 | the view from one of the deer hotspots
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Looking way across the valley, Jake finally spotted what looked like a nice buck with a few does, one of which was coyly leading him on a merry chase in circles up and down the same hillside, a prelude to mating. After capering through the alders to test his stamina, she finally stood for him. Another large buck headed up their way, and although it was getting late in the day, Jake and I decided to give it a try. We hiked as fast as we could up the hills, and Jake led me gasping to the last woody hillside where we`d seen them together. The doe broke and led several others and the buck up the draw. I quickly sat and put my rifle on a shooting stick, waiting for him to appear one last time at the top of the ridge. The buck paused at the top, looking back down at him, and I held on top of his back at Jake`s suggestion and shot. They all disappeared over the ridge top, and now we had to climb up three hills to see what had happened.
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