The Dropped Arrow

[tradslinger]

Now most of us have dropped something from our tree stand, sometimes we are able to go down and retrieve the item but not always. I have dropped a variety of things and at one time even had a large treble hook attached to a line. I have dropped a couple of arrows and when using a single pole ladder with a hang on stand, I would just hurry down and tie it to my pull cord.                                                                                                     
            But this time, I was across the clear Cossotot River in the Caney Creek Management Area. I was actually up a tree in my Ole Man climber. The tree that I had picked was near a small mountain creek and between the ends of two huge ridges and beside a big mountain. It was a rather open timber area with lots of smaller gnarly trees and the big pines.                                                                                                         
            I was about 26 feet up because of the crazy winds of the mountains. I actually had the possibility of getting a hog or a deer. The acorn crop this year was lousy and so the deer were doing a lot of browsing. I was here to get away from people so that I could bow hunt in peace. I was doing the usual checking out all of the noises, mostly birds and squirrels.                                                                                                                     
           I just happen to glance back behind my tree and in the distance, a lone doe appeared. I slowly began to stand and reached over to grab my bow. Unfortunately, I managed to bump the arrow off the shelf and down it started. I did the usual attempt to grab it and made it worse as it dropped straight down and stuck standing straight up into the air.                                                                                                                   
           Now I was shooting with the bright blue fletching and in the surrounding brown, it stood out big time. I looked back at the doe and it acted like it hadn't heard or saw a thing.   I looked back down at the arrow that looked like a neon sign glaring back at me. I carefully grabbed another arrow and readied myself.                                                                 
         The doe, the unsuspecting nanny slowly made her way closer and closer to my tree. Now I am hoping that she just doesn't notice the bright blue arrow right in her way. I am unable to shoot around the tree and she has to get nearly in front of me to get a shot.   
        She is slowly browsing as she stops and looks right at, yep, the arrow. Now I watch the head bob and then the stamping of the foot as she knows this thing doesn't belong here. I slowly sit back down and watch as she noisily heads back to where she had come from. Me, I am busted and call it a day.   

[Captain*Kirk]

Great story, Jerry! Deer have poor color perception as a whole, but one of the colors they CAN see well is...blue.
We've all dropped things from on high. Nothing worse than having to climb down and retrieve it.

[tradslinger]

yes, lots of things, do I have to admit that I dropped my cell phone? Not once but twice and both times it hit a root, the same root and busted into pieces. I was using a ladder and climbed down to put it back together and it still worked each time.

[GCook]

Yeah they know their home.  Something out of place and . . . Game over.

[RIVERWOLF]

I would have to "think hard" to remember how many times I have used a pull rope to lasso  a wild arrow  that couldn't stand still and wait its turn ;^)))   Ooo the humility of it all ...I'm not certain, but a few of those times I think I heard the faint chuckly from the area tree rats ....;^)))

That is why its called hunting and not killing....everything makes mistakes Some days the Hunter/predator fumbles and goes hungry...others (less often in most cases) the Hunted .....In  the Big picture it is Natures way.....as it should be. Balance.....    Great learnings in the  mistakes made ....Thanks for taking us along.

[mnbwhtr]

I've had deer more than once come in and sniff my judo practice shot when they see it. I've missed deer and had them come back and check out my arrow with 3 white fletch. Didn't seem to bother them at all.

[tradslinger]

I have had a deer come back and smell where my arrow was after I missed it. I was very unsure as to why I had missed so badly until I glassed to see a hanging saw briar that I had hit.  I was so focused on the deer that I never saw it. In fact, I still couldn't see it with my bare eyes and let it pass. But one thing that I have learned, they don't always react the same way.

[1Arrow1Kill]

First time I place my 8 year old son in his own tree stand about 8 feet up and 8 yards away from my tree, he proceeded to take off his hat, place it on his lap while he adjusted his mesh face mask.  He moved very slowly and deliberately, but as he reached for his hat it slipped from his lap and fell to the ground.  He look below, raised his head and slowly shook it left to right in a 'OH NO' motion.  He refused to look my way for well over 2 minutes because he knew Dad had most likely seen it happen.  I gave him a brief, quiet whistle and he finally looked my way.  He shook his head again and I smiled at him.  I motioned for him to quietly climb down and get his hat as it was about 1.5 hours until dark and somewhat cool.  He made the trip down and up quietly and safely.  I gave him another smile and a 'Thumbs Up' when he was safely attached to the tree and seated.  He sat REAL still for the remainder of the hunt.  It is a great memory that we share.  He is now 36 and has become a very successful archer and hunter.

[tradslinger]

a memory that he probably still remembers. My son at that age was in a ground blind so that he could move around, he was going to anyways. I didn't think that he would ever be a good hunter but when he finally settled in, he did just fine.