My First

After returning from a week in Oregon, it was back to the farm. Most of the work in the produce fields is done by this time of year. So the first couple of weeks were spent doing basic clean up tasks like picking up hoses, putting away machinery and cleaning out the barn and various out buildings. And then it was deer season. For the ten days of rifle season, daily life is pretty much geared to hunting. As far as hunting seasons go, I was told it was a hard one. Warm, full moon nights, very windy days and a good acorn crop, combined to delay the rut and keep the deer 'brushed up'. It wasn't until the sixth day of season that I filled my first tag. Thankfully, I woke up that morning to a heavy frost and no wind. Well before sunrise I hiked to my hunting spot and waited. When the sun finally rose, it cast its warmth on the hill opposite my blind of cedar boughs. Two hours passed and not an animal stirred. At long last a cow and her calf appeared. I figured my chances to get a deer that morning were gone. And then suddenly, just below the ridge of the hill was a doe. She had stopped in a small clearing to let the sun warm her. I knew I could make the shot. Using the blind like a bench rest, I quickly spotted her in the scope. I picked my target and fired - one shot. The noise from my 308 can be deafening. The little valley echoed. The cow and calf froze still, startled at the sudden boom. I waited a minute and then left the blind, crossed the little creek and went up the hill. I found the doe where she had stood. I was ecstatic and ran part of the 1/2 mile back to the house. This is my first deer.