james
fallow doe
Saturday, February 20, 2021, 15:13

Took a ride up to north central PA`s Tioga ranch for this fallow doe taken from a herd of around 150 which with all the snow was easier said then done.. Picture a foot or more snow covered with an inch or more ice with another six inches of snow. Pretty to look at but a bitch to drive an ATV or walk... Anyway it took time to single out a female that gave a clear shot around 60 or so yards and with a little too much trigger pull I managed to hit her right front leg where it joins the body and then the chase was on. Trying to get another shot caused her and another doe to break off and head to the wooded hilly area with me and the guide tramping through the ice which was a little to much for this senior citizen. Found her bedded by a blow down and missed the shot but sending her back to the herd and after some time I had a clear shot putting one through the lungs and another quarter away that exited the right shoulder. I did not want to chase her again. From start to finish took about three hours.... I went home with some really good cuts of venison... An interesting point was the amount of hunters the ranch has hosted, whether because of Covid or the weather or both, that has topped the usual numbers at this time of year by a very large amount... Cabin fever??