Benedetti Pines
coming soon. Don't forget to
apply for a Spring Turkey
license. Hunt dates and
more details will be
published as we get them.
this other doe, filling both of
my permits within a matter
of 15 seconds
hours that would be my last chance at a shot for a deer. At least in the
years prior to this season, I was able to see a deer but just unable to
get a shot off. This year, I had not seen any movement at all. My plan
was to get out of the woods by 10:00am, to get back to the cabin and
pack, clean up and close down the place before having to take the long
ride home. In my mind, I kept anticipating about how jealous I would
feel when I traveled home looking at all the other vehicles with their
game strapped to the roof or tossed in the back of their pick up truck.
By 8:00am the sun was up and sunshine rays were beaming through the
pines and tree branches. The temperature was warm for deer hunting,
not a thing was moving in the woods by the fourth day into this season.
Then in a moments notice, I had seen a deer dart through one of my
shooting lanes. The thought that my one and only chance had just past
without even being able to even bring my rifle to a shooting position
made me that much more upset. But now I was ready in the event that
another deer may be following the first. My entire sensuous running on
high alert, the hair on my arms and back of my neck were tingling with
anticipation. Please, one more opportunity I kept thinking.
Just then, another set of legs were seen underneath the pine branches
coming from the same direction as the first deer had past. This time I
was ready and brought my rifle to my shoulder and was peering
through the eyepiece of my 3 x 9 scope. The second deer had
sauntered right into my shooting lane and into the cross hairs. Without
hesitation, I clicked the safety off my rifle and squeezed the trigger. I
was so pumped with anticipation that I did not feel the mild kick of
recoil from the 30-30 Winchester.
The blast from the rifle made the woods come alive with deer as one,
two, three and four more deer dashed from the thick pines. As each
deer past my way I gave each one a close look hoping that one would
have antlers atop it’s head. Then two of last four deer, which jutted
past, came back in front of me no more than 20 yards away. One of
these two doe looked really big from where I was sitting. Even though
I figured that there was a high chance that the first shot hit its mark, I
could not resist shooting this other doe filling both of my permits within
a matter of 15 seconds. The second shot rang out and the deer dashed
back from where she originally came and died 20-25 yards from when
she was hit.
Finding the first deer about 35 yards from where it was shot, I
discovered that it was a small buck with nothing more than bumps on
its head. Had I seen the true size of this deer, I probably would not
have taken this shot to begin with. The second deer turned out to be a
big doe that the DNR aged it to be over 13 years old. What seemed
like a lost week of hunting that was almost over in a matter of hours,
turned into another exciting and successful hunt at Benedetti Pines!
Benedetti
Pines memory
& photo today
Pines Home Page
hunting weekend back up. Attendees were Uncle
Nick & Steve Benedetti, Victor & Eddie Selewski
and Frankie. It was flawless Michigan fall weather
at it's best as we explored and hunted small game
in the cross country ski trail system of the Hurron
National Forest near Hoy & Cauchy Rd. Plenty of
Black Squirrel to bag as we all enjoyed a relaxing
weekend in the woods. The event is planned again
for next year.
This buck was coming from his right to left around 8:00am. When Uncle Marv seen this deer,
he was on his knees straightening out his ground blind, gun not in hand of course. He and the
deer froze momentarily as they made eye contact a good 40 yards away. After numerous
seconds ticked away the deer put it's head down and continued to trot on it's course behind a
clump of trees. This gave Uncle Marv only a second or two to look back and retrieve his rifle
lying next to his seat. The deer made its way into another opening when Uncle Marv with
only iron sights to guide his aim squeezed off one round to what hoped to be a shot behind
the front legs and into the chest cavity of the moving deer. Moments after hearing the report
of the rifle, I left my ground blind to see what his shot was about. After explaining to me how
the deer came into his shooting lanes and had given him only one chance for a single shot, we
let a good fifteen minutes pass before we ventured out to looking for signs of blood to let us
know that his aim was true. As we searched we could not locate a single drop of blood to
lead us to a potential deer. Spreading out by 15 to 20 feet we decided to expand our search
pattern hoping to find this animal. The temperature was cold, the skies were overcast and
there wasn't any snow to help us track the deer. With no hoof prints to follow and no blood
to even confirm that the deer was even hit we continued our slow search. As I was making
my way through the heavy pines scanning the ground for signs of a deer, Uncle Marv calls out
that he had found his deer.
Sure enough the deer lay dead no more than 30 yards from where he was hit. A perfect shot
behind the front legs that went through the deer taking out both lungs resulting in a quick and
humane kill. As we high-five each other relishing in the excitement of this beautiful white tail
deer congratulations were in order. After a couple of quick poses and pictures with his prize
deer Uncle Marv looks to me and questions; How do you field dress a deer?
at Benedetti Pines. Uncle Vic, Uncle Ed, Victor, Uncle Matt, Big Matt, Jerry and
Eddie joined us during the 2003 deer hunting season. Big Jim Senclair and Jimmy
along with Uncle Ed and Eddie all took home deer this year. Congratulations Boys,
and we're looking forward to seeing everyone again next year at up the Pines.
