The 2016 season started out very different from others in the past, firstly being a resident, I was finally able to afford an elk tag, and this year I have been trying to hunt deer and elk, mostly elk with a good friend who will turn 79 later this month.
In the past opening weekend has typically found me hunting deer, this year we were in hopes of locating some elk. The weather though put the elk in some far off place unknown to us.
By midway through the second week of the season, I decided I needed to try for a little more "sure" route to getting some meat in the freezer. On the way back from an outing of looking for elk, I stopped by the home of a landowner who has let me hunt one of his places in the past, and secured permission to hunt it for a few days.
The stand of choice is a willow that sits on the back side of a dike for an irrigation pond. Upon my arrival the next morning I quickly realized that two years of neglect had left the stand quite grown in. I did manage to get in it, and as the first rays of light started to erase the darkness, I saw that the main shooting lanes were still open
My view...
Being early in the season, my view of the field was restricted, and it was impossible to see if any deer were still in the field. So, I kicked back and just waited. It wasn't long and a big fawn come through completely unaware of any menacing presence, the doe followed, with a little more concern, but still very calm. She stopped with her head behind a big trunk, and as she stepped into the opening, I concentrated on a spot and let loose the arrow! Immediately, the whole scene was thrown into complete chaos. The deer jumped, and landed in the irrigation pond. First thought was oh no I'm going to have to do a "Biggie", and go swimming. The deer, thankfully exited the pond, and expired on its bank a few short yards later.
The next morning we cut the deer up and got it in the freezer, that afternoon found me back in the willow stand, and surprisingly there were already a lot of deer in the field. Since sunset was still a few hours off, it wasn't to concerning, as deer will often come out of the islands late. As sunset quickly approached I noticed a deer looking to come off an island and make its way to the field. At the same time I also noticed a dog walker, and his dog that would surely delay the event. No as mentioned earlier, the tree had grown up a lot in the last two years since I last set it. In order to see the river, I had to climb up and actually stand on the seat of the stand. After standing up there for 15 or so minutes watching for the deer, I decided to get a little more comfortable and sit down for a bit. When I turned to step down off the seat, I noticed a fawn come playfully running in front of the tree. Now this momentarily caused a big imbalance in my thinking, because in the evening the deer came into the field, not the other way around. As the doe came into sight hundreds of scenarios were flashing through my mind; should I make a move for my bow, it was hanging on a limb down by my ankle, surely too much movement to get away with; the field is set up for a great morning hunt; wait fort the one to come off the river....decisions decisions. Without really thinking, I decided what the hell, I reached down and carefully picked my bow off the limb, and brought it up. As I got it to where I needed it to be, I noticed that, so far, I'd gotten away with it. The doe was in the last shooting lane, my least favorite, but she was slightly turned towards me making it acceptable, I'd gotten away with this much, and as I hit my anchor, the arrow was loose that fast. She made it over the fence onto the public ground and expired a short 40 yards later.
We were to head out once again last week to chase the elk, but 84 degree weather really puts a damper on that, weather and cooler temps are coming, so the elk will be persuedthis next week!
More as the season continues...
Topic: New Beginnings...My First Year as a Resident! (Read 860 times)
