It would seem that my prediction in the November recap held true. We had a couple weather shifts that I was able to take advantage of.
Warming Up
It started with a slight break in the cold weather. I decided to check out a property that I’d never hunted before. The property consisted of a few scattered wood lots separated by cotton fields and backed up to public land on two sides. My plan was to leave home around midday and do some in-season scouting. I thought that maybe I would also find deer on their feet near bedding as it was a fairly pleasant day.
While walking down the turn row, I almost immediately jumped a doe. She retreated into a small wood lot that I then skirted around to see if I could cut her off. I didn’t but did find a rather fresh rub and scrape. Up until this point in my season, buck sign has been conspicuously absent.
Satisfied that the doe had gotten away, I continued on to my destination. Along the way, I started marking several well-used trails into the field. I cut up into the woods and was immediately met with thick underbrush and deeply cut terrain. There was plenty of evidence of deer use. But the only other deer I spotted were two does that snuck up behind me. I was made aware of their presence when they bolted. The rest of the day went without incident.
After the Rain
That warm front I mentioned was coming due and brought with it an increase in temps and a ton of rain. Normally, the rise in temperature might be seen as a bad omen. However, I’m of the belief that deer do not go underground just because the forecast doesn’t predict good movement. It also rained all night and I figured they would want to get out of bed. Predicted wind was out of the southwest. Perfect to hunt an area I knew to be extremely thick, rugged, and where deer like to hide.
The day started promising. I sat the first few minutes of light near a field edge. Rabbits and squirrels were stirring around me. Soon after standing up, I spooked a deer. I slowly made my way in the direction it ran. Still hunting is a great way to capitalize on wet weather. Moving very slowly, the wet leaves made my footfalls almost silent. I stopped every 30 yards or so to get a good look into all of the nooks and crannies of cover.
While cresting a hill, I heard a sudden noise that made me freeze. I crouched and looked around but couldn’t pinpoint it. Then it happened again. I looked off to my right and spied at least three does. One was tail up and stomping at me. She took a step behind a tree and I raised my rifle. She reappeared still staring at me but I couldn’t draw a bead on her vitals. As I was considering a neck shot, the whole group bolted.
I continued on in the same method until I came to an overlook where I could look down into an area of thick cover. I noticed that one large oak still had acorns and songbirds were flitting all about and posted against it.
Just as I was thinking about standing up, I spotted a doe coming down the hill followed by another. I waited until one cleared a tangle of vines. Direct frontal angle at about 40 yards. At the shot, the doe bucked and tried to run but somersaulted in the thick vegetation instead. It was 11am.
She was a healthy doe with thick hair and lots of fat. The bullet obliterated the heart and one lung. Luckily, there was almost no meat damage.
Due to the thickness of the vegetation and brokenness of the terrain, I opted to quarter her and pack her out on my back. I brought my frame pack just for this even though I was less than a half mile from the truck. Unless I have an easy drag and quick access to a skinning shed I’ve come to prefer quartering in the field where I can.
Two hunts. Two days of less than optimal weather. Multiple midday deer sightings and one doe in the freezer. I could not be more happy with that doe. It was a fun and rewarding hunt. The deer are always out there. You just have to adjust your plan for the circumstances of the day.
