As an older hunter, my deer hunting strategies include knowledge of how deer use terrain and wind for movement, particularly big bucks during the rut. Instead of trying to track down a buck for miles, with my leg strength now on the older side, I look at topo maps for saddles and ridges where bucks bed for morning where updrafts carry estrous scent. And use saddles to slip from one side of a ridge to the other in early and late light.

Still hunting a long narrow ridge in the wind can get you a visual on a bedded buck that stands up to check out sounds and smells.

As it happened to me years back. I climbed to the top of a deep woods ridge in Northern New Hampshire and found a trail used by deer, moose and bear along its crest.

I hoped to find a buck bedded somewhere along the ridge. It was raining lightly thus muffling my footsteps. My nephew was already on the ridge and under a large fir tree as rain began to fall. I spotted him to my left and we walked toward each other to reconnoiter.

As we approached each other a buck stood out of his bed to my right at around 20 yards or so, as if to say “what’s goin’ on?” .

My nephew didn’t see the deer but watched me raise my rifle away from him toward my right, flip the scope caps making a pop pop sound as the scope caps lifted.

I could hear the click of my “safety” as I settled the crosshairs on the bucks chest. The buck stood broadside as I squeezes the trigger of my pet Ruger M77 in.338 Win Mag with 250g round nose bullets I hand loaded. Yes, it was a lot of Gun, I used it while on an African Safari! Why not on a big whitetail?

As the rifle boomed, the buck fell instantly. Astonished, my nephew walked to me. He said, “uncle, holy mackerel, I didn’t see that buck.” It was dead-right-there at my feet. The tree bottom behind the buck was splashed blood red with deer hair as if stuck in it as my nephew excitedly recalls. Below my brother and his buck on left and me with a grin with my buck. My nephew Jim kneeling to the right.  Son, Jason beside the deer in the background. Bruce on far left, Bob in blue jacket on right. 

I am looking forward to my hunt in just  a few weeks. I hope to take you along when I write my hunt article.

Deer density in northern Maine is low …but the bucks are huge! 

Think Positive- It Can Happen!