Tweet
So I only had two days to kill a deer this year. On Thursday morning last week, I headed out to a place I know well and when things go right almost have a 100% success rate. I just set up on a higher point in between their cover and where they feed. Generally one of two routes are taken back to the cover, and if I get lucky, one is right in front of me equating to about 150yd shot.
So 0715 comes and I start watching the deer make their way out of the alfalfa field. The lead doe with two fawns stops and is starring down into a shallow draingage they have to cross. They turn around and run back into the herd where all 12 deer bunch up. Then I see a coyote come out of the drainage and start pushing them the opposite way I need them to come. After a few minutes, she leaves them alone and starts working my way. At 350 yds, I wasn't going to ruin my deer hunt and take a shot so just let her be. Pretty soon she is within 200 yds and my trigger finger is getting itchy, but the deer are still watching her and not committing to anything. In a couple more minutes the larger buck peels off from the herd and is moving west away from me. About now the coyote is about 75 yds from me and moving away. I thought I can still make this work and kill this dog. I whooped at her once and she stopped facing away from me. I let the 123 gr SST rip. Down she went. The deer started coming my way so I ran about 1/4 mile back to the west and got set up above where I hoped they would come through. I never saw the larger buck and believe we worked further west before crossing. I got lucky and the rest came right where I thought they would. It seemed as though they were still moving cautiously watching for the coyote. After a couple minutes I took the first buck that presented a shot. I ended up taking this little three point at 345 yds with the Grendel. One shot through the heart, back pedaled about 15 yds and fell DRT.
My friend asked me which one I shot first. When I said the coyote, his response was "what if it ruined your chance at a deer". My response was, "she was only 75 yds away". Sometimes it just works out!!
So 0715 comes and I start watching the deer make their way out of the alfalfa field. The lead doe with two fawns stops and is starring down into a shallow draingage they have to cross. They turn around and run back into the herd where all 12 deer bunch up. Then I see a coyote come out of the drainage and start pushing them the opposite way I need them to come. After a few minutes, she leaves them alone and starts working my way. At 350 yds, I wasn't going to ruin my deer hunt and take a shot so just let her be. Pretty soon she is within 200 yds and my trigger finger is getting itchy, but the deer are still watching her and not committing to anything. In a couple more minutes the larger buck peels off from the herd and is moving west away from me. About now the coyote is about 75 yds from me and moving away. I thought I can still make this work and kill this dog. I whooped at her once and she stopped facing away from me. I let the 123 gr SST rip. Down she went. The deer started coming my way so I ran about 1/4 mile back to the west and got set up above where I hoped they would come through. I never saw the larger buck and believe we worked further west before crossing. I got lucky and the rest came right where I thought they would. It seemed as though they were still moving cautiously watching for the coyote. After a couple minutes I took the first buck that presented a shot. I ended up taking this little three point at 345 yds with the Grendel. One shot through the heart, back pedaled about 15 yds and fell DRT.
My friend asked me which one I shot first. When I said the coyote, his response was "what if it ruined your chance at a deer". My response was, "she was only 75 yds away". Sometimes it just works out!!
Comment