Thanks Ron! We just got off the phone and I'll admit I was pretty pumped telling him the story. Any of you guys who have dealt with Ron know what a class act he is....he's always willing to help me (others) get it right. He's become a good friend. Thanks again buddy!
Ok - I'm going to type while the camera charges.
I was in my stand for maybe 15 minutes and off to my right I hear steps - "cracking!" I didn't want to turn my face because he was up on the hill and almost at eye level with me. I kept my back pressed into the tree and just moved my head slightly to see him. I had hung my quiver (Arrowmaster) higher than normal. It's a good thing I did because I was able to put my face behind and just stick my left eye out to watch him. He was chomping away and didn't seem to notice me at all.
However, as I kept looking he seemed to become alert and stop! Holy s#$%...I'm busted! But, I didn't move a muscle and turned my head back around. Now, he started to move higher on the hill - maybe 20yds. I was afraid he was going to continue and not come down to the stand...well he did - come down!
He worked his way slowly toward my stand. I have to stay at this point my heart is pumping out of my chest!! I kept breathing and saying "slow down, slow down...you need to be ready when the shot comes."
He walked right underneath my stand. I could see the top of his head through the grates. I thought - "now I'm done!!" I tried to keep my boots from rubbing or squeaking even the least bit. He was probably under me for a minute or two - it seemed like an enternity.
He then started to walk behind me and to my left where the trail continued. Ok...that was great but now he's going to head down the trail and walk off leaving me no shot...wrong again!
He slowly makes his way forward and looks like he's going to turn broadside and be quartering away. Perfect!! "This is too good to be true. Is he really going to offer me this perfect shot? Maybe ten yds. and quartering away? The shot I've rehearsed in my head a thousand times for the past year?" Not yet!!
He now has his head down but front 3/4 of his body is behind a tree which is obviously blocking my shooting lane - however it did hide my silouette and allow me to get ready to draw as soon as he took one or two more steps.
He did - he took two steps forward. I wish I could really describe exactly what happened next - how I drew and shot but I'd be lying. When I saw his front leg go forward - I picked a spot just behind the shoulder. I was about 18ft. up so the angle was steep. I was trying to bore in on the spot while also thinking about the goods on the other side. He took a half-step and .......
I drew, hit my anchor and shot!!! OMG!! You would have thought I'd been shot the way my heart was pounding. The only thing I remember is the arrow hit....he paused for a second and blasted away out in front of me. The last thing I saw was the yellow and black fletching sticking out of his side!!!
"No way? I didn't get full penetration? What happened? Why did the arrow not go through? I hit the opposite shoulder? Angle was too steep? I'm going to lose him!! Ok...calm down and breath."
I watched him run forward hard, then stop, then run off to my left but slowly, and then started to walk - but now he's out my sight.
It was 5:35pm - "ok I'm going to give him some time and then go look."
Well... I couldn't tell you how long after because I had no clear concept of time at this point - but I heard a crash not 30-40yds to my left. I tried to use my binos and see if it was him going down. I figured out later when I found him why I couldn't see through the binos. He'd gone off a drop and laid down maybe 6ft. from the small hill. However, I didn't know that he'd laid down yet. I was still unsure of the hit and thinking maybe he was just running.
When I got down it was starting to get dark. I had my head lamp on and started to look for blood. Didn't see any!!! Ok...now I wasn't sure if I should back out or keep looking. I started marking where I thought I'd seen him run. Still not seeing any blood!! I'm getting more and more nervous. Got my bearings so I could think for a minute.
I figured I'd just go toward the spot I'd heard the sticks break and see if he was there? Sure enough there he was - down!!
Before I finish this - I want to say this wasn't just my first deer with a trad bow. This was the first animal I have killed with any type of equipment. I've fish, spearfish, I hunted ducks years ago. But never hunted with a compound and have never taken an animal with a gun. So, with that being said - I needed a minute to take it all in. I had a lot things running through my mind.
I'm hoping what I said above will explain my excitement and lengthy description. As you guys know the first one is something you never forget.
I told Ron earlier that no story, video, explanation etc..could have prepared me for the feeling in my blood when the deer was walking around me and eventually showed me the shot.
I'm going to pause here and post this....my camera is charging. I'll be back on with pics and the end.
Thank you guys for hanging in and sharing this experience with me. I apologize if I was a bit long but once I got going it was tough to stop. I didn't want to leave anything out.
I went back to the site today and I'll let the photos tell the rest but I promise they are worth it. Especially, when I found the front 3/4 of my arrow (Ash arrow with a modified Grizzly "El Grande" by sharpster - Ron at KME. I had thought the broadhead and shaft was in the deer.....boy was I wrong - the pic will explain.
Be back soon to wrap up.
Christian
Topic: My first EVER!!! (Read 6935 times)
