I've been delivering a lot of tips and tactics lately, plus the occasional success story, but here's one for the books. The other night while running kid transportation services on one of my few nights at home this fall, I saw an accident occur in front of me.

A white-tailed doe darted out of the ditch in front of me and ran headlong into a mini SUV. Both the deer and the SUV received damage, with the doe taking the brunt of it.

I stopped and hit my hazard lights to warn oncoming traffic that something was going on along the pitch-black highway. My first concern was to drag the deer out of the middle of the highway to prevent another accident. I darted out and thought the deer might be in the midst of death, when suddenly it burst to life as I grabbed a leg. With its other good legs it kicked me with all its might, despite its condition. One smacked my shin, causing me to drop the deer's leg and watch it hobble painfully into the darkness.

I wish I could have put the doe down on the spot, but it was in a suburban area, not to mention I didn't have a legal license to accomplish the good deed. With the deer off the highway, I walked over to the woman driver to make sure her vehicle was driveable. Limping back to my truck, suddenly I realized the kick was perfectly placed.

I've had a good season so far this year, so I guess it was only fair for the deer to get one kick in before the end of season. I'm headed back to Nebraska for another round of muzzleloader action. Stay tuned.