With my buddies Paul and Miranda closing on their new house they completed in the nick of time on December 22nd, I had to try to make it up there and get one last hunt in for the year. For I knew I would be in SD for the last week of the ND season. So after snow blowing the driveway and celebrating Christmas with my family, I headed the truck towards North Dakota and knew I was in for a long ride as they had shut down the two main interstates in North Dakota (29 & 94). The roads were not too bad until I got close to ND and then wind picked up. I had one two mile stretch of ND State Highway 81 where I felt more like I was driving a snowmobile then my truck as I was busting big time drifts, deep snow and just trying to stay moving along this short North to South stretch. Even had times where I was making some educated guesses to where the road was and even using the force a few times as I could not see from the blowing snow and the snow from the drifts on my windshield. After making that stretch I was laughing and actually had fun as it brought back some college memories of days gone by from going to school up there in Fargo. I finally made it safely to Paul and Miranda’s about 11 pm and got a tour of their beautiful home. 
Saturday morning came quickly as Paul and I wandered our way through his snow covered field and into his woods as the drifts were getting high and the storm was still blowing and in full force. With a NE wind, we settled into a double set we had for filming Splitter but due to the weather we left the camera gear in the house. We encountered a few deer close and saw a few more as the new coating of snow made it very easy to spot game walking in the river bottom winter wonderland. The about 8:30 am, the wind switched to the NW so we got down and split up and went to a few of our favorite stands on the farm along the river. I got settled in and immediately had deer moving in my area. I had one fawn come in directly below and a few other does fitler by within range, but I was still holding out for a buck. The morning sit ended about 10:30 as we made our long trek back to the house, ate breakfast, unpacked and moved some of their more stuff up stairs.
That evening, with the wind blowing and the snow still falling for the 3rd or 4th day in a row, we decided to hunt the Pines. We knew this was a great wintering spot for deer and with the adjacent un harvested corn and sun flowers we knew this would give us a good chance at some deer. On our way driving back into our hunting spot we met up with some deep snow and a drift that would not allow us to pass, as we buried the Ford in deep. 
So we just got out and decided to walk the rest of the way in and un bury the Ford after the hunt. Once inside the Pines we split up and each got set up on the ground next to some well known trails that the deer use every year. Knowing this farm real well and knowing it always hold some good deer #’s and some good bucks I was pretty excited as I felt we were in perfect locations. I had the intent of taking a doe, if I was given the opportunity. I got the tripod and camera set up behind a spruce tree and a perfect ambush spot as I was less than 10 yards away from the main trail. However, with the camera set up, I was forced to set up a lil more out in the open then I wanted to be. But I knew by the time they would see me, it would be too late and with my Naked North Snow camo on it gave me some extra assurance. Just a few minutes after sun down I caught movement in the next row of pines and saw some does filing by. I was watching the does making there way closer and that is when I saw him. I saw a buck in between trees that I knew had enough bone on his head for my liking and knew it was only a matter of time before he would give me a opportunity. I hit record on the camera and decided that I would just let the camera roll at the point of where I wanted to shoot. I clipped my release on my loop and got ready as the does now broke from the security of the pines and made their way across the opening on the trail that would eventually lead them within 10 yards of my ambush position. Just before the first doe entered the camera frame I drew my bow back and waited for the big boy to come down the same trail as I had 6 does and fawns single file coming down on the trail in front of me. The first doe stepped into the camera view and my shooting lane as she stopped broad side and took a look at me and decided I was no thereat at all and moved on. The next big doe however stopped, looked and decided to investigate further as she stared me down and knew something was not quite right as she was stopped perfectly broadside for a shot. It was tempting, however I saw that buck had also broke the security and was out in the open on this same trail leading to my location. I shifted my focus from the buck back to the doe as her eyes were burning a hole in me and I lost sight of the big boy. From the does vantage point I was out in the wide open, sitting at full draw, with my camera right next to me at less then 10 yards from her. She knew something was up but just could not figure it out as I tried to talk myself into shooting her. But I just couldn’t pull the trigger knowing that big boy was in the very close vicinity and possibly only steps behind her now. She finally gave up and moved on through as the next 3 deer funneled by, but no big boy??? I finally let down and never saw him again? I’m guessing he got nervous by the does body language and exited stage right? Wow, what an encounter to have much less on the ground up close and personal. I had another group of 5 deer funnel right by me just after legal shooting time. Paul had similar sightings as he passed up numerous deer including two decent 4×4’s as we shared our hunts at the truck and got the shovels out and started to dig out.
Both of Sundays hunts encounters were typical of my luck this year as I wanted to shoot a doe, but all the deer that offered me a shot were two 2.5 year old 4×4’s and a couple of fawns. As the light of Sunday evenings hunt begun to fade. I stood in the ladder stand at the field’s edge. Like usual on my last hunt in ND my mind begins to drift and I begin to reflect back on my year. I thought about all the great things that have happened this year like; Stacie shooting her first 2 bucks and her first deer with her bow in September, I also got to share yet another deer camp with my Dad up North, spending time hunting with the guys in Buffalo County, Paul shooting Splitter on the very same field I was currently sitting on. My thoughts then shifted to next year like usual as I began to think of things to do for the coming year and hunts I wanted to do. My mind then ventured into un charted water as I began to think of hunts 6, 8, 10, and even 15 years down the road as I will soon have a new hunting buddy joining Stacie and I on our adventures. Giving me another opportunity to enjoy the many “firsts” that I have experienced hunting and currently experiencing the last few years with Stacie. Well…. that is it for ND and I had TAG SOUP for dinner last night. I’m hoping next year things settle down and I’m able to get up there a lil bit more frequently and get my hands around some North Dakota horns. This week we will be heading to South Dakota to spend the holidays with Stacie’s family and will be doing some late season doe hunting on the edge of the Black Hills. Until next time Lip is Outie! 
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