Well, FINALLY it happened. After all of the mishaps I have had and posted about on here, my firearms season ended with the shortest hunt in human history. After at least 100 hrs in the woods and field in two states and probably 35 separate hunts, I found myself with about 25 minutes of legal light after decorating the Christmas tree yesterday on the last day of NH firearms season. So I figured I would go downstairs, grab the gun, put on the hunting jacket and hood and make my way to my blind 80 yds from my house. Not enough time left for scent control, warm layers, sprays or deer lure. My blue jeans, jacket and stinky balsam fir odor from the Christmas tree would have to do.
As I closed the basement door, I turned and looked and there.. about 75 yds away on the other side of my field was the deceptive, large, disruptive big doe that has been the bane of my hunting existence this year chomping on the uncut edge where the woods meet the tall brown remnants of goldenrod. She stopped grazing and gazed up at me as I froze in full stride under the shade of my porch. She waited, confirmed no more movement and by the grace of God, the wind was coming at me from her... This was too good to be true.
But it wasn't... I waited about 3 seconds for her to turn and she did, heading right for my blind I was supposed to be in and gave me a broadside look at the boiler room. I leaned up against the porch post, lined her up and let it fly. She went 5 yds and dropped like a stone. The whole hunt lasted 15 seconds from shutting the door to firing the shot. Now I'm not advocating hunting from your porch, but I think I deserved this one.
The only person happier than me was my wife who has put up with my hunting "hobby" to the point of delirium.
...Then I told her I would be heading out next weekend for the last of bow season. I still have two tags left to fill!