Yep, you read that right, "Bambi in the crockpot".

And, by the way, Bambi was really good last night - really tender and the meat just fell off the bones after cooking in the crockpot all day long.

Where did we get Bambi for the crockpot, you ask?

Well.........it was just this past Friday and nearly a full moon.  Just a lolly gaggin' sunny kind of day.  The Gladiator and I had already had a ride through (....that's where we ride a designated route of particular dirt roads that circle back around to ours so we can just keep an eye on things.........).  It was about 4 in the afternoon as we were pulling back into the driveway when I announced, "I'm going to the tree stand.  It's my turn.  All of y'all have already gone and been going and I want my turn.  I know y'all haven't shot anything yet, but I can't help that - I want to go today."

"You're going hunting tonight?" the husband asked to confirm.

"Yes.  I am," I responded firmly.  "And I'm taking your .308, too, so when we get inside, you need to make sure the clip is full and show me how to take it out."  I kinda sorta knew some about the deer rifle, but I had never really loaded the clip and handled that part.  I did know how to shoot it like all the others.....but just wanted to make sure.  You can never be too safe with guns.

There was silence.  And then finally, "Okay."

Once inside, Sam told me I shouldn't go because I had taken a shower and washed my hair earlier.  I looked at him and asked, "And your point?"  He replied, "They'll smell you."  I said, "Yeah well, maybe they'll like the fresh clean scent for a change and besides, my coveralls smell like the burn barrel from burning the other day."

After a refresher course of how the deer rifle clip worked, I was in my own camo coveralls and headed to the backline to the deer stand.

All alone in the woods - just me, the gun, the deer stand and an armadillo - that I would swear - sounded much like Big Foot rustling in the leaves.  How was I to ever hear Bambi approaching with all that racket?  I was ever so grateful when that prehistoric armored creature finally rambled away to rustle out loud somewhere else.

The sun was setting and it kept my face warm while I listened to birds fluttering about and squirrels announcing that a sniper was now in the woods.  I couldn't help but wonder if Bambi knew squirrel language.

As the sun began to settle into the western landscape, I began to see movement in the hillside of the pasture across the creek from where I was sitting in the tree stand.

It was Bambi.

And Bambi brought two of her friends, too.

S-L-O-W friends.

Very slow.  They were not in any big hurry to trot down within my shot range.  When they did finally meander down the slope, they conveniently stood behind trees, too.

I was running out of daylight and felt compelled to shout at them, "Would y'all hurry up already!!"  But I managed to overcome my lack of patience and just sat still and waited.

And waited some more.

Slowly they worked their way down to the creek bank and I was trying to steady the rifle and get Bambi in the crosshairs of the scope.

I cannot remember ever shaking like that.

Well, maybe when I was in that car wreck back in the '80's where that gal ran the red light and hit me broadside; I shook really bad that day.

I wasn't shaking that bad - but I was definately shaking.

I took the shot and saw the other two does run A-W-A-Y.  Uh, fast.

The one I shot crossed the creek and fell down.

It was now 6 p.m. and officially dark and I couldn't really tell where the deer was.  I called the house to report in, knowing they heard the gunshot.

Needless to say, the sound of the husband's voice was that of disbelief.  I could hear Sam in the background sounding much like Ricochet Rabbit.  I was told to find the deer and call back.

After climbing down out of the stand and regrouping with gun back in hand and my flashlight aiding in the darkness, I found the deer who was definately A-C-R-O-S-S the creek.  I called back to the house and reported the find and "requested back up".

It seemed like an eternity before the Y-chromosome gang arrived to help with Bambi.  We all crossed the creek and the Gladiator husband had to put Bambi out of her misery with a final shot (I give credit where credit is due....).  But me, myself and I drug her across the creek and up the bank and down the path 'til I thought I would pass out when Alex took over for me.  We all loaded her up in the back of the truck and headed for the house to clean and dress our first deer from our own hunting grounds.

It was a long night of cleaning and cutting up - but well worth it and our first fresh roast last night was really, really great!  And while this deer won't be the biggest one - it was the FIRST one!

Oh yeah, did I mention?  This was my very first time to ever go deer hunting and I get to claim "first kill" braggin' rights this year ~ heh, heh!

So what did y'all do last Friday night?

:)

Harriette