Posted By: Barbara Richter
My First Mule Deer - 11/18/2012 10:04 PM
It was a cool November 2012 morning, and my father-in-law (Gregg Richter), my husband (Joseph Richter) and I were on our second day hunting for deer. This morning was gorgeous; we had been out for a few hours glassing for deer. We had seen a buck right at first light but before I could get a shot at him, a coyote came by and spooked him! We were seeing some does, but no bucks, so Gregg decided we should try another spot.
About that time, Gregg spotted two does, and then Joe spotted a nice 4x4 buck following them about 40-45 yards up the hill. My heart was racing, and my hands were shaking anxiously. So this is buck fever that my husband had been warning me about! It was exhilarating. This fine buck looked like he would make a nice trophy, but he was covered a little by trees.
Joe helped to calm my nerves as he guided me to get set up for a chance at a shot. It all seemed so surreal; almost a perfect setup. I just needed to be patient and wait until the buck came out of the trees and provide the target I wanted for a one shot kill. I watched him through the binoculars, and sure enough, he was starting to make a turn out of the trees.
My heart continued to race as I switched to my .243 Encore and found the buck in my scope. Buck fever returned with a vengeance and produced an addictive endorphin high as this was going to be my first mule deer buck. Again Joe instructed me to 'just take a deep breath' to settle me down again. Gregg whispered 'get ready, here he comes.' Sure enough the buck emerged from the heavy trees, and I think I might get a shot. He seems unaware of our presence.
As the situation unfolds, it does so differently than I had pictured. The buck came out of the trees, but he continues walking across in front of us. And there is another tree that he is headed for! I was getting nervous thinking that I may not get a shot after all. Just then Gregg made a kissing sound and stopped him for me. The buck is now looking in our direction to figure out what made that sound. Now was my chance! I rested the cross hairs behind his left shoulder and squeezed the trigger. The .243 Encore breaks the calm silence with it's pleasing Bang and Rumble; I LOVE this handgun! As the bullet hits its mark behind the front left leg, the buck jumps up and runs up the hill a bit, and quickly disappears behind some trees. In my mind I picture him falling to the ground, waiting for me. Gregg says 'good shot!' He tells me the deer’s reaction looked like a perfect heart/lung shot, but instructs us to wait, as the accompanying does are confused, but un-afraid. He does not want us to spook them, as that may revive the buck if he is only wounded. After what seems like an eternity of anticipation and agony, the does finally wander off and we make our way up the hill to find My Buck.
After a few yards, trees, and brush we found him. Sure enough, I had made a one-shot kill, which was my main goal; the fact that it was on a Trophy Buck was icing on the cake. This moment warmed my heart and I looked to heaven to thank my Lord for answering my prayers.
This has been an exciting experience, and I hope to have many more.
