4 x 4 Buck
Lynn Olson (aka - Quietkate)

I would have to say it was a great rifle season for me... I got my first deer... a nice little 4x4. Here's how it happened...We left the yard at 10:35. I was feeling a bit disappointed... been several days since I had seen any deer... does or otherwise. We had planned on shooting the guns for a bit and then a hike into the pond to see what was shaking up there... but just outside the gate things changed. As we head down 494 Bobby spots a buck on his side. The buck is on his way up the mountain right into our yard. I jump out and have the safety off and the hammer ready. The buck never breaks stride and is only 40-50 yards away from me the whole time. I lose him in the trees so Indiana Jones (my guide for the day) gets the truck turned around and he knows right where that deer is going... so back to the gate we go. Out and open the gate... charge up the driveway so I can cut him off at the salt lick 50 yards from the kitchen window. I get to the salt lick just as the buck comes into sight from my right. Perfect shot... 20 yards' I get ready and...CLICK... what's with that... pull the hammer back again... CLICK... Geezzzz. I am not thinking. I eject the shell and the buck is paying me no never mind... but just as I get ready to fire again he spots me and leaps away in a rather relaxed manner. I'm sick, I have let myself down and my teacher / guide... oh god what a price to pay as I hang my head and walk back to the house....I have left the safety on. As I look up to make eye contact with Bob he is waving me on up the hill saying I can cut him off at the tree stand. Okay, what ever you say... so off I go to climb the hill and beat the buck to the corner. God, can I make it'my lungs are burning... I can't get air and my heart is pounding the blood thru my ears. Just as I get to the corner tree stand here come the horns again! God I get another chance... it is now or never. He never stops and is about to disappear behind some more trees... he is 40 yards away... I free hand a bead and this time the hammer hits home. The buck goes straight up in the air and comes down in the same spot and off he runs behind some trees. I know I hit him behind the right shoulder... a good shot. I wait for my guide to climb the hill... "I got him" I shout. The buck is down and dead in 20 feet, a good clean shot. The universe has gifted me today and I am grateful.