Hard-Wired WHITETAILS

My university colleague Matt Green recently traveled to Kentucky to bow-hunt its whitetail-rich farmlands. One of his buddies, who knows his way around a camera, accompanied him in hopes of capturing the hunt on video. They had been set up for about an hour when a mature doe approached from a downwind angle and picked them off. She made a quick exit to the nearby cover.

“Good!” Matt whispered. “At least the deer are moving.”

Later, two more does approached on an upwind path, unaware of the hunter and videographer. With darkness approaching and only one more day to hunt, Matt looked up and pointed to one of the does. His excitement said it all: It was time to collect some groceries for the trip home.

“As the deer eased our way, I practiced patience,” Matt recalled. “I passed a clear 30-yard shot at the larger doe because I was anticipating a 12-yard opportunity. While waiting, we noticed a third doe downwind about 80 yards looking our way. She was nervous. No