OK Deer hunters!! The time has come. Mother Nature looks like she’s in as she’s considering blowing some cool air and light snow here in the Borderland on Friday night. Then it looks like we’ll have highs in the mid 30’s and lows in the high teens. Definately will get those deer moving. Stay put as the deer are going to want to remark some territory if we get some fresh snow and cold!! Here’s to a fantastic deer hunt!!! Feel free to share your hunting stories and post pics under this thread!!
You know it is Deer Camp time when your packing your truck for 3 weeks prior to leaving!!! I’ve been drawing up deer drives on paper plates for a month!! LOL!! Good Luck Hunters!!!
I’ll start with my story from last years opener!! “It was opening morning around 8:30 a.m. I watched a little doe over my back right shoulder(Always my back right shoulder no matter how I set up!!)LOL!! comes in for a sniff/browse… sniff/browse… for about 5 minutes. I let her walk off without alarming her. Obviously not as smart as the red squirrel giving me an *** chewing for the last 10 minutes!! About 45minutes later I spot a big bodied 8 point buck emerge over the tall ridge walking at a brisk pace right towards the saddle I’m watching. I’ve got him in my scope thinking he’ll stop for a second…Yeah right!! NOT!! He takes off running down the ridge, and I put the hammer down on him with my first shot. I stayed in my stand since I had only shot once figuring there might be a doe close by. 15 minutes later I spot another deer coming down the same ridge seemingly using the same trail. As I pick it up in my scope I’m stoked to see it is an even larger 10 pointer!!! Thank goodness for party hunting!! This buck Does the same thing and begins running down the ridge right where the 8 pointer is now laying. I throw a barrage of lead in his direction with apparently no connecting shots. I completely missed this bruiser, and now I’m kicking myself. As I sit motionless in my stand I see the big stomper sneaking up the ridge right at my stand. He comes to within 15 feet of my stand in a small shooting lane broadside looking the opposite way. I chuckle under my breath and squeeze the trigger. CLICK.. Out of freaking shells… RUKIDDING ME!! I forgot to put the last 270 cartridge in my clip!! When I clicked with no shot the deer became very antsy. I quickly but quietly tried to find my other clip. Oooooh. NICE!! Left the other clip in my backpack which is laying by the bottom of my ladderstand. This buck is stomping and snorting with neck swollen like a Rainy Lake Monster Pike!!! Uhhhh… He looks a bit upset also!! I’m helpless, and quickly getting a stomache ache for my oversight!! All of the sudden I find the single 270 cartridge which was supposed to fill out my clip after advancing one to the chamber. I carefully turn my gun over while this rutting beauty is a mere 15 feet away. I slip out the empty clip and begin to try hand feeding the single bullet into the chamber…. Really hard to do without making any noise mind you!! As the bullet finally is lined up I slowly start closing the action WHEN………….. The monster pins me in the stand. He looks directly into my eyes. It was the moment of truth. Do you still try move slow and quiet or do you go for it. I elected to make my move. I slammed the action shut, and quickly put the cross hairs on him. He didn’t move, and I put a clean kill shot on him. Went about 30 feet!! LIGHTS OUT!!! FYI I did get out of my stand after that!! Can’t remember my boots hitting the rungs on the ladder. Maybe I Jumped?? Can’t remember. In fact I ran down to the first buck, and than ran up to the second…. Raced buck to buck like it were a new Olympic event!! Likely the most exciting Big Woods Hunting expedition of my life!! Anyone who hunts the big pine forests here in Northern Minnesota know the true excitement of SEEING a buck let alone being fortunate enough to have encountered 2 stompers!! GOOD TIMES!!! 
Good Hunting!!