Lee Howard Pile Drives a Halloween Doe!

This bow season has been a tough one for me this year. I had one encounter with a spike buck early in the season in which I should have scored on, but totally dropped the ball with my yardage and missed my opportunity. I have been putting a lot of hours in the stand to no avail. Either the deer have shown up too late or they have been out of my effective range with my Mathews bow. I had really hoped to have gotten a chance at one before muzzle loader season came around but it just wasn’t meant to be.

October 27, 2012 and muzzle loading season had arrived. I knew that opening day was not going to be one to miss. The only problem was hurricane Sandy was pushing inland from North Carolina’s coast and we were already feeling the effects of her strong winds. These were not the ideal conditions I had hoped for. I headed to the stand anyway with hopes the deer would decide to move. I did see deer but it was only two yearlings so I opted to wait and take my chance at a larger deer. The morning hunt was a wash and the afternoon sit was met with the same conditions and same deer. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were also washout because Hurricane Sandy had finally made it inshore. Against my better judgment; I tried to squeak in a hunt on Monday afternoon and got winded right off the bat by four does that came into the field to feed. The wind was still churning. With the news of improving weather on Wednesday; I decided to stay out of the area on Tuesday and planned my attack for the next day. Wednesday came and I went to work as usual but this time I had my gear packed with me and planned to head to the stand right after work. Five o’clock couldn’t come fast enough. I knew I was already pushing my arrival time around the same time the deer like to start feeding. I jumped out of the truck headed to the stand but was met with an east wind and I knew that the stand I wanted to hunt wouldn’t work. I changed my strategy and humped it to another stand location. With the wind in my face and hopes for deer to start funneling out; I settled in. It wasn’t long before 3 made their way into the field. The deer walked right up to me within bow range (Go figure). I knew this was my chance and I didn’t hesitate. BOOM! When the smoke cleared, the largest of the 3 was on the ground! I took a second to calm down and gather my thoughts. I have never taken a deer on Halloween. One for the books and definitely a hunt I will never forget.

Before I go, I want the people along the east coast that have been affected by Hurricane Sandy to know you are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Lee Howard