This 2008 hunting season was a little more special to me this year than in years past. For those who don’t know I lost my dad and friend Bob Prim Sr this past January and this is the first visit back to my Uncle Wally’s Cabin since Dad’s passing. I have always loved the outdoors and have become an avid hunter and fisherman because of both my dad and Uncle Wally. So I dedicated this year’s hunt to Bubba (dad)

I arrived at camp the evening before shotgun season and assisted my aunt and uncle in the setting up of the stand I would be hunting from. My Uncle had been sending me photos from his trail cam and of the deer he had tagged during archery season and it got me real excited. It was a nice morning when I woke up Saturday am, and it didn’t take me long to have my coffee and breakfast because I couldn’t wait to get out into the woods. It was still dark when I walked to my stand so I had to go in with a flashlight but I could still see some fresh deer tracks heading to my stand from the woods where the deer were bedding. This got me more excited. I climbed up my stand then pulled my gun up (butt first) with the rope we tied on the side of the stand. There was still about 35 min. till daylight and I heard some twigs snapping across the swamp and when I looked toward the area where I heard the noise I saw 2 doe heads walking along the far edge of the swamp. They stayed well out of range as they walked up toward the acorn / Beachnut ridge, on the neighbor’s property. This made me shiver with excitement because I couldn’t believe Im seeing 2 deer in the first 20 min in the woods. The rest of the morning was uneventful as the deer did not come back at me. Later in the afternoon about 4 pm, I looked across the swamp and saw a Doe getting ready to come across the swamp in front of me. I tried to stay real still to allow her to continue toward me, but she stayed hidden. She looked like she may come out the other end of the swamp so I raised my shotgun and removed the safety and aimed where I thought she would come out in preperation for a possible shot . I finally saw her, I waited til she was broadside and squeezed off the shot . I missed low due to this being my first year in a tree stand. She immediately took off and stopped about 40 yards forward of where she was. I couldn’t get a clear shot, so I had to except my missed opportunity. I then lowered my empty gun down & went over to follow up on the shot, as the availabe light was fading fast.  I Prayed I would get another shot opportunity tomorrow. I woke up next morning even more excited. I went to a different spot where we had a chair set up near the edge of the swamp where the doe from the day before ran to. Most of the day was uneventful until, about 4:30 pm when I heard a noise behind me on the swamp side. I very slowly turned my head, and out of the corner of my eye I saw 2 Does again, coming up behind me about 16 feet. I was facing opposite them, so I couldn’t raise my gun. I waited for the Doe to get in front of me so I could get a shot, but as soon as I started to raise my gun, the chair I was on squeaked and they took off behind the fallen tree in front of me, before I could get a clear shot opportunity, I was not happy. But again it was still  so exciting to see 4 deer in just the first 2 days. The 3^rd day I decided around mid morning, to walk along the peninsula toward my Uncles other neighbors cabins.  As they were not hunting that day. My uncle Wally had gone the opposite way, and I figured maybe I could chase something up for him, and that’s exactly what happened. After about 2o min of walking Slowly, I heard a noise about 100 yards ahead of me, and saw a deer flag run off. About 5 min later I heard a POW !!! ,and knew my uncle had got a shot off. I started walking in that direction and heard a 2^nd POW I stopped, & waited a min or so to see if he may send another deer my way but nothing showed . Anyway when I got over to where my Uncles was he was dressing a nice 4 point buck, that was # 75 for my Uncle! that I had just spooked toward him :) your Welcome Uncle :) ( he he ) . So this was a good productive flush in any case. Day 2 and 3 the weather wasn’t as good but I still saw about 10 deer, even though they did not get close enough, it still excited me to see them. Wednesday night I was sitting in my stand and had told myself that I was not going to be fooled again !. I had already been fooled twice by the does, when I assumed which way I thought they would come. I was facing the swamp looking at the area where they go to eat acorns. And at that moment yet again ,I hear a noise coming from behind me to my right and there are 4 more does. I waited for them to get in front of me, Out in the open and took solid aim & squeezed!! Pow!! I shot at the biggest of the bunch. I was Blessed as my shot connected, and I was able to take a deer. I could almost feel Dad looking down from Heaven and smiling :) and saying way to go Son. I then dragged the deer to the cabin and called my uncle on the radio. He was sooo happy for me and he told me that "Your Dad would have been proud of you Rob". This season for me was very exciting and a good learning experience for me in the behavior of deer. I am looking forward to the 2009 season!!! and spending time with Uncle Wally and his family. I want to thank Uncle Wally and ( BOB SR. MY Dad may he R.I.P) for all he (they) have taught me and will continue to teach me about the hunting of white-tailed deer.

Rob Prim Jr