I just finished reading through the "What Happened" thread and can relate with many of the posts there and thought I'd contribute something to this site that I have enjoyed for so many years. I don't post often but have used this meeting place to enjoy the stories from those that were successful, could teach something, or those (like Kevin Dill, Missouri Sherpa, Littlebigman, etc) who's writing skills could take you there and live their story or experience as your own. I can't write like that but appreciate those who can.
This story is about my deer this year. Not my biggest I've ever killed but by far the most satisfying and appreciated. I hunted for only two days this year and felt blessed to be able to even be in the field as I was (and still am) recovering from Covid. July 21st of this year I contracted covid and on the 25th was hospitalized with pneumonia and respiratory failure. I don't recall much from the 25th until August 11th when I woke up and was able to be on a less invasive airway management system. I gradually improved and when I was able to maintain an adequate O2 saturation level 90% or better I was released to convalesce at my home.
On August 26th as soon as I got home and situated on my cot in my front room, while attached to my home O2 I picked up my bow and tried to draw it back. Pitiful is the best description. I couldn't even pull back 6" let alone 28. My stay in the hospital bed had robbed me of my strength. I had dreamed of dying while I was asleep but when I woke up and would struggle to breathe, KNEW that I wouldn't but I had no idea how hard it would be to get back to 100%. I began working out with resistance bands and 10lb bar bells as much as I could before my 02 level would drop and I felt like passing out. I spent the next several weeks just pacing back in forth in between my kitchen and den (on my 02 leash) building up my endurance and my wind and dreaming about if I would be able to hunt this year.
Our archery season starts in September and of course I was no where near ready to or even able to walk into my stand setups. I continued to work at drawing my bow and eventually could shoot a much lighter setup, but not my bow. When November arrived and I knew the big boys would be roaming past my stands I tried once again to shoot my bow and could finally manage to get two maybe three shots before I ran out of steam. I figured it was now or never and as long I had a shot I felt comfortable with I could get out and hunt.
On November 12 on my second hunt where I would only have to walk 75 yards to reach the base of my stand located in a hedge row, I climbed up and settled in before daylight. At 7:15 this young buck trotted by and I grunted at him stopping him at 5 yards from the base of my tree. As I bent over at my waist and struggled to draw back my bow it just came naturally back to my anchor and it was done. He ran less than 30 yards heart shot and passed quickly. I climbed down and walked up to him and thanked our Creator for the gift to nourish my body and for my life.
Topic: My best deer... (Read 1734 times)
