A hunt to remember

by Ed
(New Lexington Ohio, USA)

First let me tell everyone that I have been a deer hunter for many years, ever since I was 16, I am 45 now. This story starts about six weeks ago when a real close friend and hunting partner for the past 12 years came to my house and told me that since I had gotten my disability pension that he had signed me up for my first disabilty hunt. It was held during the weekend of October 15 and 16, 2010. At first I did not want to do it because I did not think I would be able to. I have trouble walking long distances now and have a medical condition that limits my breathing. But he told me it would be good for me and he was going to be my guide. I agreed and on the morning of October 16 he was late to pick me up. We got a delayed start but once at the Whitetails staging area, and signed in and off we were to the woods. As we pulled in and he was parking the truck, I walked to the edge of the woods and heard a deer jump and run up over a hill. I was so excited now that I was finally back in the woods. I loaded my cva mag-hunter muzzleloader and we started to the spot he had set up for me. Once there, we sat down and I placed two deer scent lures out and waited. I love to listen to the sounds of the woods in the morning as the daybreak comes. It so wonderful to hear. I was watching several squirrels playing around a large oak when I notice that the wind had shifted and now at my back and heading down into the valley we were over looking. It was then I heard him. The buck began to snort, ONCE, TWICE then I heard something I not heard in over three years, he snorted and wheezed. I knew what this meant he was smelling the doe lure. I pulled out my grunt call and gave three good doe grunts, and put the call away. It was about 10 mins. when my partner signaled me that a buck was coming up the old road bed behind us. The buck kept coming until he was behind me to my left. I slowly raised my muzzleloader and took aim at only 15 yards. I was trying to set my scope for not drop but bullet rise. I clicked off the saftey and fired.. Down he went. I had just taken a very nice eight point buck. This was all made possible by Whitetails hunting organization of Perry and Muskingum County Ohio. Now I know and can slowly make my way around the woods with a little assistance I think I am going to try it more often now. Thanks to Kent and Brent and Whitetails of Perry and Muskingum County Ohio.