Here's the deal. I switched back to traditional gear this year after getting frustrated with my compound. I had equipment malfunctions and all kinds of issues. The last few years I kept looking down at the high tech gadget and wanted it simpler, but no less deadly. Finally after two dismal and frustrating years filled with way too many miles hiked while holding my bow I got rid of it and got a Black Widow.
I have had a few big hunts this year, but have yet to come within range of a target animal. I still had a either-sex deer tag and a bear tag I need to fill before going to Georgia later this month, so the pressure was on.
I hiked up before dawn onto what I thought was where I hunted a few weeks ago with a buddy, but I was off by two ridges. This meant that I would have to hike for two hours straight to get to where I wanted to be, following the ridge to the main ridge and then down.
About 0930 I was still-hunting through a very active area when I saw a bedded doe within 40yds. Between us was a small rise and some tall grass.
I slowly moved up and got to where I could see the top of her back, when to her right a good 20" forky stood up. He was onto me, but wasn't buggered as the grass was still hiding me just enough. He started moving to the left as I worked my hand over my head like a deer's ear, and saw there were a few more deer around.
One other forky and a spike got up and joined the others. I still had no shot, and was worried that the gig was going to be up before I could make something happen. I kept moving forward and finally got the big fork in the open. As I started to bring the widow back, I saw the spike was behind him and I let down, a pass-through would hit the small buck too.
Finally the big fella decided he didn't like a deer holding a spider, and moved off to over 50yds into the brush.
The doe and the small 12" fork were standing there looking around @ 30yds. I would have loved to get a shot at the big fork, but considering a doe and a small fork I decided the doe was what I wanted.
I started drawing and then noticed a beautiful arc was forming tween the deer and I, followed by the best sound in the world besides being called daddy, THWACK!
She donkey kicked, and spun the other way and was gone. I saw my arrow fall down a few yards down the trail she took. I tried to wait, but got to the spot of the shot in about 2 mins. She was pumping out a ton of blood as she ran, and the ground was moist and quiet. When I got there I looked 20yds away and she was piled up, stone dead.
http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu112/ZekeB/DSCN2967.jpg The arrow entered the lower leg, right below the elbow and severed the heart and took out the lungs. She broke the arrow as the ran off, but the end was still in her. The broadhead hit the offside shoulder after shattering her lower leg on the entrance.
She was at least 10ft higher than I was, so I am glad I remembered to hold low or I may have hit only one lung.
By 1045 I was heading down the mountain with her in my pack, man that is always a great feeling.
I had her made into steaks, sausage sticks and maple sausage. The boys and I will have her digested before the New Year.
FYI this is the same broadhead that I accidently drug backwards through my leg. I have kept this as my #1 broadhead and knew it would cut well going the direction it was meant to, as going in backwards opened me like a zipper, see below.
I thought this was a cool pic opportunity, a Tarantula and a BlackWidow in the same pic.
http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu112/ZekeB/DSCN2950.jpg I was using my BlackWidow PSAII #55 @27", with 200gr VPA Terminator broadheads and CE Heritage 250's cut to 29".
That VPA Terminator did a number on her. Totally shattering the bones in her lower leg before taking out heart and lung, and is still plenty sharp. The #1 arrow is no longer with us, but that broadhead is going to stay in the #1 slot until I find a way to damage it, with seems laughably unlikely.
I chose to use my rangefinder on this hunt. I am extremely confident with known ranges, and wanted to make sure that I did everything in my power to kill cleanly.
That may not jive with some folk's version of trad, but I don't hunt with a recurve becuse it is traditional. I do so because at the ranges I prefer to hunt it is the most efficient and effective weapon.
Thanks for looking.
PLEASE LIMIT PHOTO SIZE TO 640 PIXELS IN WIDTH
Topic: Broke the Spider in Today! (Read 568 times)
