It's been a while since my husband, Tommy and I have sat in a treestand together. When I first decided I wanted to hunt, we were inseparable in the woods. He was my teacher and I would mimic his every move across the forest floor, ghosting from tree to tree in pursuit of the elusive whitetail. Though stalking was instantly a favorite method of hunting for me, Tommy would insist I sit in a stand, stating that stalking and/or hunting on the ground was the hardest form of deer hunting. Not impossible, mind you, but it puts you at a disadvantage; you're eye to eye with the deer, it's easier for the deer to smell you, your view is often limited, and unless you're toting shooting sticks and have the time to sit them up, you may have to shoot off-handed, without a rest. Tommy wanted me to be successful and would always frown when he'd catch me on the ground. After a few seasons, he decided that he'd let his bull-headed wife do it "her way", though he'd still encourage me to sit in a stand, at least for a little while.
When muzzleloader season rolled around this year, Tommy asked to sit with me in my stand. He used the excuse he wanted to video my hunt, but honestly I think he just wanted to keep an eye on me, since I'd been seriously ill for several weeks. Sick or not though, I wanted to be in the woods. I agreed and soon found myself and Tommy sitting in a two-seat stand in one of my favorite hunting spots. We had already seen five deer before getting into our stand... running a little late as usual on the first day of the season. It wasn't long before we spotted a young deer some distance away browsing away from us. Not long afterwards, a young doe and her young fawn appeared. Then a small button buck made his way past our stand, never aware of our presence.
I had sat in my stand about as long as I wanted and informed my husband that I wanted to get down. Though he knew it was still prime time for spotting a nice buck from our stand, he didn't argue and helped me from my stand. We had only taken a few steps though when I spotted a doe 80 yards away feeding. Nearby was a second deer. I froze in my steps and Tommy quickly did the same. Watching each others body movements is one of the things that we've learned to do over the years and we have successfully hunted together many times. Today would not be any different. Since I had drawn a Zone 3 Doe Permit, I knew that I could shoot either of these deer. In fact, I could've shot any of the other nine deer I had seen that morning, but I had been holding off, waiting for just the right deer to make its presence known.
Being caught out in the open with no cover, neither Tommy nor I made any movement. The look on Tommy's face made me realize that he was questioning my next move. He was holding the camera and I was holding the gun. When the third deer appeared, a much larger mature doe, I knew I would be taking venison home to my family in just a matter of minutes. I've shot off-handed many times, so was not concerned about my shot. However, this monarch doe had us spotted and was not going to give me a shot. In fact, her body language told me that she was fixing to make a run for it. I slowly raised my gun, as the ole gal gazed at Tommy. I had her in my scope... just needed her to make the first move. If she'd turn a little... that was all I needed. I saw her right leg move...
The blast from the Thompson Center Muzzleloader took Tommy by surprise and before the smoke had cleared I head Tommy hollering, "She's down! She's down!"
For years, I have read article after article written by men, stating that muzzleloaders are not for women. I've never understood that statement, and surely do not agree with it. My first deer was taken with a muzzleloader and I've taken a deer every season since with a muzzleloader except for last year. This is not the first time I've shot a muzzleloader off-handed either. My greatest fear of hunting with a muzzleloader was loading it, but soon discovered that it was not difficult at all. So if you're cutting your hunting season short because you don't muzzleloader hunt... then shame on you! If Wanda Garner can do it...you can too!
