I had just remarked to a buddy today that although NC had been in for a month (bow and muzzleloader), and my SC tracts had been in for a month and a half (bow and gun), I had logged exactly 2 hunts in the tree, and those happened to be opening day of bow season. Work and life has had me preoccupied, and although good on all fronts, left me woefully unprepared for a deer/hog season that was passing me by...easily the most unprepared in the last (gulp) 25 years of hunting. Now before we go shedding too many tears, I've caught some great red drum, killed my first gator, okay, I'll stop the whining.
I found myself hustling home this afternoon on a windy, but clear day after 2 days of high winds and steady rain. Wind was 15-20 out of the N - A little more blustery than I would choose, but better than doin' paperwork or chores at the house, right? Showered up, camoed up, and decided to run to a pine plantation close to the house. I figured the pines would be a good refuge from the high winds, and deer may move through there more readily than the hardwoods in the wind. Given the proximity to neighborhoods and development, the choice was easy - the SSK Whisper. Combined with the YHM Ti can, the 208gr AMax's are silly quiet. Just a loud whoosh. Topped with the Burris 2x7 Ballistic Plex, I have it sighted in for 50 yards, and drops out to 150. Wicked fun.
Easing down the lane towards my stand, I had convinced myself that a big nanny was in serious trouble this evening. My lack of time in the woods had me seeing red, and I had converted most of my loins and roasts to jerky in the offseason. I had just about turned the corner to head the last piece to my stand when I spotted something brown through the brush - is that a deer up the road? I grabbed my bino's and pulled them up, just as he brought his head up. Scrap the doe plans!
But wait - the gun was unloaded, in a soft case, suppressor off, etc...I waited until he dropped his head, I dropped down out of view, readied my gun/ammo/suppressor, and belly-crawled towards the roadbed for a clear(er) view at the deer. Rested across my pack, I judged the distance at approximately 100 yards - 2nd hash on the reticle. Now just to wait for a clear shot. Brush, weeds, more brush, ugh. 5 minutes later, quartering to, head down...squeeeeeeezzzzzze. Whoosh, WHOMP. Deer down!
Distance - 96 yards; 208 gr Hornady Amax out of the SSK Whisper
10" brow on one side, 6" brow on the other with a 2" sticker; 12" G2's, 9 and 11" G3's - 180 lbs...great deer for coastal SC, and a heck of a way to start the 2013 season!
