Feeling a Little Wordly this Fall
Bear in New Jersey, then deer in New York!
Ok, maybe that doesn’t sound as ‘worldly’ to some, but it’s a start for me—and from a tree stand, no less!
Hunting from a stand is completely different from ground-level hunting. You're totally exposed and relying on the fact that your prey doesn’t usually look UP for danger. Movement is your enemy—so much so that even the smallest fidget can give you away. I’m someone who tends to shake my leg or rub my hands absentmindedly, which is a big no-no up here. Camouflage helps, but for someone like me, who can’t sit still, movement is the biggest challenge. Deer have a wide range of vision—even if they aren’t entirely focused on what’s above ground—they definitely see more than we think!
One of the craziest things I’ve witnessed so far: being surrounded by no fewer than 45 deer on all sides. Yes, I actually took a moment to count them as they maneuvered around me. It was a surreal sight.
Using a muzzleloader offers better range than a crossbow, but not by much. I kept my optimal distance at around 75 yards. Sitting snug in my stand, I pulled out the rangefinder to get my bearings. Now, all I could do was wait.
Time seemed to stretch—about 20 minutes passed. Then, a fork antler buck appeared—legal, but I decided to pass on him.
Another 20 minutes later, the floodgates opened, and deer flooded the field—but most were out of range. Fast forward to five minutes before legal light. A group of does spooked on a change in wind—they caught my partner’s scent and ran toward me. This was my moment.
With my rifle ready in a split second, I assessed the group for the largest target. I singled out the two bigger does bringing up the rear of the charge. As they passed within 50 yards, the two in the rear paused—one facing away, the other quartering away. That was my target.
I lined up the shot, aimed for the shoulder, and squeezed the trigger. Instantly, chaos erupted—deer scattered in all directions. Some took off, others froze in place. My doe bolted about 30 yards into the tree line and dropped.As I approached her, I paused—was that a buck? Did I miss the antlers? But no, it was a doe— the largest I’ve ever seen, almost like the Shaquille O’Neal of does! She was so massive I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
So, another tag filled in the U.S., and I set a personal best for doe size. If we’d had a scale handy, I’d definitely be sharing that too!
Tara Laidlaw