So, closing of rifle season found TScott and I in the national forest in Botetourt County on a scouting walkabout. The plan was to take a doe if we had the chance, but mainly just to cover some ground and see if we could find turkeys or a bear by chance. Not 2 minutes out of the truck, we were greeted by a hen yelping loudly from the tree. It was going to be a good day! Not 10 minutes into our walk, we encountered a buck chasing a doe. They were out of range but got to hear a buck roar for the first time. About 30 minutes later, we push 3-4 deer out of their beds on a fairly open hillside. We head up the side of a steep ridge and happen into more deer sign than we've seen in the National Forest in years. Beds, fresh scat and rubs, all at the same elevation.. We set up several times throughout the morning and just watched for traveling deer, but saw no deer movement. On the walk out, at about the same elevation as the heavy sign, we pushed a buck out of its late morning bed. Found a heavily used trail on a finger ridge that was nearly to the dirt. After warm lunch, we explored another area and push a pair of does (likely a momma and her yearling offspring) out of some low cover. The only shot opportunity was on yearly, so we passed. Finding a field, we fired up the data phone and took a look at the aerial. Another field was nearby and more secluded so we moved on, finding very fresh turkey scratchings in between. We pushed a lone deer out of the second field, so we decided to make this field our evening setup. About 45 minutes before the end of legal shooting light, a pair of does make their way into the field. TScott and I are about 10 yards apart, which turns out to be about 8 yards too many for effective whisper communication. As is standard, I knew I had the deer on the left and he the one the right. Whispered several times, "On 3" but couldn't hear his response. So, I started the whisper countdown as loudly as I dared, "One, Two, Three...Boom" Turns out, the doe on the right had moved too far TScott to have a clear shot. My doe was hit hard and tore out of the field obviously mortally wounded. Later, we found her 15 yards inside the woodline with a large hole in her heart.

So, to those of you deer hunters out there with tags to fill, don't give up just yet. Late muzzleloader may offer up some fine deer if you burn some shoe leather and find them. As an aside, as I was processing the doe today, she was loaded with fat, something I hadn't expected with the lack of mast.

Congrats on your doe Dale, sounds like a great hunt! I am very much looking forward to late muzzleloader!

It was a good day spent with a great friend. Was happy to see so much deer & turkey sign. Went back this morning and tried my luck with the turkeys but things didn't pan out but they were in the area. Set up a couple of trail cams to try and catch a few pics of that buck.

Sounds like an awesome day! Congrats!
Vic

nice job on a good hunt.

Thanks for the encouragement!