It looks like you need to be carrying a bigger trap line pistol.

I 'm not sure what you are doing wrong either , but if season is open it might start with not keeping you gun as close as your phone.

I don’t carry a gun checking traps, guess I should start. lol

if deer season is on and you are legal and have permission to hunt the land you are on , yup thats what you are doing wrong

hunt by opportunity , when they stand there for you shoot them.

you might want a easy to carry gun with a sling but , yeah I think that would leave less meat in the woods.

I reckon since I own the property I’m good to go.

I can honestly say that a phone is the last thing I'd think about taking along before I forget a gun.

so we are all wondering why you don't have a rifle in your truck , leave it by the back door , you go , it goes ,

you know that is why they make handy guns like the ranch rifle , trappers models and such so that you have them when they opportunity happens.

I always take the phone when I’m TRAPPING, guess he knew that and it’s why showed himself. lol

Live-n-learn,

Learned that the hard way myself alooooooong time ago.

The only thing I see that you're doing wrong is not taking a gun to the woods with you.

Gonna have to change my ways.

you have any rifle restrictions or weird laws ? in the maryland

I'd have backed out of there quiet like a church mouse and beat feet for the nearest gun, hoping he stayed close or head him off out ahead.

Not on this property. lol

Great -googley-boogaley i would stay down wind of that ridge grab ur gun and bleat can and try to get as close as you feel u could get without spooking him and get comfortable to stay the rest of the day
canning periodicly Dont wait for tmrw get back on that ridge sir

You would think but I had the same thing happen 2 years ago and yet all I had was a phone again. lol

them Ruger-Marlin trappers sure come to the shoulder easy
I was about to buy one of the new ones when an older one in 45-70 made it's self a deal I couldn't pass. still 16 inch barrel just not officially called a trapper like the new Stainless steel trappers models