Malcolm Dykes: When It All Comes Together

As deer hunters we all have a desire to score on that big old elusive buck with antlers tall and massive.

Rising early, bathing in scent free soap, dressing in adequate descented attire and driving ungodly distances to sit in the cold, going to great lengths to make that score.

In fact, that desire keeps us at it, for me over 50 years in the pursuit.
 

I have a close friend who due to failing health no longer is able to hunt and as a result can only enjoy the sport in others success as a world class taxidermist. 
 

Both he and his wife love to hunt but are no longer able to do so 

His knees are almost passed carrying him where he needs to go and she, due to a health issue as well, can't get far from the house. 

Both long to go back afield not only to score on a big old buck but harvest some good meat for the freezer as well. 

He and his wife are devout Christians and when I pay him a visit we sit and discuss scriptures linking them to current conditions in our world along with reliving our hunts together down through the years.  

Well, I can't fulfill both desired longings of them harvesting a trophy buck, but I could make for some fine table fare. 

Early on back in bow season one Oct. morning, I rose early, 3:30 early, and drove 110 miles one way to sit in a pop-up tent and fulfill part of my friend's wish, some tender deer meat for the freezer. 

According to the feeding chart I found online deer movement times were to be all at night not during the day that day. 

It was a 90-degree mid-day temp as I sat asking myself what I was doing inside that little tent because deer are not supposed to be moving. 

In all my years of serious deer hunting, I've come to know you can't predict deer movement. 

They don't show when you expect them and when you least expect them, there they are as that day. 

But low and behold, at 11:25 A M in walks this yearling deer just lately losing its spots making it like our dollar bill, legal and tender. 

I sat there for about 10 minutes admiring the little guy waiting on its dad to show up saying to myself, I ain't shooting it with my crossbow. 

But I thought of my friends needing some tender deer meat to enjoy and the longer I sat and watched this little darling the more I felt the need to harvest it. 

One pull of the trigger, that's all it took to let the air out of it with a clean ethical shot dropping it in its tracks. 

Not run off to be lost in the jungle I sat in like the young buck I had opportunity at with my last shot 3 weeks prior. 

I looked for over an hour in 100-degree heat and couldn't find it and wound up being wasted. 

That's the problem with a bow kill, the placement of the arrow has to be almost perfect or the chances of finding your deer are slim to none. 

I'm still upset over that.  

When I called and asked him if he could use some fresh deer meat he was overwhelmed with my offer. 

After delivering the deer to my friends and enjoying a cup of coffee with them, I drove off with a deep satisfaction that can only come when it all comes together hunting. 

Most times we who love to hunt come home empty handed with that big old buck still elusive and why it's called hunting and not taking. 

Not on this day I am writing about. 

It proved to be a blessing I made to come to pass, equal to any harvest I have been able to make. 

When it all comes together. 

Happy hunting to all.

God bless you and God bless America.