Hunter hunting along a marsh

Craig Onstott

Information

  • Date Taken: 11/16/2019
  • Time Of Day: Morning
  • Method: Rifle
  • County: Isabella County
  • Property: Private
  • Dressed Weight: 184

I took my son out for the opening weekend and we didn’t see a single deer so we decided to pack up and head in. On the way up my son said we should check the corn field for deer. I decided since the wind was good that we could still hunt the little corn field next to our house. As we walked the north side I noticed fresh tracks going in. I texted my cousin who hunts the field south of us to stay ready just in case. I pointed out the tracks to my son but he handed me his gun as the strap was cutting into his shoulder. We entered the corn 50 yards west of the tracks as the wind was just right and I told my son to stay ready if I seen a deer I would bring him up to shoot it. Two rows into the corn field and the field erupted. Corn stalks were flying and I realized it was a deer. At first I thought the deer was Coming at us and all we could see were horns. I immediately knew it was a something big. We jumped him only 5 feet away. In the excitement I missed the shot but knew if I could get to the other side of the corn field I may get another chance. I hurried through and sure enough there he was. I took the shot and hit him which slowed him down enough and he stopped in the bean field. My next shot I put in his neck but instead of dropping he quickly ran off. I had one more chance before he crossed into a pothole. I let it go and he disappeared. I was out of bullets and unsure if he dropped or ran out my life for good. My son caught up to me and we hurried to the house to find more bullets. Little did I know my Dad was at the house watching the whole thing. Together we all walked around the bean field to where i last seen him and the celebration began when all we seen was horns sticking up out of the beans. What started out as a mission to put my son on a deer ended up being an opportunity for me to harvest my largest Michigan Buck. Sometimes opportunity finds you and other times you have to go find opportunity, either way the memories we make in the field live on longer than we do!!! What a day…Happy hunting!