STORY PAGE
Deer At Deer Lake
Deer Lake has a history for me. The first time was before I entered kindergarten. My grandparents had a camp there. They didn't keep it long though. I don't know why. Maybe it was because they couldn't get along with the Association. Maybe it was because the Doctor's son (the Dr. was head of the Association) told me I couldn't row our boat in front of his daddy's cottage. (Being bigger and older than me, I just hit him on the side of his head with an oar.) Whatever the reason, our association with the Association was short-lived.
The next time I saw Deer Lake was when my wife and myself had the opportunity for a "good buy". It was two large lots with road on three sides and a large right-of-way to the lake in front. When the Association decided to pave the roads, owners would be charged by each foot of road frontage. As I wasn't a member, I refused. They in turn refused me use of access to their water line from their tank of spring water. (Come to find out, they had laid their piping over my property without permission. Funny, but that was where I planned on digging my foundation. They were quick to come to an agreement.) I never did build there. We sold not long after to another non-Association member.
Years later, a friend and I checked it out. With a name like Deer Lake why not hunt there. On opening day we were there before daylight. At the diner earlier we had gone over the signals we would use, where each would sit, and when/where we would meet for lunch. (We had packed lunches for the woods)
We went to the spots we chose. His was up hill. Once again, I went down. When I was in position it was not yet daylight. As I sat, I saw something move.
In front of me were two deer. They were feeding on leaves in the lower branches of a tree about fifty yards away. With little light and many branches, I could not tell if the deer had horns. Soon, it was officially daylight, but I still could see no horns. Then they both dropped their heads at once.
They both had horns. I decided to try and shoot both. My friend was a hundred yards or so away and if I did he would be there in minutes, we would both have our deer, and be on our way home. I was using a bolt action Remington .243 with scope. The problem was that it had a short barrel and when I fired, the flash from the barrel would momentarily obscure my vision. Both deer were facing to my left. I decided I would fire at the one on the right first, and during the flash I would move the barrel slightly left and be ready to go for the other.
I fired. I knew I couldn't miss. My vision returned immediately. The other buck had yet to move. I found my target, fired, and down he went. Before I even approached the two deer I fired three shots with my pistol to get my friend to come and help. I then went to field dress the deer. I was surprised. There was only one deer lying there. I looked around. There were so many tracks that I was not positive, but it appeared that the other deer ran directly toward where my friend had planned to be. There was however no blood by the trail. I could not believe I had missed my first shot.
I field dressed my deer. I took my time and then started to drag the deer back to the MG. When there, I hung it to a low branch just hidden from the car while I waited for my friend. He should have returned. He hadn't fired. I honked the horn three times to signal him to come to the car. I was getting worried. I decided to go look for him. I was just leaving, when he popped out of the woods.
He said, "I know, how far would I have gotten if you had not fired the three shots." I told him I wasn't joking. I explained about the deer I shot and the one that headed his way. He explained that he had missed his spot in the dark. At first light he found another that looked as good. He had just sat down when I had fired the three shots. He still thought I was joking and said, "Where is this deer you shot." I pointed to where my deer was. He went on, "You think that after you fooled me into coming back you are going to get me to look for a deer that isn't there?”
He finally went where I continued to point and found my deer. He started laughing. I asked what was so funny. He told me to come and see. This time I expected a joke, but went anyway. He pointed out the two bullet holes a half inch apart. "You dumb @#*#."He said, "You shot the same deer twice."
We decided to return home, hang the deer and hunt that afternoon. It would be my friends turn. We loaded the deer and then stopped at the diner for a fresh coffee and to show off my deer. Many from the diner came out when we arrived. They were laughing. Not at my deer, but at a couple of crazy hunters that had used a MG Midget to go hunting in.
The deer was big enough, that the front legs were tied to the left side door handle, and the hind legs were tied to the right side mirror, with the body on the trunk. We had to put the top down, tie the deer on, climb over the deer to get in, and then put the top back up.
That afternoon, we took my Lincoln. That is another story.
 | |
|