Two years ago, one of my best friends passsed away at the young age of 30. He bowhunted as well, but we never were able to chase deer together as he lived in Wyoming and I am in Massachusetts." One day" we always said.
Since his passing I have thought of him in the woods quite often. Last year on a particularly slow morning, I was talking to him and a doe magically appeared. She walked 60 yards right to the base of my tree, where my arrow found its mark. I thanked my friend, and relished in the moment.
This past Saturday (11/12) I was back in that same stand. Once again it was a slow afternoon, and I was thinking of my friend. As I looked around, a doe appeared bedded on the trail I had walked in on, only 30 yards away. It was the kind morning so quiet that a mouse sounds like an elephant. How she got there without me hearing I'll never know.
I have had a tough start to the year. Shooting a big buck in the shoulder with zero penetration last week, and had missed a doe at 5 yards the day before.
I looked up, and asked my friend to guide the doe to me... and guide he did.
The doe walked in to 8 yards, as my arrow sank into her lungs.
She took off on impact, and immediately I heard what sounded like a freight train coming through the woods. I turned to see a thick dark buck crashing through the woods after the fleeing doe.
I drew while I bleated, as loud as i could, knowing he may not stop. When he amazingly locked up in a shooting lane, my second arrow was instantly on its way. The shot felt good, sounded good, and the buck had whirled and crashed off...
I looked up and said "We did it buddy"!!!
The doe was recovered and went straight into the freezer. The buck was well over #200, and needed to be quarterd and packed out. Needless to say I am beyond grateful for the opportunity and physical ability to experience nature in this special way in which we all do....