And a Second deer has managed his way into my freezer...

Last week end was cold and drizzly, but if the wind is low (and it was) that won't deter deer movement. Being in Uvalde County, the rut runs a little late (first part of December), and the guy I shot was clearly sniffing the ground obsessively. I even spooked him 2 hrs earlier, but he wouldn't leave the area. Since the wind was favorable, I sat at the base of a big live oak, whose canopy stretched out like a sagging tent, and faced into a gentle breeze. Sure enough, old cold nose came snuffing along.

He wasn't big, but he had a "deformed antler set" (4 points on one side, a large fork on the other side). This usually indicates an injury earlier in his life. I don't know if that would affect his abilities to pass on good genes, but Uvalde has no antler restrictions, and the land-owner said there were a lot of young bucks prowling the area. So I took him, and left the dressed carcass in Uvalde for skinning and processing.

I saw several axis deer, but could get no clear shot. In fact, one crossed the trail of the buck I shot, looked around, then reversed course away (I have seen more white tails noshing with Rio Grande turkeys than with axis, though they pay attention to each others distinct warning snorts).

Topping off my freezer allows me to give away Christmas gifts of venison; so far, I have distributed 8 packets.

My friend has invited me on another hunt in Christmas, but I may have to beg off.