Opening day success story and pics

[supernaut]

Saturday the 17th was my opener here in the  wildlife management unit I hunt , 2B, here in PA. Here is my story and some pics from the morning's hunt. I hope you all enjoy.

I was hunting a friend's farm a couple miles from the house and he is wanting some doe gone and I am wanting to restock my freezer with venison. I know there are some bucks out here that I would shoot if I had the chance but I had already made up my mind that if I saw a nice lone doe without fawns that I was going to try to shoot her.

I was up in my Lone Wolf portable shortly after 6 am waiting for daylight. It was about 55 degrees here this morning and a little foggy. The temperature would climb to 80 by the afternoon so the cool morning felt good and it was great to be back in the woods hunting deer again.

This first picture shows the view from my tree about 15 feet up. That old tram road is about 15 yards in front of me running right to left or left to right and beyond it is a nasty thicket down over a hill. I can see roughly 20 yards beyond the edge of the tram road looking ahead into the thick stuff. Behind me about a 100 yards is a corn field. I can just barely see the corn as the woods are still pretty thick and green.  Deer usually travel back and forth between the thicket and the corn.

At around 6:50 I caught movement about 70 yards to my right as a deer was making it's way up the old tram road towards me. I saw it was a nice sized doe and she was by herself. She cut off the tram road and was walking off to my right. I sat tight as I didn't have a shot and didn't want to try to turn for one. As luck would have it she turned around and headed back up to the tram road. She was relaxed and had no idea I was there.

When she hit the opening you see in this picture at about 15 yards broadside, I shot.

[supernaut]

The shot looks great and she spins and bolts up over the knuckle on the other side of the tram road towards the thick stuff. I can only see her for about 15 yards (a couple seconds) before she disappears over the crest. I do hear what sounds like a crash right after she is out of sight.

I hang my bow back on the holder, check the time and collect myself and my thoughts. I'm not ashamed to admit that I get pretty ramped up after I shoot a deer, I hope I never lose that feeling! I figure I'll wait about 30 minutes before I start climbing down. This should put me right around 45 minutes by the time I climb down and get my stand and gear situated.

As I'm sitting there, I think I can see a red spot on the ground where she was at when I shot but I'm not 100% sure. I am also pretty sure I got a clean pass through but I cant see my arrow from where I'm at in the tree.

After what seems like forever and many time checks, I make my way carefully out of my tree. I resist temptation and stow and situate my gear before I walk over to where she was when I shot and where I thought I could see the red from up in the tree.

[supernaut]

Yep, great blood at the impact site! My eyes didn't deceive me!

[supernaut]

I look just a little beyond where she was standing when I shot and I can see my arrow and I can tell it's passed clean through her. Things are looking good!

[supernaut]

I inspect the arrow carefully and it's soaked from tip to end. It picked up a little bend right at the wrap but no matter, it did it's job. I stash it in my quiver and look ahead and can see ample blood. Right on!

[supernaut]

The blood is plentiful but I take my time and closely follow the trail. It gets really thick in here and it would be easy to overlook sign or even a dead deer depending on how and where it fell.

I get to the knuckle of the hill and there she is about 5 yards beyond where I caught the last glimpse of her when she took off. The crash I heard seconds after the shot was her coming to rest here.

[supernaut]

I feel  blessed to have killed this beautiful doe!

I had to hurry a little and get her dressed and drug to the truck as the temperature was already starting to climb. She is skinned and hanging in my neighbor's walk in and I'll cut her up in a week or two.

I tried to get a decent picture of the deer, myself and my bow.

The bow is my Bear Grizzly 46# at my draw. Easton 1916 aluminums tipped with razor sharp Magnus Stinger 125 grain 2 blades. Really happy with this combo.

It was a great start to the season!

I hope you all have a safe, blessed and memorable season. -Jim

[arrow30]

  congratts! nice shot 

[woodchucker]

CONGRATULATIONS, Jim!!!!!
 

Them old Grizzlys, still get the job done!!!

[RIVERWOLF]

Great animal,pictures,and story Jim .

Nothing so brings about the feeling of Connection  -Oneness- Part of  as Bowhunting and all that comes with it . Nothing , for it is  truth. Pure and simple truth. .....

Congratulations brother.....enjoy the many gifts given....best with the rest and Thank you for taking us along ......

[kennym]

Great job Jim!! 

[supernaut]

"Them old Grizzlys, still get the job done!!! :

A working man's bow for me, a working man 

Thanks guys!

Ralph, my stories and pics aren't as good as yours but I appreciate it brother!

[Friend]

Excellent...thank you for sharing.

[Alexander Traditional]

Way to go,looks like a deadly set up!

[Wudstix]

I'll have to pump up and use my 70# Grizzly on hogs, or something.  Great story, I miss PA hunting.
 

[LookMomNoSights]

 
That's what I'm talkin' about .......congrats!

[Cory Mattson]

Great hunt
PERFECT shot!!
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[trad_bowhunter1965]

 

[RIVERWOLF]

""Ralph, my stories and pics aren't as good as yours but I appreciate it brother!""

Quite the contrary my friend.....just like the animals we hunt . Every story is as unique as the hunt itself . No two the same...nor be the telling. That is a beutiful thing

Much enjoyed ...  Thank you ...and well done my friend

[supernaut]

Thanks again brother.   :campfire:0