Summary

In Chapter 7, John covers two miles following the deer tracks. Based on the size of the tracks and their steady pattern, John can tell he is following either a doe or a small buck. He follows the tracks to one of the many pine-tree-covered islands in the swamp. There, he finds the doe just as the sun breaks through the clouds. Everything is illuminated and beautiful, including the doe. Before John can think to shoot, the doe bounds away. John feels torn between life and death, between killing and surviving on meat provided by the doe. John pursues her for another mile.

In Chapter 8, John has spent many hours researching, learning, and reading about deer to better understand them. John continues following the doe’s tracks for another two miles. He thinks about killing the doe and how it will happen. He knows this...