It took me 7 trips this year to get it done but I finally got it done today. And I am very proud of this doe since it is my first public land harvest. I was a little late this morning getting to my spot. I like to be in at least by legal shooting time and I arrived 10 minutes late. So I finally get settled in under my tree and within 5 minutes I can hear some footsteps in the distance. I couldnt figure out where they were coming from and then all of a sudden I see a large deer pop out of the creek about 90 yards in front of me. I think it was a buck but it happened so quickly I wasnt sure. All I could tell is that it had a big body. Didnt matter anyways it was gone. Thats OK starting out better than Friday where I never heard or saw a thing all day. So about 40 minutes later I can hear some crashing through the leaves and this is uphill and downwind of me. So I switch my gun to my left hand (which I plan on practicing from now on at the range) and sure enough boom I can see a deer through the brush at 20 yards. Ive got no shot and she has me pegged. She starts barking and stomping and wont shut up. I was ready to put a head shot on her and all she had to do was walk another 2 yards in to the opening and I was done for the day. But she finally runs off barking like crazy. Finally about 9:30 I see 2 deer hanging around the creek just milling around looking for acorns. They are about 100-120 yards away and I dont have a shot and I am still not sure if these are does or little bucks. So I get ready and in position for a shot and after about 10 minutes they finally came up to about 50 yards of me and once she stepped out in the open I popped her with a Hornady SST 120 grain from my 6.8 AR. Granted this is only my second deer ever and my heart was pumping out of my chest. I definitely did not take my time on my shot. As soon as that doe stepped out I popped her instantly and hit her about 8 inches to the right of the shoulder in mid body area. She crumbled right there and never took a step but it happened so fast that I wish I would have taken my time more andmade a perfect shot. I learned a lot of valuable hutning lessons doing this on my own and a great deal of personal satisfaction. Ive got to work the next 4 out of 6 days but you can bet come next week I will be back in my spot looking for a buck and a pig!!

Congrats on a great public land trophy.....you earned it.

Sounds you earned it. Good job and thanks for sharing!

Can't afford a lease yet but really enjoy hunting. Would love to hunt public land until I can afford one. Any tips for someone trying to get started?

Glad you got the deer!

Congratulations!!! Really happy for you!!

check out a few threads down about hunting partner for the shnf. I wrote in there what my strategy was.

Thanks guys. Looks like a hunter is finally born.

You will learn more about deer hunting on public land than most guys will ever learn hunting over corn.

Nothing truer than this.

Nice deer. Great job.

Congrats ! Well earned for sure.

great work!

Looks like a perfect shot to me. Congratulations!

Good on ya for sure, the hard work paid off, and will be a memory you will always have of the excitement you felt and well deserved satisfaction you earned.
Ron

Yeah I agree. No tracking and a quick clean kill in a darned demanding place to hunt. Great job.

agree & would like ta add pic up a bow... Nothing wrong with rifle, still use one at time, archery is close range & can learn it's behavor...
Dryfire see ya from Irving... OSBWMA is roughly 90 miles away... It's archery only, for deer, they have gun deer draw hunts... Jan-end of March is hog any legal means... it gets wet out their, but good time ta learn areas... GPS & if archery get a climbing stand,.can observe from distance,.& move closer... i carried pen & pocket sized note book, write done rubs, scrapes, & time of movement.. Best Wishes...
Again on nice deer Bigfoot ...

Thanks Colt and guys! Man those backstraps were tasty!!

Great job; you deserve it.

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