November 5th...What a morning

[Pound]

I’ve never posted a story before so best with me.

I transitioned to traditional archery several years ago and it took me 3 seasons before I was able to connect and harvest a doe. I started the 2019 season with high hopes, even though the move to a stick bow had resulted in missed opportunities over the last couple years.

I reached my tree early on November 5th and was set up well before daylight. I was taking in the slow arrival of shooting light when I heard the unmistakable sounds of deer movement. As daylight broke I saw a group of deer moving through a patch of saplings about 40 yards away. I waited patiently for a trailing buck and after couple minutes I heard more movement. I saw several more deer but confirmed that it was 2 more doe. This happened a couple more times until about a dozen doe passed. I was kind of surprised that there wasn’t a buck around this group, but then I saw another lone deer walking down the same trail. Once again I picked up my binoculars and confirmed it was a doe.

As I watched this doe, I saw yet another deer in the background.  It didn’t take long to tell it was a good buck, walking perpendicular to several trails in what I can only believe to be an attempt to cut the trail of a hot doe. I watched as this buck slowly filtered through the patch of saplings with his nose to the ground. He didn’t appear to be in much of a hurry and didn’t tear off after the group of doe but was moving off in their direction.

When he got about 75 yards from me and it was obvious he was walking away, I decided to try and call.  I grunted with no response. He then stopped and I grunted again. He immediately snapped to attention, looking in my direction.

He had heard it, but would he commit....


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[Pound]

After less than a minutes the buck turned and started my direction. His approach was slow and methodical, take a couple steps with his nose to the ground then stop and survey the area. The wind was perfect for his approach and as he got within 50 yards I told myself, “remember...Focus...Anchor...Follow Through...”. Those are the 3 specific parts of my shot sequence, and forgetting at least one was responsible for every miss in my short traditional career.

He continued his approach and at about 25 yards he ran into a sapling that must have said something about his mother, because he shredded it in short order. I continued to peer through my top limb as he took a couple more steps. It was at this point, inside 20 yards, that he reached a split in the trail. If he goes to my right he will be in an opening at 15 yards, to the left he will be closer but likely a hard quartering to shot.

He started right and I put tension on the string...Focus....

As he crossed behind a small tree I began to draw....Anchor....

He cleared the small tree, took one more step and looked up at me. For a split second he tried to process everything, but it’s too late,  My arrow was already on the way....Follow Through.....


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[South MS Bowhunter]

Liking what I’m reading.....

[Pound]

I watched as the arrow buried into his body and initially I was concerned that it was too far back. He whirled around and bounded away as I watched the arrow fall out the off side. I fully expected him to run out of sight, instead he ran out to 50 yards and stopped, facing straight away.

I watched him for nearly 10 minutes as he stood there like a statue with only the occasional head turn. I couldn’t see much since he was facing away.  It was at this point that nerves got to me. My right leg began shaking so badly that I had to I had to grab onto the tree.  When he finally gathered enough strength to try and move it was obvious that he was hurting. He only made it a couple steps before bedding down.

I watched as he made several attempts to get up but arrow had done its job. I sat in the tree nearly 2 hours before deciding to get down and pack up.

Once I hit the ground I nocked an arrow and slowly moved in his direction. I located my arrow about 10 yards from the impact.



I slowly walked up in the buck, periodically checking for signs of life. Once I convinced myself that he was down, I completed my approach and put my hands on not only my first traditional buck, but the biggest buck of my hunting career.



Thanks for reading.


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[SlowBowKing]

Great storytelling and great deer! I thought my leg was gonna start shaking at one point.

[GCook]

He's a dang fine buck. Congratulations on a good shot and a close, easy recovery.   That's how we always want it to work.

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[Pound]

Great storytelling and great deer! I thought my leg was gonna start shaking at one point.

Thanks SlowBowKing...I nearly fell out of the tree when he was standing there


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[Cove-Creek]

Great buck and read!  Thanks for sharing!

[Pound]

Thought I should add:

TimberHawk Falcon
62”
52# at 28”
Gold Tip arrows
2 blade Magnus Stinger 125 grain
10 Ring String


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[Bisch]

Great buck, and great read too!!!

Congrats!

Bisch

[KAZ]

Well done & congratulations

[stillhunter]

Oh man! What a buck.Good times.

[Petrichor]

Great story and congrats. Looking forward to more posts from you.

[TooManyHobbies]

He's a beauty, congrats.

[Tom]

Great story and fine buck-well done.

[Bill Turner]

Great read. Congrats on a fine buck. Thanks for sharing.

[LC]

Great story and pics!  Thanks for sharing. Congrats.

[bucknut]

That's a dandy.  Congrats.

[vintage-bears]

A hearty congratulations on a great buck!!!

[carbonflyr]