I have been hunting a few areas close to home this week with my ML.

Had a nice shot on a 2-point at 35 yards, aimed for what I thought was the hair of his chest, pulled the trigger, only to see wood fly and the deer trot off while I reloaded. After getting another charge down, I went to where I had hit, only to find that there was an 8 inch thick log, "deer hair" brown in color, with a .54 cal hole in the front and chunk missing off of the side.

I checked for signs of blood in the direction of where the deer went, following in his footsteps. No blood for over 100 yards, then I see him stotting away, very strong, about 75 yards away, and he just kept on going into the heavy timber.

My first miss at a deer in 15 years. Go figure.

Anyway, since Sunday I saw 5 deer last night, and 7 tonight, hunting in the units between work and home. I have skipped lunch to get out a bit earlier, and I have had no issue finding deer. That "magic hour" really is true.

I saw one fawn tonight from about 40 yards, actually just his eye and an ear. I walked at an angle, not looking at him, towards him, but not directly to him. I got about 5 yards away, with a small hemlock between us. Too close for him. He jumped up, and then the deer just came out of the woodwork. Three does and 4 fawns bounded away, all from an area within 20 yards of this little guy I saw. What fun!

You won't get me back to Seattle to live ever. What a hole. I wonder how many folks get off work there, and can hunt or fish on the way home. Last year I shot an elk on my way home, two years before a deer. Sorry you all live there, just don't move here.

Looks like I'll have no issue getting a deer in the late hunt when it is "any deer".

Good luck to you all, hope you get one down.