Six Points

I went for another hike in Breckenridge today armed with a camera I didn’t trust to take a good photo. Wouldn’t you know that this would be the day animals were out in abundance. I made a big circle going to the top of one hollow and crossing over two then coming back to where I entered the woods via a lower route. Making my way through the hollows I saw quite a few squirrels, three turkey and one six point. It was so dry in the mountains being quiet was out of the question without standing still.

I entered the woods and came back to the place where I had encountered a deer a few weeks ago. This time I decided to sit on the hillside under a pine for a little while. I was about twenty to thirty yards up the hill watching the bed of the hollow. I had only been sitting there maybe fifteen minutes when this beautiful six point comes in from the direction of the road which was to my right. Being as there are fields on the other side of the road I assumed that is where he came from. If I had had a gun I could have dropped him a dozen times. I may as well have had a gun because even with the camera I still had the feeling. Other hunters will know the feeling I mean.

I’m sitting right in the open wearing a white t-shirt and he didn’t see me. Coming in from my right he gets to where he is almost directly in front of me, scrapes his antlers on a small tree then lays down. I couldn’t believe it. He was that close and I couldn’t see him with my camera. This would never due. I started looking around on the ground where I was sitting. I wanted to throw something down there to spook him and make him stand up again. I found one small rock and threw it to where it landed about ten yards behind him. That didn’t even phase him. I don’t even think he looked in its direction. So I start looking for another rock. Would you believe that I am sitting on the ground in the mountains and can’t find another rock? Finally after digging through the soft topsoil I did find another really small rock but didn’t think that would do it. It turns out he saw me throw this one and stood up. He had seen me that time and was very alert looking in my direction and slowly making his way back in the direction he had originally came from. Instead of going back to the road he turns and actually moves closer to me coming up the hill to my right. I think at this point he is just curious. He knew something was there but he didn’t know what it was.

My hands are shaking as I take a few pictures. He came within fifteen yards of me before he realized I was something to be avoided. He must have caught my scent because he has a snorting fit as he bounds off to the opposing ridge. I see him stop once and look back before he completely leaves the area.

I was excited and apprehensive because I had taken 8 photos with a camera I had trouble with before. And I was excited while taking the photos. I knew there was a good chance the photos would be blurry. Afterwards I came straight home anxious to see if any of the photos turned out good. I was in for a major disappointment. Not one of the deer photos turned out good. So what did I do? I took out the memory card and the batteries and the rest of the camera went in the trash.

You can see the buck in these photos but not well enough to tell what he is.

The photo below is just a little bit before he got as close as he was going to get.

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