Keep your eye on the target
- Bob Hanna: Someday
- August 13, 2018
- 1323
I just love the chatter this time of year among our sportsmen.
“Bin doin’ any fishin’? “Yep, bin limitin’ out up on the lake.”
“Got any huntin’ plans this fall?” “Yep, goin’ out west ta git an elk.”
Appalachian English is great. So much to do, so many places to go. So whatcha got planned?
A big shout-out and congrats to our local East Central Ohio Quality Deer Management chapter. You may remember the stories of the Youth Hunt last October and the Blizzard Banquet of January the chapter hosted. This chapter received due recognition on July 20 at the National QDMA Convention in New Orleans. They received awards for Regional Event of the Year and Branch of the Year, and Brian Yoder was named Regional President of the Year. They also were named National Chapter of the Year. Well deserved ECO QDMA.
As we went to “commercial” last time, I had my 7mm RemMag lined up on a great Colorado mule deer. As I squeezed the trigger and the rifle barked, the buck just absolutely stood still.
Take note, first of all, for those of you beginning to shoot. One of the best lessons to learn is what to do right after pulling that trigger or releasing that arrow. The answer should be absolutely nothing. More shots are missed and more animals are wounded by bad shots when the shooter gets in a hurry to see where the buck runs or how close to the bull’s-eye they hit. You’ve already lined up the shot; your eye is already pointed at the intended target (hopefully). Teach yourself to keep your focus throughout the shot and after in the scope or through the sights, on the target. This is called the follow through.
Anyway, I couldn’t believe my eyes. We just had my rifle sighted in the night before, and it was perfect. The buck just stood there. So I chambered another round, lined up the shot and fired again. After the recoil the buck just disappeared. I was totally flustered, even more so as I walked to where the buck had been standing and found very little blood.
What I hadn’t seen was he had been standing on the edge of a very steep drop-off. As I looked over the edge, I could see the the path he had made through the brush as he tumbled about 90 feet down the hillside. I could see his antlers rising above the weeds. I don’t remember (there we go again) if I climbed or leaped that 90 feet, but checking him out, I found two perfect heart shots about an inch apart. The first, evidently, had just totally shocked him enough to lock his knees and keep him upright.
First, of course, I thanked God for his provision, then proceeded to take pictures. What a morning.
The rancher showed up shortly after with the truck and helped me drag him to a flatter spot to field dress him. He insisted on dressing him, broken arm and all, as it was part of the service our guide was to provide. He told me he was on the way to pick up David’s elk that he had shot that morning also. Double that blessing.
Just remember, as our Someday philosophy reads, to keep your eye on what’s most important in your life: God, family and friends. Don’t forget to include yourself in those priorities. Focus on and follow through with your dreams and pursue them. Life is too short to be living in the tomorrows.
God bless!