my way. What an awesome day. Got home late last night and set the alarm for 4 AM. When I got up I had no idea what I had set the alarm so early for. Anyway, finally got my witts together (all two of them) and walked out on the back porch to check things out. Man,,,,,cold,,,,30 degrees......Do I really want to do this? After shivering for a few minutes, went down stairs to get things together, and headed for the shower with my Dead Down Winds bottle. MMMMMMMMM,,,,man did that hot water feel nice.....lol. Get out and put my underarmor on and head back down stairs to get the rest of my suite. Headed out and got in the truck,,,,frost,,,,,,mand do I really want to do this? Ok, off I go. Stop and get a big ole cup of coffed, and a hand full of napkins to put in my back pocket for safe keeping until later....I know it will happen as sure as the sun will come up. Nice 25 mile drive to my hunting spot,,what this...not a deer in the headlights.....man do I really want to do this? Get to the property and open the gate, drive in, close the gate and drive to my parking spot and sit. Still early,,,,6 Am. Look up at the stars and pause for a second to thank God for allowing me to enjoy another day surrounded by all his creations, and ask for his blessing during this hunt.
Ok, now 6:20 Am. Only about 200 yards to the "spot". Get my gear on and bow and back quiver on and off I go. Walk to the "spot" and find fresh activity, ground tore up, fresh piles from the night, and an odor that was not there before. Go over and get the leaves out of my sitting place and put one of my "incense" stick out and light it and settle down for what would be an awesome morning.
At first light, I hear the sounds of nature all around me. Even though I am 80 per cent death in my left ear and my suround sound does not work to well, I could hear them. Not knowing which way they were, but I could hear them. After watching my incense burn half way down, which usually last for an hour I hear the very very faint twig snap. Ok, surround sound, kick in please. I look forward, nothing but a friendly ole grey squirel on the groung. I shift my eyes to the left, nothing, I shift them to the right,,,awh,,,,just a limb moving in the slight breeze. WAIT A MINUTE....LIMBS ARE NOT SHINNY???????????. I slowy turn my hear and see it.....a deer......with horns.....and some nice ones. At least big enought to kill under out managament program.
Now I am sitting on the ground with my bow up against a tree to my left. An arrow laying on the ground on my right...and the deer coming to my right. Being right handed...I have to do something. I pull my right knee under me and slowly get up on one knee along with bring my bow over to the right side. All the while, looking at this deer, still head to the ground a coming. When he went behind a tree I nocked the arrow and got the bow in front of me. PPPPHHHHEEEEEEEEEEE. Deer still coming at a gently walk. As he gets closer, now only about 25 yards,,,,I think......don't even think about looking at horns buddy,,,just pick a spot. I waited and watched and he took step for step and was all the while getting higher on my knees. When he was at 15 yards there was a limb on the ground that covered his eyes and I started drawing while bringing the bow up to some sort of an anchor. When he was open for the shot, my bow came back,,,,,which I only had to draw about an inch farther....have no idea when I did the rest of the chore,,,,picked a spot just behind the shoulder and..........WHAT HAPPENED?????????
All I remember is looking at the deer and telling myself how did I miss that this close....only to see about one inch of a bamboo arrow and 5 1/2 inches of turkey feathers sticking out his side.....Simply perfect.....right at the heart....I watched and listend and heard my arrow hitting all the trees in the forest....and what I thought was him crash. YES.....I DO WANT TO DO THIS I THOUGHT.
Now.......I start breathing again and sit back down and look at the still half of my incense and tell myself to let it finish, and it will be time...........NOT!!!!!!! I GOT TO KNOW. I get up and walk over to where I shot him......11 yards.....and blood....bright read blood. I turn around and again thank God for such a wonderfull pleasure to just be there and for the reward of the......not yet retrieved harvest.
Ok.....incense burns down......get the camera and take some pictures. Looking at the first picture,,,,is the log with the limb bent over like a rainbow. Just in front of that rainbow is where he was standing when I shot.
Here is what I found on the other side of the log
This has been a long long day........got to get some sleep so I can get up and 4 AM in the morning and ask........DO I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS??????????