I HEADED OUT BEFORE DAWN, TO A UNDISCLOSED AREA WITH MY SMOKER POLE IN HAND. THE SUN BROKE OVER THE RIDGE AND ALL WAS STILL. SUDDENLY THE BLUE JAYS CAME ALIVE WITH THEIR CRIES OF A PREDATOR WITHIN IN SIGHT, I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE A CHANCE AT A COYOTE SNEAKING ACROSS THE RIDGE, BUT I SOON REALIZED IT WAS A DEER MAKING HIS WAY THROUGH SOME JACK PINES, AT A DISTANCE OF 60-70 YARDS. KNOWING MY OMEGA WAS DEAD ON AT 100 YARDS I FIRED OFF A SHOT, AND AS THE SMOKE CLEARED I NOTED THE BROWN DOT THAT I HAD SHOT AT DISAPPEAR DOWN THE OAK RIDGE. I WAITED FOR 15 MINUETS BEFORE I MADE A MOVE TOWARDS THE AREA I LAST SEEN THE DEER. I LOCATED SOME HAIR WITH A LITTLE BLOOD, NOW I KNEW MY AIM WAS TRUE. AS I TRACKED THROUGH THE SNOW THE BLOOD TRAIL LED MY TO MY DEER, HE HAD RAN ABOUT 80 YARDS DOWN THE HILL WHERE HE LAID WAITING MY ARRIVAL. I LOOKED OVER HIS BODY SIZE AND COUNTED HIS EIGHT POINTS WITH A SMILE. I WAS EAGER TO CALL MY FRIENDS AND ASK THEM HOW THEY WERE ALL DOING ON THIS NEW YEARS HUNT.