Ugh.  Went out Saturday morning with the bow, to the area I had the close encounter with the spike and other 2 deer in october.  Decided to take the same tactic, slowly walk the firebreak, trying to catch something out moving.  I would stop at a trail, if I found a good one, and hang for awhile.  Well, I headed down the firebreak, and first thing I noticed is that it was darn noisy.  All the oak leaves had dropped, and the area was blanketed.  Still, I made my way down.

Getting to the bottom, I was about 100 yards from where it bottoms out in a small opening, and the road T's.  I am glancing into the woods left to right, looking at a spot where I once sat for a few hours, and looking at the deer sign on the road.  Thinking the whole time, I have always liked this area. 

Well, I look ahead into around the turn, through the last few trees into the clearing. Crap, deer coming my way!  Then I see 2 more, for a total of 3, and they turn to walk up the road right at me. I quickly looked around, and I am WIDE open.  Only cover around is a small blowdown about 3 steps to my left.  I look back at the deer, and if they keep coming, in 15 seconds they will come around the last tree until there is nothing between us but firebreak, at about 25 yards.  Then, I would have a chest shot at that distance, something I won't even consider.  So, I look again, see that they look to be behind a couple of trees, and it's now or never.  I duck, and take 3 steps.  CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH...... Argh!  I hear the lovely "Boing Boing Boing"......... I peek over the blowdown to see one trotting away, with the other 2 looking my direction.  They turn and slowly follow her out of sight....

Just the way it goes for me though.  However, I am encouraged that I have seen deer 3 times in a row there, and been close.  I will hit it harder this off season, and find a place for a treestand so I can let them come to me.....