Adam's frist deer
Opening day of muzzleloader 1996 my son Adam and I headed out for "Jake's Place" as we have for the past ten years together still looking for his first deer. Adam was now seventeen and been carrying a 50 cal Thompson since he was ten. The day started off warm with heavy rains excepted, as we walked down the trail Adam told me he was going right at Deer pond and was going to post up at the end of the valley, I told him I would be at the tree stand overlooking the brook and would stay until the weather got to bad. Once the rain started there was no let up it wasn' t just rain it was what we called "side ways rain", around 10:00 not even hearing a shot I decided to throw in the towel and head out. As I  passed Deer pond and headed up the trail figuring Adam had lond left the woods and was waiting in the truck I saw three people coming down the trail, now to myself im saying who is going to be going hunting in this rain. Before I know it It was Adam and was he mad, he wanted to know way I wouldn' t answer him on the radio. Well after he let me have it he gave me the news that he got his first deer and it was a good size buck. The 4 pointer field dressed at 167 pounds, not only was it his first deer he also won the deer pool at the club we belonged to. The next three consecutive years Adam filled his tag by 9:00am opening day of muzzleloader and to this date still has not taken one by rifle. There' s only thing, I wish I could have been there right  beside him.

PHOTO OF TRUE STORY 6

I hunt the back side of Pentuckaway State park, Deerfield New Hampshire side about 5 miles from my house and have 5 permanent tree stands set up, they have been there for years. Its a mile and a quarter walk down a trail across posted land ( all down hill ) at the end of the day its all up hill! For Christmas 1998 I bought myself my a sportsman 500 ATV to get the deer out of the woods, but only drive it in to get the downed deer. I will not drive in to hunt I respect other hunters.

Opening day muzzleloader on my way to first tree stand I jumped a by buck, spent the next 6 hour in that tree stand, saw or heard nothing else. Next day went to same tree stand, saw nothing. Next day same tree stand around 7:30 saw movement, it was a doe she was about 125 yards in thick brush, see was passing left to right it could have been a decent short but a wont take a doe that early in the season. Next day same tree stand nothing again, it seems to be every alternate day they used the run. So again the next day same time same place here comes the doe again, I let her pass again. That afternoon I move my tree stand up into the thick brush where they have been passing through. The following day (alternate day ) nothing, next day same time same place I see movement coming down the valley, a nice buck 8 pointer comes around the corner, perfect shooting position from tree stand the only problem when I raised my muzzleloader my scope ( Im 1/2 blind too ) it wasn't a morning short ( pure sun ) could not pick him up, after squinting for about 5 minutes, a doe behind him turn't and went up the hill, he followed but stoped broadside about 100 yds away. It seemed to be a pretty good short so I raised muzzleloader again, gently squeezed trigger, misfired! Fist misfire ever. Took capper installed new cap and another misfire, fumbled for capper again I new I had an inverted cap coming up in the capper, while trying not to loose site of the deer and recap I drop capper from tree stand, waved good-bye to buck. Next day (alternate day ) nothing. I wont give up on the tree stand, next day 7:30 comes, 8:00 comes, 8:30 comes, nothing. Now Im disgusted I climd down tree stand load up backpack start up hill I get 50 ft from tree stand and here he comes, drop to knee, one short, one kill. Walk out got 4 wheeler, hoisted him up oak tree, field dressed, strap him down and said " thank you ", thank you for the best hunt ever.
Deer dressed out at 187 lbs 7 point