The following morning, I had an appointment to see my Dermatologist, Dr. Waldman in Monroe, NC and had an afternoon appointment to see our Optometrist, Dr. Holly Kiker for an eye exam.  While at Dr. Waldman's office, I pointed out a place on the top front of my nose that didn't look right of which he agreed.  He cut a little plug out and sent it off for a biopsy and I was to return in two weeks for a follow-up.  That afternoon, I got an eye exam from Dr. Kiker and she said I had an abrasion below my right cornea, prescribed some medicated drops to help prevent infection and return in three weeks for a follow-up exam.

A few days later while in our local Walmart, I noticed a young lady in the next isle over starring at myself intently and I made eye contact with her and said, "I am getting ready early for Halloween" and she replied, "But it looks so real"; I grinned and said, "It is real", only in America!

SECOND ARCHERY HUNT

The following Friday, October 6, 2017, I got back on the same stand around 4:30 P.M. and around dusk dark, a small doe came in and starting munching on the shelled corn.  I didn't have any trouble this time getting a good sight picture through the string peep with the fiber optic pin centered and on the deer's vitals, since I cut the flexible plastic nose piece out of the face mask.  I released the arrow and it was a good hit and heard the deer fall down going to the left in some heavy cover, probably less than 35 yards.  It didn't take but a few minutes to locate the deer which was a this year yearling, of which looked much bigger in the later afternoon diminishing light.  The doe was field dressed and was no trouble dragging the deer out due to its small size, which was skinned, quartered up and placed in my basement game refrigerator for aging.  Several days later, the deer was cut up and vacuum sealed.  I didn't take any pictures of that small deer.  I witnessed one of our Anson County trophy hunters with a passion for deer hunting who harvested a fawn still in spots with an arrow and the fawn might have weighted 30 pounds on the hoof.  BTW, that wasn't his first fawn harvested with an arrow either...........grin if you must!  Been there, done that!  However, the yearling just harvested will be some very tender eating for sure.

The deer harvest was reported via the web.

The weather got very hot again and might have hunted a time or two since then, but decided to wait until our black powder gun season comes in on October 28, 2017.

FIRST MUZZLELOADER DEER TAKEN

I got back from my radiation treatment early on November 6, 2017 and around 10:00 A.M., I observed two does helping themselves to my broadcast corn.  The larger doe got spooky and exited before I could touch off a shot and the smaller deer which was a button buck stayed.  A little while later, the doe must have surmised that everything was ok, since Junior was steadily crunching the corn.  She presented a broadside shot and the ole smoke pole bellowed white/blue smoke and the deer exited to the right and all was quiet again.  I knew I made a good hit and didn't wait around any.  I put my back pack on and proceeded to track the doe.

I found small pieces of meat what appeared to be from the doe's lungs and there was a small blood trail which I followed at least 100 yards or more to the downed deer.  She was quickly field dressed using my latest custom made knife and it performed flawless.  I was able to open the entire brisket with the 4 inch length stiff backed blade which is not necessary to open a deer past the diaphragm since you can reach in and cut out the heart lungs, etc., but wanted to give the little blade a good field test and workout.  The blade thickness is only .063 inches and surprised how easily it went through the brisket.  That proves you don't need a knife blade .250 inches in blade thickness for field dressing deer, unless you plan to use it to open 55 gallon steel drums or for survival purposes.  With that said, a .125 inch thickness blade would certainly be the ideal thickness for strength, general usage and durability in my humble opinion.

Well pleased with the performance of the above knife.  Actual blade length is 4.125 inches +-.  This knife reminds me of the patch knives that Mountain men carried hanging down from their neck in a sheath and positioned in the center of their chest or attached to their black powder accessory bag.  I purposely did not make a finger guard, but used a piece of scrap brass to conceal the hole in the handle where the tang fit.

Custom knife in action, separating the anal track from the walls of the pelvic bone.  Check out my short story on Field Dressing Deer 101 which is hyperlinked here. 

I must say, this was one of the hardest deer to drag out, simply because the radiation treatment appears to be zapping my energy and strength level.  The last 50 yards was grueling and I could go only about 25 to 30 steps before I had to stop and rest, but finally got the deer out.  I believe it took me thirty-six (36) minutes to drag the doe out to level ground where the little red Ranger truck was parked.

The deer was field dressed, quartered and placed in my basement game refrigerator for aging and later processing.  I plan to grind everything except the back aka loin strap and tenderloins.

That should be some "beautimous" tasting venison for sure.

The deer harvest was reported via the web.

Web published by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-07-17.

PROCESSING THE DOE

On 10-09-17, I deboned the neck, shoulders and hind quarters of the doe and ended up with 23.5 pounds of meat.  I placed the deboned meat in the freezer for a few hours prior to grinding the meat into burger which puts less stress on the 2/3 hp meat grinder.  The back aka loin strap and tenderloins yielded 2.75 pounds, of which I sliced the back aka loin strap and kept the tenderloins whole.  Everything was vacuum sealed and placed in my basement freezer.  Just for curiosity, I weighted the bones from the neck, shoulders and hind quarters and they came to 18 pounds.  Guessing the live weight of the doe was around 90 lbs. on the hoof.

Check my Hunting 2012 page for a better pictorial essay of deboning a deer under the paragraph titled, "After your Deer is Down."  I borrowed that title from one of Leonard Lee Rue III books.

There was a smaller pan of ground venison that I didn't take a pix of.

I formed the meat into about a one pound ball and then into an oblong shape to easily go into the opening of a Cabelas one quart vacuum freezer bag.

I ended up with 24 bags of ground venison.  The red stains on the work table in my basement shop is walnut stain, not deer blood.........grin if you must!

The clean-up of the meat grinder, accessory items and getting the grinder ready for the next usage is probably the least fun aspect of harvesting wild game, but definitely is necessary.

I have experienced a few health issue set backs this year, but give God the Praise, Glory and Honor in all things through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  I am thankful for each and every day that our Lord allows!

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-10-17.

SECOND MUZZLELOADER DEER TAKEN

I still had my antiquated Knight MK85 left hand muzzleloader loaded and decided to fire it at a deer instead of wasting a bullet/sabot, even though our regular gun firearms season came in on November 11, 2017.....guess that is kind of frugal.

There was no deer activity at one of my favorite hunting stands until around 5:30 P.M., guessing at the time, since there was still plenty of daylight shooting time left.  A button buck came in first, followed by a yearling doe and it was several minutes before a large doe came in from the opposite side of the broadcast corn feeding area.  I watched them for several minutes and kept waiting for a buck to appear, of which didn't happen.  I placed the crosshairs of the Leupold Vari-X III 3.5 x 10 x 50mm behind the doe's front shoulder, squeezed the trigger and bluish smoke obscured the entire area for several seconds after the muzzle report.

To make a long story short, I tracked the doe about 80 yards and quickly field dressed her with my latest custom made knife pictured above.  I opened the deer up from stem to stern which isn't necessary, but still field testing the blade which is performing flawless.

I hit the deer high in the lungs, which was several inches higher than my point of aim and believe it was the shooter and not the gun, but will bench shoot it before our next muzzleloader hunting season comes in.  The camera angle makes the hit look higher than it is, but still a very high lung shot placement.  The exit hole was much lower than the entry hole. 

After field dressing the doe and the long drag out, she was later hung on our White Oak hanging tree nicknamed Tom Dooley, skinned, quartered up and placed in my basement game refrigerator for a few days aging before deboning, grinding into burger and slicing the back aka loin strap.  I normally save the tenderloins whole.

This doe was processed and given to our Pastor Sam Abee.

I reported the deer harvest via the web.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-13-17.

NO BUCKS SEEN YET

I have only seen a couple yearling deer since the above doe harvest and decided to harvest some of the many squirrels that have been decimating my broadcast corn.  I lost count, but got four large squirrels yesterday during the day and two this morning (11-29-17).

Sometime before 10ish, I spotted deer movement and observed a couple yearlings, one being a button buck whose horns had broken through the skin.  He would not come into the broadcast corn area and knew something was amiss, since there was six places that had blood on the ground.  I watched a large doe in heavy cover and she was on full alert and circled the broadcast corn feeding area.  She was about 15 yards from the feeding area and nearly broadside, slightly quartering away.  By that time, I had the crosshairs of the Leupold Vari-X III scope which is a 3.5 x 10 x 50mm centered behind her right shoulder and at the crack of the muzzle report of the Remington 700 BDL left-hand rifle chambered in .270 Winchester, she was down for the ten count.  Pix below:

Upon field dressing the doe, the 130 grain Sierra Game King hand loaded Spitzer boat tail bullet ahead of 57 grains of Dupont IMR 4831 powder, the deer's heart was burst half in two by the impact of the bullet with part of the heart resembling sausage.  I still have reloaded .270 caliber bullets on hand that I reloaded on 08-22-99 and will probably never need to reload them again, no more that I shoot these days.  The ole saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and that bullet and powder combination is still working today.  Jack O'Conner one of my hero sports writers, sold me on the .270 caliber Winchester as an all around big game hunting rifle.  I still have approximately 1K of those bullets in stock, of which some of them, the soft point bullet is oxidized white. 

I checked the stomach contents and there was plenty of greenery, corn and a pile of small Willow Oak acorns about the size of the end of your little finger or bigger.

When I got the deer back home to the White Oak tree, she was skinned and quartered up.  There was no exit bullet hole, whereas the bullet lodged in the left shoulder and made havoc of it with most of it bloodshot and did not save that shoulder.

The doe is aging in my basement game refrigerator as I am editing this page.  A friend of mine, Calvin Jones wanted a deer shoulder and I will give him a call.

I reported the deer harvest via the web.

As stated earlier, I haven't seen a buck in the area of my favorite hunting platform and have two tags left in case one decides to show himself or another large doe.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-29-17.

FIRST LITTLE BUCK OF THE SEASON

On 12-07-17, I saw the first buck of the season near my favorite hunting stand at about 5:12 P.M.  I retrieved my antiquated Zeiss 7 x 42 armored binoculars from a close by hook and initially thought it was a doe, but he had small spikes which were hidden by his ears from the angle I viewed him from.  Another one of those "management" deer as our trophy hunters call them.  However, those sliced cubed loin straps prepared in onion and mushroom gravy served over a bed of sticky rice and biscuits, will certainly look good on a plate ready to devour by yours truly and my bride.  

Most know by now, I am definitely no trophy hunter and will harvest what is available for the freezer, but I try not to harvest a yearling. 

After placing the binoculars back on it's hook, the crosshairs of the Leupold Vari-X III 3.5 x 10 x 50mm scope was centered behind his left shoulder and low.  The little buck was not broadside, but at a quartering away angle.  At the crack of the muzzle report, the buck went down for the ten count. 

After getting him out and back to my hanging tree, skinning, etc., it was found that the bullet placement was about the same as on the previous deer harvested; the right shoulder (in this case) was totally shattered with bone fragments in small slivers.  I found the bullet copper jacket in the shoulder which mushroomed, but didn't find the lead core bullet which did not exit the deer.  That is the reason for the instant kill with all the energy absorbed into the deer.  I have seen another .270 caliber bullet core/jacket separation inside a deer, but normally the bullet will exit the deer with a 1 inch plus hole diameter.

It is good that I didn't have to track the deer, being somewhat weak from the twenty (20) radiation therapy treatments which was finished on November 22, 2017.  I can't tell any difference in my normal strength and endurance until I have to exert additional energy and then become quickly fatigued.  I give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ who deserves our Praise, Honor and Glory in all things! 

As evidenced by the pix, I still have the early 1980s Remington 700 BDL left-hand in .270 caliber Winchester with the home grown tiger stripe camouflage pattern, long before camouflage patterns were available on factory stock guns and the birth of Realtree and Advantage camouflage patterns.  I also did a Belgium Browning A5 12 gauge gold trigger shotgun the same way.......grin if you must!

The ole rifle has made many trips up Blewett Falls Lake, Pee Dee River, Anson County, NC when I hunted on the estate lands of Dr. Davis, which was later sold to Catawba Timber Company and managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, of which they do not manage the property anymore.  The Timber companies make big bucks (no pun intended) off leasing their land now to hunters.

Back then, I used a pair of lineman tree climbers to get into my tree stands and put a serious gouge into the stock of the rifle when climbing down the tree.  When I look back at all that heroics violating safety big time, I am thankful for the Lord's grace and mercy who kept me safe.

The little three point buck was skinned, quartered and placed in my basement game refrigerator to process on this coming Monday; the Lord willing of course.

I reported the deer harvest via the web to seal the deal!

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 12-08-17.

DEER WENT NOCTURNAL

Since the last deer harvested above, the deer at my favorite hunting place went totally nocturnal.  I broadcast corn out for them and they continued to consume it, but not in daylight hours. There hasn't been too much hunting pressure, however deer learn to adapt to the situation in order to continue to survive. 

This has been an excellent hunting season and shared the harvested venison with some of my friend that do not big game hunt, but love and appreciate the taste of properly prepared deer meat.

Got the ole .270 Winchester cleaned up and stored for another hunting season, the Lord willing of course and most of my big game hunting gear stored away also.  I still have a life line to remove from my archery practice shooting platform, but will have to wait until the weather warms up some.

I am thankful that we live in a country that allows us the freedom to hunt and enjoy what God has created for that purpose.  Anti-hunters, apparently don't have a clue about God's creation and the many things God has done for us including Salvation!  I do not support killing any animal just for a trophy to hang on the wall, unless you are utilizing the meat yourself or donating it to a good cause.  We are to be good stewards over the resources that God has placed for our sustenance and usage.

It is 8 degrees F. here this morning and glad to be inside where it is warm!

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 01-02-18.

JUST CALL ME RODNEY DANGERFIELD

Today, January 3, 2018 at about 5:00 P.M., while exiting the dinning room onto the carport, I observed three (3) does less than 20 feet from the carport and when they saw me, they took to flight, but not in a real big hurry in exiting the area.  As stated before, I hadn't seen a deer around here since the little three point buck harvest on 12-07-17.  Deer certainly do know when to show themselves, once the hunting pressure is removed from their normal habitat.  In all jest, it seems they have a current copy of our hunting regulations.......grin if you must!  My hunting buddies got a good grin out of this one as well as did myself.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 01-03-18.

RODNEY DANGERFIELD SAGA CONTINUED

On 02-04-18, upon entering our driveway at about 8:30 P.M., there was a doe standing about 15 feet from our front porch.  She moved further out into the yard when I drove into our carport.  I think the doe smelled some shelled corn that I have stored in a 30 gallon plastic barrel on our carport.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 02-06-18.