First trad whitetail buck...How'd it feel ???

[beauleyse]

Mine was in 2007 I was in College in Statesboro, Ga, I had decided to stay in town for the first day of Archery season to go to the home football opener. By Wednesday I was sick that I had decided not to go home to hunt so I decided to see if a WMA was near by. After some research I was on the road 45 minutes North to Big Duke's Natural pond WMA... I did a little scouting and found a spot just inside the gate that butted up to an old thick swamp. Forty five minutes till daylight on opening morning I was 20 foot up a tree with my Martin Mamba Recurve and Cedar shafts. I had decided to sit until noon and then head back to Statesboro to change and meet my fraternity brothers at the tailgate. At 11 I recieved a text from a buddy asking if I had stuck one and I replied no, I hadn't even seen one! I then heard a snap and looked behind me to see a nice little 5 point in full velvet walking right to me. He stopped at less than 5 yards from my tree.. I was nervous all I could think about was pick a spot and don't miss! I looked at his back and the sun was shining on a little spot the size of a quarter right between his shoulder blades... I have never focused on something so hard (well maybe on a few other things from that other first time Charlie was talking about we all had earlier, but I digress) I burned a hole in that spot and then out of pure magic my arrow was fletchings deep where that spot once was!!!! I don't remember drawing the bow or releasing the arrow though I have tried many time. The deer ran 30 yards and fell just out of sight.

I had a wave of emotion flood over me, no tears but the closest I have ever come in a stand. My 3 year quest for a traditional buck had happened and the only thing I could think of was to call Dad. He was at work that day not much of a bow hunter back then. He answered and as soon as he heard my exclamation he calmly asked if I was in the stand still I said "yes" and he said "sit down your voice is shaking so much you are gonna fall out of the stand"... I spoke with him for 15 minutes or so about the hunt and talk with him the whole walk to the deer. Though he couldn't be there for my first deer in person he lived the recovery with me and it made the memory that much sweeter!

[hitman]

I took my first buck in 1969. I was a senior in high school. Using a 54# Wing Thunderbird taking down the 182# 9-pt. buck was a big thrill, hunting with my best hunting buddy, my dad. I'm sure he was as excited as me.

[BillW]

My first deer was actually a long time ago in my compound years. Once I switched to hunting with a recurve my first trad harvest was a black bear in Maine.

Now my first deer with trad gear really is a fond memory. It had been a tough season and I was not seeing many deer. I was hunting with my two good friends Bob and Fred. I was setup on a hub of trails and this deer came down a trail facing me. I had to wait till he passed me. He stopped perfectly at 10 yards and on instinct I drew and shot. I recall him recoiling and running a bit to his right then stumble back towards me as he fell dead in a dry runoff drainage close to my stand. I was so excited and felt a great feeling of accomplishment.
Later Bob, Fred and I shared a campfire while my buck hung not far away in a tree. The light from the campfire was bright enough for me to occasionally glance over and take it all in.
Now about 7 years later, Fred has passed away and my memory is more grateful that I shared this event with him. This is a fond memory that will be with me always.

Bill

 

The first one I shot,nearly 15 years ago, felt a whole lot like the last one I shot last year. It is one of the coolest things in the world to take an animal with trad gear......whether it is your first or one-thousandth!

Bisch

[TURKEYFOOTGIRL]

No ERICMERG different bow.  This one is my only recurve "old faithful" and I will never get rid of her!

[toddster]

I have shot alot of deer with my wheel bow and some really great bucks.  but the first Doe, yes Doe I shot with a longbow meant more to me than the rest.  The long hours of work shooting, the learning, the tweaking, making arrows.  Getting close to the deer and to shoot it so naturally and smoothly, fell to a place in my heart that burned a lasting memory.  I not only felt elated, but more of a connection with nature and more in touch with my primal instinct.

[ericmerg]

darn chris i was going to try to use the recurve to take my first deer just to keep the mojo up of firsts in the bow haha  it'll hit the woods with me this year at some point