Do to a headache, I didn't go out yesterday. So, I was determined to get into the woods for a long sit on a cold morning today. Got settled in at 6:10 in a spot I just hung a stand last week. Lots of hemlocks and really only one or two shooting lanes to my west. At 6:25, I could hear a deer walking from behind me to the north. What was supposed to be a west wind, was more southerly. I never saw the deer, it was downwind and one blow and gone. At 6:40, another one coming. Same direction, same result except it didn't blow, just ran.
Fast forward 4 hrs with nothing but squirrels and birds, I decide to call it a morning. I put my arrow in my quiver. (Since I forgot my pull up rope, I had to carry the bow up with me). ONE MINUTE LATER: There was a small branch just over my head, so I snapped it off and hung my bow. I unhooked my safety and heard....crunch, crunch, crunch. OH (BLEEP), a deer is coming at a good pace. So with no safety on, standing about 15' or so up, I grab my bow, grab an arrow and snap it on the string as he's less than 20 yards and moving quick. At approx. 10 yards, he looks up at me, and continues his pace. Soon as he looks away, I hit anchor and release. Perfect shot pass through. He hauls butt, snapping and breaking everything in his way, then all is quiet.
I couldn't believe what just happened, and quickly put my safety back on so I wouldn't shake myself out of the tree. After maybe ten minutes, and knowing he was down, I got down to follow the trail. The blood was sparse but right away. The arrow was found about 4-5 yards away standing against a sapling like it was placed there. The buck lay maybe 60 yards away.
If I hadn't stayed until 10:40 (to make it exactly 4.5 hrs), or if I had my bow rope with me (I would've lowered my bow), I wouldn't have gotten that shot and most definitely would have bumped him out of the area.
I thought the tongue was in, it slipped back out.
#2 for the year. This one with my Bear Super Kodiak, a GHall arrow, 125gr Zwickey Eskimo.