How a rabbit hunter fills a freezer in just five seconds.
Spoiler alert! This story does not have any antlers involved, but it is interesting nonetheless. Fortunately, it doesn’t end with a big bowl of tag soup, either.
Opening day of Kentucky’s gun season finally arrived, and I headed to the woods, excited about what might be under the tree that holiday season. As a side note, you may harvest just two of the Kentucky four-deer limit with a firearm. That fact is not terribly relevant yet, but it will be later.
As my hunting buddy and I drove into our lease, I said, “It’s important to make up your mind before the hunt. Are you going to wait for a buck, or are you open to some good old-fashion doe management? I’m tired of two years of going without a deer while hoping for Mr. Big, so I’m fine with harvesting a doe this year.”
Conditions were good; it was about 35 degrees with clear skies. Since I didn’t have to worry about the weather, I had time to ponder the confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in the area. With my stand consisting of a five-gallon bucket on the ground, I was a little on edge.
Shortly after sunrise, a deer came in downwind as I sat in a small woodlot next to a pond. I had sprayed down with scent eliminator, but the deer knew I was there.
Around 8 a.m., a doe hopped over a fence and passed by out of range. About five minutes after that, another doe jumped the same spot. I did a quick “maaa” as she went out of sight. I didn’t realize it until she was almost on top of me, but she actually turned and came to within 25 yards. Her sudden appearance startled me, and I missed … twice. Chalk up mistake #172 of my deer hunting career. I don’t really log my mistakes, but I definitely make my share. It’s a good thing I’m blessed with an extra dose of tenacity.
After about 15 minutes, I forgave myself for missing and thought about what I had learned. First, if you call to a deer, be ready in case it responds. Second, move to where the deer are crossing with regularity.
I made my way through the woods as quietly as I could and sat down behind a tree near the fence. As I settled in, I got the feeling I was being watched.
I slowly glanced over my shoulder and saw a jumbo doe with a yearling in tow. The doe and I looked at each other in a classic Mexican standoff. Then she took a step forward along the fence.
She glanced back at me, stopped for a second and then took another step. She continued this routine several times.
Is this really happening? Why isn’t she running away with her white flag waving goodbye?
While it was great the doe didn’t bolt, I was still in a bad spot with my gun on my lap. How was I going to shoulder it and get a shot off with those two deer watching my every move from just 15 yards away?
As a five-year rabbit hunting veteran, it occurred to me that you don’t always have a lot of time to set up every shot. Sometimes it’s best to trust your instincts and let your body do what it knows how to do.
In one smooth, quick motion, I brought the shotgun to my shoulder, put the bead on the bigger doe’s vitals and squeezed. “Blam!”
I automatically pumped another shell into the chamber and had the bead back on the doe before she took a second step. My eyes focussed on the vitals to ensure I saw blood. Just then, I heard rustling to my right. I quickly and quietly spun on my swivel-seated bucket and saw a third doe. She was even bigger than the one I just shot.
And then came the moment of decision. “If you shoot that doe, your chances at a trophy buck get a little trickier with a crossbow,” I thought.
The third doe crouched in preparation to take flight as I continued my mental debate. “You always say you’re a meat hunter and that you can’t eat antlers. It’s now or never.”
“Blam!” The doe dropped from the air just as she was about to go over the fence.
What an adrenalin rush! Two mature does in five seconds!
Instead of tag soup I would be enjoying double-decker backstrap Dagwood sandwiches with lettuce, fresh ground black pepper, cheddar cheese and Dijon mustard.
The landowner was kind enough to bring over his ATV, so we didn’t have to drag the pair back to the truck. While my buddy and I marched along, proud of the conquest on opening morning, he asked, “If you had it to do over again, would you have done anything different?”
I smiled and happily said, “I wouldn’t change a thing. I just got the experience of a lifetime harvesting two mature does in five seconds … that was just too cool.”