After my first muzzleloader harvest last evening, I wanted to share some lessons learned while I am still fresh with raw emotion and reflection on my experiences with hunting and this amazing group. I just want to make a shout out to the New Hill Hunter Education and Mentoring Program (NewHEMP) for helping me make all this happen! I’ve sectioned this into four parts:
Part One: My weapon progression-
This is my 6th season hunting, having started in the New Hill program in 2020. I knew not one thing about hunting or weapons. Though I’m now a mentor giving back to the program, I’m forever a mentee and learning. I started this journey wanting nothing to do with firearms, they intimidated me. I started with a compound bow and was successful each season early on. Though I love it, archery is limited. Through the NewHEMP’s I have been so blessed to have found a hunting and fishing partner in fellow student Daniel. With his help and the support of so many in the group I successfully harvested with my rifle in season three then in also seasons 4 and 5! Last season Justin, another NewHEMP mentee turned mentor was instrumental in encouraging me enough that I decided to try muzzleloader this year. Last night was my first hunt with it and it was successful! It’s now opened so much more opportunity for me pre and during rut. Thank you, Daniel, Justin, both NewHEMP mentors and educators!
Part Two: The Hunt-Central Region Muzzleloader opener –
Beautiful day, got in the stand around 2pm. Heard deer behind me a few times and one deer walked right under my stand but no shot available. About 5-ish a doe came out about 75 yards away and crosses the field and takes extended time sniffing a branch. (I’m thinking scrape and licking branch) I get my gun up and cocked, ready for her to come closer but she spooks from something and blows bye bye. About 25 minutes later a buck pops out of woods 20 yards in front of me. My heart rate goes to at least 300bpm and I’m sure, he’s followed by a smaller 4 point. I manage to re-cock my gun and get his chest in the scope and squeeze the trigger. Blinded by the smoke, I only heard loud leaves crashing and can see that the 4-point buck is still hanging out where I had seen him before the shot. I don’t want to take him, so I wait, not interested in taking a second deer. He’s looking up toward me, weakly stomping his foot to see if I’d reveal myself. Finally, 15 minutes later he resigns and saunters down the trail away from me. I’m thinking he will go down to a mineral site I have nearby, but he wanders into the woods before it. I watch him for a while. I finally get down, having texted Daniel who was in another stand and my hunter friend. At the site he was standing at the shot, I can’t find one shred of a positive hit. No hair, no blood, maybe one scuffled area where he pushed off to run but nothing. I spend 20 minutes circling and am starting to panic, light would be lost soon. I’m texting my friends who are advising me as it’s hard to think with all this adrenaline and I’m second guessing myself. I think hard about where that 4-point turned and sure enough after a couple passes, I find my first drop of blood. The blood trail then becomes very apparent as I continue following the blood. I find my downed buck but seeing the shot might be a bit low and he is sooooo smelly I’m thinking gut shot. But no, it was a great heart/lung shot, and his smelly rut tarsal glands were just overpowering. If it hadn’t been for the little buck, it would have taken me so much longer to find this deer. He was only about 70 yards away from where he was hit. Anything you can note as where the deer was standing after the shot is so very important. That first drop of blood was about 35 yards away from where I shot him.
Part Three: Decisions-
This is my 9th deer harvest. I’ve processed all prior 8, having gained and practiced those skills through the New HewHEMP. But last night I just wanted to relax, enjoy a little toddy and relive hunting memories with Daniel, before he moves away to different pastures in a couple of weeks. I also wanted to get good rest to enjoy today. So, I took the whole deer to a processor last night. The preference would always be to self-process, but I had to give myself grace!
I encourage all to keep learning and growing and let grace in when you need it. I am so very blessed by all the lessons I have learned, the friendships and continued mentoring I give and receive through the New Hill program as well as the harvests I’ve gotten to fill my freezer.
Part Four: Happy Hunting!
By Cheryl, Mentor and Educator,
New Hill Hunter Education and Mentoring Program
