When it snowed the deer finally showed.

The Deer season overall this year was a tough go . The winds, rain, and lack of snow until  December just made for a tough go setting up on the deer . There were mabye 2 groups of 3 deer together, withought that first snow the deer just had no reason to group up . Making hunters here in Western NYS go back to way's of the past . For us it was walk & stalk hunting , Groundblind hunting.  It just meant we had to be versatile & be willing to move & hunt the winds whether they were right or not. Although I had some serious issues this year with my aim. I can't say I didn't have my opportunities to take a buck . On the opener I had a beautiful 10 pointer walk right out following a scrape line, refreshing several scrapes before finally getting out around 50 yards out in front of me broadside, Only to have me miss him clean. :(   . Day two: was nearly the same nightmare  as the opener. A nice 8 point worked that same scrape that  the 10 pt. came out from  approx. 55 yrds. & ??? Yep again!!! I shot & missed , talk about dejected feeling, Well when It happend on day - 3, I decided to switch from my Remington 870. to my 12 ga. Rem.- 1100 . Well don't ya know from the day I switched to the 1100 , everything that could go wrong pretty much did . The winds, rain, etc. etc. became a nightmare causing most of the deer activity to be done mostly at night.  Then finally in Dec. the second week the snows came & "kept on comming" again causing it to be a nightmare , Until last week & a couple days . Then we started seeing groups of deer . & started filling some of our Doe tags . Carol got a button buck with her shotgun . I took a doe the day before . & then two mor does during the muzzleloader season, including one on the last day. But the good news is I finally saw a herd of about 40 - 50 deer lol, including 3 nice bucks  that gave me NO Shot opportunity. But we took 5- deer overall . To me thats a great season once again. And My Son Jeremy took his first deer a nice 15-1/2  inside spread 6-pointer. An  awesome deer for his first one with a Bow, the very 1-st year at age 15. We are Very Proud of him. Overall the quality time for myself & Family is what its all about for me & Carol.  When it was all said & done , we were able to take 5- deer , donate 2 & Our freezer is full . You know my fellow hunters. Its just a great gesture, if you've  filled your freezer & you have an extra deer or so , to Donate one or two to your Deer to the local food pantry . Here in Western, NY  There are several butchers in & around the area that will process the deer & see that the food pantry of your choice etc. gets the "Free processed meat. Its a Great cause & I always was taught what goes around comes around & for Myself, Carol & Jeremy Its in the giving that counts.