This has been one of those years to remember for any bow hunter, and I didn't hunt nearly as much as I normally do. Coincidence? Very possible.
In mid-October, I was able to harvest my first deer, on Sunday evening at a pinch point close to a fresh cut bean field. That's my oldest holding him up like he killed it.
On Halloween, I took a day off work, to go up to my Mom's house to hunt a little in the morning and do some work around the farm that afternoon. The deer were on their feet and had plenty of action. This little gal came in right about the time I was about to get out.
We'll rewind and fast forward in the same paragraph. Before harvesting my 1st deer, I had an opportunity to kill a pretty decent buck, but I shot right underneath him at about 25 yrds. Belly buzzer. Then Saturday November 8th, same buck came in dogging a doe at about 19 yrds. I got him to stop, but I had to hunker down a little to shoot thru a hole in the saplings. The bottom limb of my bow slid inside my climber and when I released, the bottom limb smacked the climber and killed my arrow energy and the shot ended up well short. Frustrating, frustrating. I've now given that buck the name "9 lives". I'm not in to naming bucks, but lets face it, he's a lucky fellow. Wednesday, November 12 comes along and I'm hunting on a totally different farm, in a different county. I'm running late to get to my stand because of the time change. I get to my spot, only to have a truck parked there from another hunter. So, I hustle down the road about 5oo yrds and start to slide down the levy, when the land owner comes through the woods not knowing who I was. He apologized, but that pretty well took care of that spot. So, by this time I only have about 1.5 hrs before dark. I knew where there was an old ladder stand, originally designed for gun hunters. It was the closest and the quickest, so I headed that way. As I headed that way, I notice there are 2 button bucks under the stand. They were motherless, because she's in picture one.
I wondered if that was a blessing or a curse. I got up in the stand only to realize that there are practically no shooting lanes at all. I figured this would just be a sit and observe kind of night. By this time it's 4:40. I settle in, kind of perplexed as to how this hunt has already went. At 5:00, I send a text to a friend, I hear a deer coming, put my phone in my pocket and grab my bow. When the deer appears, I realize it's a shooter(at least for me). He's moving fast, grunting and clueless to my presence. Remember, I've only got 2 holes to shoot through that are the size of 5 gallon bucket tops. He passes through the 1st one quickly. I reposition in hopes of getting him in the 2nd one. He actually picks up speed and is about ready to trot off. I grunt, but he doesn't stop. I grunt louder and he stops right where I need him to. I bend down a little and release. The arrow slides right underneath a grapevine tangle and the Bear Greenie(probably 1970's model)and hits right behind the right shoulder. The buck jumps, takes to quick bounds and stops, flicks his tail and starts walking. Right then, I'm thinking what the world!! He takes two steps and by this time all I can see is his hind end. He stops and stands for what seemed like an eternity. Then I see backend start wobbling and I realize I've done it. He death staggers side ways and crashes, and the woods are quiet. I get out and give him a little time. Honestly, I don't think I needed to give him any time, but I didn't want to get too premature. When I finally went in, there he was balled up right where I thought he was. To give you an idea of how think it was in there, he went down about 15 yrds from where I shot him, and I couldn't see him at all. Some things are meant to be. The way the night all played out, it was only by the graces of our Lord and Savior that I was able to harvest the buck you see below.
A side note, on opening day of gun season, my 7 yr old shot his 1st deer, 1st time ever hunting with a weapon. 40 yrd shot with a 44. It was a button buck for my little button buck. This will be a year that I'll never forget!! Sorry for such a long post. Thanks for reading.
Topic: Year in Review w/Pics (Read 461 times)
