shot at the range you described where I hunted also.

Thanks Greg. I inherited the gun I used from my father. He died in 2000 and I have managed several nice bucks with his Remington 870 Fieldmaster. He bought the gun in 1970. He always told me the scope is accurate at 50 yards and 100 yards. I'd never seen him shoot a deer that far but Ive never touched the scope. Every year I shoot a target at 50 yards just to make sure I haven't bumped it. It was very satisfying to take another deer with his gun and especially at this range. I hoped he smiled a little and I won't be making any adjustments to his scope!