Short hunt, longer story.
Obviously it's been cold and really windy here at the beach. Wind chill in the single digits. I knew the deer would be moving but not till late since the wind is howling. I went outside two times and said no way too cold. Third time I told myself you can't kill them from the couch. I waited till after 4:00 to even leave the house.
I just backed up into some brush on the side of a good trail. Knocked an arrow and leaned my bow on a bush so I could put my hands in my pockets. Stood there freezing for about 30 minutes. Just as I had enough and was about to leave here he came. Walking from my right to left. I had a very small opening to shoot through. He stopped at exactly the right spot and even looked the other way for me. I picked up my bow, drew and released in one motion. The arrow only had to go 10 yards and looked perfect. He bucked, ran in a tight 5 yard circle and crashed. I was shocked. Then about 30 seconds later he jumped up and ran right at me! He did not know I was there but scared me pretty good anyway. I did not know what to do, then he dropped again about 5 feet in front of me but on the other side of the thick bush. Unable to make another shot and for fear of spooking him I just stood still. He laid there without moving at all then about 2 minutes later he jumped up again and crashed into the swamp 10 yards behind me. All went silent again. He was down for good, or so I thought.
Went back to the house, got my son and a light since it is dark now. We came back to collect my deer. Tons of blood everywhere but no deer. Now that feeling set it. We trailed him for about a 100 yards (it's now about an hour after the shot) and there he was looking at us. Not good. Backed out for another 2 hours, came back and he was 10 yards down the hill dead.
I used my Elkaholic long bow made by Don Reeves in NY. 54#, GT arrows and Muzzy Phantoms. Don makes a great bow. Fast and quiet. So quiet I was able to empty a quiver at the same deer earlier this year and he did not even know I was there.
Freezer is full and wife said only small game from here on out.
Merry Christmas to all !
Topic: Running out of tags (Read 6498 times)
