As I have mentioned on a couple of threads, I love to watch the fletching disappear into the quarry on a perfectly placed shot.
As I have matured as a traditional bowhunter, I have come to appreciate the job well done. The moment of truth perfectly executed.
I still savor the preparation, the social aspect, the shoots, exploring new country, but the ultimate goal is still to place a sharp broadhead in the right spot no matter who is in camp, hunting locale, or quarry.
As many of you have read of my elk this past month, I failed that aspect. I simply botched the shot. Everything else was perfect. Hunt of lifetime, bull of a lifetime, experience of a lifetime.
So with all the focus I put on experiencing a great elk hunt, my deer focus fell by the wayside.
Luckily for me, I have two boys that picked up the baton. They set up stands, checked the trail cameras etc. As they perused the photos, and scouted the different bucks they had there dreams and wishes.
I continually told them that I was going to shoot the first deer that gave me a great shot opportunity. My tag said any deer, and my time was going to be very short after spending so much time elk hunting.
After putting in a couple of very long weeks at work to "catch up". Heading to the other side of the state to watch the state soccer championships, helping my 77 year old Dad bloodtrail his handicapped archery permit deer. We got home in time to sneak out and sit a groundblind.
I have to admit, I think I was going out there more for the "therapy" aspect than anything else.
On a positive note, the wind was howling. That is good, because it was blowing the apples out of the trees and onto the ground where the deer could get to them. I have actually witnessed falling apples calling deer into feed.
I got all settled and just kicked back to relax. It started with a squirrel scurrying through the apples, then a raccoon came out of the canyon and scooted up into one apple trees.
After a little more time, a doe and a fawn started working their way in. The doe did not like that raccoon at all, the high winds also had her on pins and needles. After approx 5 minutes she worked her way in and relaxed a little bit.
For some reason, I wasn't serious about her, I have a thing about shooting does with fawns. It was irrelevent anyway as she never did give a shot.
With the doe and the fawn still out there, I hear footsteps coming from behind the blind. A big doe walks right through my lanes, then her button buck fawn, and finally a buck. This buck is what we affectionately call an 11 point buck (read spike). None give me a shot, they do the pecking order dance, with the big doe getting nasty with the younger first doe and even the buck. At one point she even kicks at her own button buck fawn.
So at this point, I am ready to shoot the big doe for being nasty or the spike.
They both eat some apples but facing straight on. I am tense and ready for when the shot opportunity presents. I go through the three deeps breaths, mentally walk myself through the shot sequence to help pass the time waiting for a shot. Now these deer are only 5-8 yards away, facing me and munching apples.
It is comical to me watching deer eat apples, they contort their jaws, drool all over, and seem to have a heck of time getting the job done. A far cry from the normal graceful browsing they do.
Finally, the nasty doe turns broadside and walks behind a big tree that we strategically placed the groundblind behind to give some cover for drawing a bow. But after a couple steps she trots out of there. I am thinking what the heck. Her button buck fawn trots out following her.
Oh well, no big deal. On to the buck, He went back down to check out the smaller doe and fawn. He finally comes back towards the blind, walks behind the tree, comes out from behind the tree walking away from me.
He stops giving me a severe quartering away shot, nope, not going to take it. Well as if on cue, he turns broadside, takes a couple steps to put his head right behind the tree and stops.
I remember hitting anchor, picking the spot, then watching the fletching disappear into a spike buck, perfectly placed.
He runs out of there, stops about forty yards out, and is looking back trying to figure out what happened.
He starts to sway, stagger, rears up then crashes to the ground.
There you have my "11" point buck story. The emotion is utter and complete satisfaction. I executed a perfect shot.
Now I need to send in for a doe tag.....can't be without a tag in the pocket now, can I? :cool:
Topic: Watching the fletching disappear..... (Read 392 times)
