| My brothers and I were nearing the end of a | | | | frightening any deer that might be lurking nearby, I |
| week-long archery hunt for whitetail deer in the state | | | | whistled. |
| game lands of Kentucky. We had seen only a few | | | | The hunter jumped to his feet and pulled up his |
| deer and none close enough to shoot. As the week | | | | pants in the same motion, his head turning from side |
| progressed we noticed that most of the sightings | | | | to side as he looked to see who might be nearby. I |
| were in one particular area, but since only one of us | | | | waved my hand again, but his gaze never traveled |
| would hunt there at a time, the deer would always | | | | far enough up the tree to see it. Grasping his pants |
| slip through out of range. On Friday, we decided that | | | | to keep them from falling down, he stepped into the |
| all three of us would hunt that area, to ensure that | | | | trail and took a long look in both directions. Seeing |
| at least one would get an opportunity to make a kill. | | | | nothing, he shrugged, returned to the bush, and |
| The "hotspot" consisted of two thickets, separated | | | | resumed his squatting. |
| by a dirt trail usable by vehicles and a strip of | | | | Restraining myself to keep from laughing, I whistled |
| hardwoods. One of the thickets had small saplings | | | | again. This time, the hunter paid no attention, |
| and brush, and the other a field of tall weeds. In the | | | | apparently satisfied that he was surrounded only by |
| morning the deer would leave the saplings, walk | | | | wildlife. |
| across the trail and through the hardwoods, and | | | | Meanwhile, the other hunter had reached the spot in |
| finally disappear into the weeds. There they could | | | | the trail that was directly in from of Merv and had |
| remain safely hidden. Our strategy was to make sure | | | | sat down on his folding seat to wait for deer. Like |
| any deer crossing through the hardwoods would be | | | | me, Merv waved his hand to try to get his attention, |
| within range of one of us. We took positions about | | | | but the hunter would not look up. |
| 20 yards off the trail and about 50 yards from one | | | | While our visitors entertained Merv and me, I could |
| another. | | | | see Titus was having some excitement of his own. |
| By the time the sun came up, all three of us had our | | | | He was standing up in his tree stand and was |
| climbing tree stands locked in place and were ready | | | | watching some movement in the small saplings. Less |
| for action. All was quiet and uneventful until about | | | | than 60 yards away from the foul smell below my |
| eight o'clock. At that time, I eased out of my seat | | | | stand, three deer were making their way toward the |
| and stood up, expecting deer to begin moving | | | | hardwoods. Just as my visitor was pulling up his |
| through shortly. Moments later, I began to hear a | | | | pants, Titus let an arrow fly at one of the deer. It |
| clanging noise coming from farther down the trail in | | | | ran a short distance and toppled, and the two |
| the direction of Titus's stand. Two hunters came into | | | | remaining deer fled back into the saplings. |
| view. One had a tree stand strapped to his back, and | | | | Although both the arrow shot and the running deer |
| the other was carrying a folding stool used for | | | | were audible to me, the man below me still paid no |
| hunting from the ground. I stared in disgust as they | | | | attention. He once again strapped his tree stand to |
| walked noisily past Titus and continued down the | | | | his back and continued down the trail in the direction |
| road in my direction. I couldn't imagine what bow | | | | taken by his partner. He was just out of my sight |
| hunter would be foolish enough to be walking around | | | | when he met the other hunter, who had finally |
| the woods at this hour when deer are typically on | | | | spotted Merv in the tree stand above him, and both |
| the move. | | | | of them reappeared and retraced their steps back up |
| When the two men reached the point on the trail | | | | the trail. They again walked past Titus and me, and |
| that was directly in front of my stand, they stopped. | | | | this time a deer lying on the ground as well, and still |
| After talking to each other in whispers for a few | | | | noticed nothing. |
| minutes, one of them continued down the path | | | | The hunters were nearly out of sight when my eye |
| toward Merv's stand while the other removed the | | | | caught some more movement back in the saplings. |
| stand from his back. I waved at him from my tree | | | | The two remaining deer were on their way back! I |
| to let him know that I was there, but he did not | | | | readied my bow and waited a few tense moments |
| notice, even though I was in plain sight just 20 yards | | | | until the larger of the two deer gave me a clear shot |
| away. However, he did not begin to set up his tree | | | | at 30 yards; then I drew and released the arrow. My |
| stand as I expected he might, but instead lit up a | | | | shot was high and struck the doe in the spine, |
| cigarette. I shook my head in disbelief. A perfect | | | | dropping it instantly. The smaller deer circled and then |
| morning, a perfect spot, and another hunter was | | | | made its way toward Merv. Minutes later, he shot an |
| sitting in my shooting lane smoking a cigarette. | | | | arrow as well, but unfortunately it struck a twig and |
| I stayed silent, not wanting to scare any deer within | | | | missed the target. The deer ran into the saplings and |
| earshot, and hoping the hunter would finish his | | | | this time didn't return. |
| cigarette and move on. No such luck, for he had | | | | After waiting a short while to see if more deer would |
| other business to take care of as well. Taking a quick | | | | appear and exchanging a few words using our |
| look in both directions, he lowered his pants and | | | | two-way radios, we gathered our kills and headed |
| began to squat beside a bush in plain view. | | | | back to the house, chuckling all the way. |
| Desperately wanting to get his attention without | | | | |