This morning was unseasonably warm. I didn’t need to dress up in my full winter hunters orange. Just jeans, a light jacket, my outer jacket and hat. No gloves. Weird.

I made my way out to the deer stand about 1/2 mile away on the far western part of my homestead. It’s an old stand out there and I checked it over the week before. This morning as I climbed up, I discovered the top floor support was a bit wiggly and if I tried hard enough could maybe be pulled right off. I almost gave it up and went to another stand. Instead I decided to climb aboard–it held.

I settled in to the small seat. Last year when I was out there I spent many hours on that little chair in the treetops. I was prepared for that this year as well. Usually when I get seated I drag out my coffee thermos and relax. Today would unfold differently.

I sat for a moment and reflected on hunting with my dad. In that moment, I really miss him. As a boy growing up I spent a lot of time out in the woods up northern Minnesota, near Two Harbors. He had a cabin up there with a bunch of his buddies. I remember many of their names too. Lyle, Paul, Gordan, and others. The camaraderie was strong with them. They always included me in as well as much as you can for a 10 year old.

I would go out in the woods and sit with Dad. He’d tell me to sit still and silent. Just listen. Back then I didn’t realize that is one of my favorite things to do as an older man. I’ll take that over any type of crowd or noise. In all of those times, I never once shot a deer.

I joined the navy right out of high school and I did do some hunting in Maine when I was stationed there. That was back in the late 80’s. Last year was the first time I picked it up again so it’s been a long time.

This year I headed out on my own. I was hoping to get the boys up for opener weekend, but they had other things going on. As I sat there I could hear rifle shots all over the area surrounding me. The season was on.

My reflections were snapped back to the present when I heard noise off in the distance. I noticed two or three doe walking along from the south to the north. Straight ahead in front of me. Then suddenly two more came crashing up from the east, behind me. Something had them spooked. Daylight was just getting to the point of being able to see through the grey of the trees. I watched them for a moment.

I was just thinking about dragging my coffee out when I heard another sound directly in front of me. I saw movement and grabbed the rifle to look through the scope. I was thinking another doe when I first spotted it. He then raised his head and I about shit. The rack on this monster deer was huge! He was poking along behind those earlier doe. I followed him through the scope and watched. He was oblivious to my presence high up in the tree. Straight out, I’d say he was about 60 feet. I waited for the right position. His lifted up high as he sniffed the air in his pursuit. That’s when I’d figure he’d smell me out but the wind was still.

I followed him along further. He stepped behind a cluster of trees. Then he turned around and stepped right out in an open clearing for me. A perfect broadside angle. I lined up for a high shoulder shot. Breathed. I don’t even remember pulling the trigger. The rifle jumped! I looked out past the scope expecting to see the deer running off. I didn’t want to loose him.

But I couldn’t see him! Where the hell did he go?

No where. He dropped immediately where he stood. His grey coat blended right in with the landscape. I climbed down out of the stand in disbelief. I had only been up there for 30 minutes. At 7:10 am, I shot my first deer! Ever. I was so excited.

I made my way over to the buck laying there on the ground. He was still moving. When he heard me come up he tried to get up. I didn’t let that happen and dispatched him quickly. I could have let it bleed out and die, but that seemed cruel.

I moved up next to him, taking in the sight of my first kill. I was leaning against a tree admiring this beautiful deer and feeling grateful for his sacrifice to my table. I looked up when I heard another noise. Here I see another buck coming along from the north. Just walking along totally unaware of the scene taking place just yards from him. He finally looks over at me and can’t see me. I’m perfectly still. Yet he finally looks right at me and knows there is something wrong. He actually started coming in closer to me! Just a young buck with two spikes and couple small branches at the end. I suppose technically that would be a four pointer. He was getting closer when I finally moved and he just jumped in surprise and bolted the other way. When he jumped and snorted, three more doe further back from him jumped and did the same. I was surrounded by deer! If they put their resources together they might have been able to take me out. Thankfully, we’re not there yet.

The night before I had reviewed several YouTube videos on how to field dress a deer. Today needed to be especially speedy given how warm it is out there. I thought I could just do what the videos told me to do and I’d be done in 15 minutes. Ummm. Nope.

I’ve never dressed out a deer before. After a bit I cried uncle and decided to call my neighbor who I know is quite skilled in this practice. Don said yep, thankfully, and headed on out to find me. He got there and helped me finish out the cleaning in short order. I was having trouble because I wasn’t feeling any of the typical landmarks where the lungs and heart should be. My shot had gone right through that area and chewed things up pretty good. I’m also thankful Don came out because he helped me drag this beast out to a clearing by his 4×4 with trailer. It took the both of us to get it on the trailer then into the bed of my truck.

I headed right out to the meat processor over in Askov. There was a line. As I got out of the truck, a couple guys pulled up behind me and got out. They quipped suggesting this was deer season, not moose season; a testament to the size of this beast. I was feeling pretty good about all of that. Instant camaraderie with total strangers. It’s hard to believe that’s still possible given the climate of this country right now.

I didn’t take the deer in to be weighed and I’m not going to have it mounted. Who would want that after I pass? I’ll keep the antlers and mount those to the side of my shop and start collecting those I supposed. I’ll get the deer processed into steaks, chops, roasts, summer sausage and sticks. Should be some stock for my freezer.

Here’s the pictures.

As I write this and look the pictures over I really wish my dad could have been here with me. He would have cheered me on and been proud.