This year’s Maryland firearm season started off the same way it has for 17 years – my dad, brother, and me in the truck loaded with our hunting gear, on the way to the farm. There’s been a new addition to this tradition for the past two years now, my youngest sister in-law, Sophie, coming out with us. So we were all loaded into my dad’s truck, with all our gear, headed out to the farm very early in the morning.
Sophie and I sat in a ladder stand in a thin section of woods that overlooks two fields to the left and two very large fields to the right with woods lining the entire area. A few minutes after first light, I noticed movement to our left. Four small does came out of the woods and were working through the far field. We decided to pass on them in the hopes that we would see a buck. A short time later, Sophie excitedly nudged my leg and whispered “REALLY BIG deer coming behind us.” I rotated to look behind us and saw a doe moving through the field, going toward the fence-line separating the back fields. As I watched it jump the fence and continue moving away from us, I caught movement through the tree limbs. A large bodied four point buck was working its way along the wood line, coming from behind us. This was the deer Sophie alerted me of and it was only thirty yards away, coming our way. Unfortunately, the breeze was gently blowing right in his direction. The buck scented us and took off across the field to the right. The buck didn’t stop until it was at the fence-line at the edge of the field, 185 yards away. Sophie quickly got her gun up and tried to get a steady rest. The distance, unsteady rest, and excitement proved to be too much and her shot missed the deer. It quickly bounced over the fence and into the woods. The rest of the morning proved to be eventless and we all walked out of the woods with no deer.
After a meal and a nap, we were ready for the evening hunt. Sophie decided not to go out, early morning Black Friday shopping and limited sleep had left her in dire need of some rest. The evening hunt seemed like it may be a bust until I heard the unmistakable boom of my dad’s .300 Weatherby. I was overjoyed when I received the text from him that read, “Going to look for my buck.” He made a great shot on an 8 point buck.
Fortunately, opening weekend allows for hunting on that Sunday, so we were able to go out again the next morning. I’m not sure what the difference was, but deer were moving everywhere! I spotted multiple groups of does, but none of them came within range. Three different spike bucks walked well within range of my stand, but I passed on them all, hoping to see the very large 10 point that has been seen on the farm. Around 7:30, the woods lit up with the crack of my brother’s 30.06. Not once, but twice it rang through the woods. A quick text from him confirmed, “Two does down. 30.06 doesn’t miss.” Shortly after, he texted me and asked if I wanted to continue hunting. I told him to wait until at least 8 before we get down out of our stands. At 7:55, I heard what I thought was my brother shoot again. “Was that you?” “Big buck down.” My dad drove the ATV across the farm to me and we rode into the woods to my brother to pick up his deer. It’s a good thing I told him to wait to get down from his stand, otherwise he would have never had the chance to shoot an amazing buck.
What an enjoyable opening weekend of firearms season in Maryland! Check out the pictures of the deer my dad and brother harvested below. Let us know how your opening weekend went in the comments or forums!
