I thought about letting the whitetail go, then didn't

It didn’t look like I’d do much big game hunting this season. I failed to draw any of the tags I sought.

No big deal. I’d just have that much more time to hunt birds.

Then I got a surprise. I was one of 10 hunters who received permission to hunt deer on a large ranch south of town. My inner-Hemingway rejoiced.

There was a time when I considered myself a pretty fair big game hunter. I could get on an elk track at first light and usually find its maker. I shot my share of bull elk, including a couple of trophies, and also some large mule deer.

I almost always hunted on public land...