With the previous winter a tough one and more cougar on the prowl hunting was very challenging. Last fall I did not kill a deer which hadn't happened in many years. I found that I don't have to kill an animal to have a successful season. Don't get me wrong. It would have been nice to have shot that very big 3x3 white tail that caught me off guard or to have tagged one of the four bull elk that walked in front of me (elk season was over of course).

The highlight of the season was on the last day and I was in an area where I had some close encounters earlier in the season. About 8:00 am, not even one hundred yards away, a single shot
rang out. I was naturally curious so I found the source of the shot and the results.

A young man had downed a very nice 4x4 white tail buck and was taking care of field dressing.  He told me this was only his second buck and he had been hunting only about five years.   Even though I didn't get the buck I got a big kick helping this young man with his deer. I carry a camera in my day pack so I took his picture which I sent to him. I received in return a bag of deer jerky and a short note. He wrote that the mount of his buck will be at the March 98' Big Horn Show in Spokane.

 This was a very satisfying experience to add to the campfire stories.
 
Forkhorn