It was Jan 3rd and I had not even shot an arrow from any of my bows. The NJ gang was going out for the winter bow fun and I had to work that day 3-11. I decided I couldn't make that hunt. I figured I would drop in the woods near work hoping to catch early afternoon movement before heading into the lab. I wasn't out long and a lone doe came cruising in to my blind location headed toward the corn fields. She stopped at 15 yards just after passing me. She turned and looked back at when I drew, but it was too late for her. My first arrow of the year let out a loud crack as it entered the shoulder. She took off running with her head down, my arrow sticking out both sides. I watched her go 100 yards and lay down. (open woods with snow on the ground lets you see pretty far). I backed out and figured she would be done when I got out of work that night and I could find her then. Well....... 11pm and I'm in the woods and I hear her move off into some brush. I couldn't believe it! I thought my shot was a done deal. I went home and figured on coming back Sunday evening before my next shift 11-7. I drop into the woods only a few yards and glass the area below. Right off I see the deer laying there with my hot pink fletch sticking out of her chest and she has her head up. (I got the hot pink idea from those fellas that hang with the Skipper. Thanks Joe.) Any way, now I'm totally feeling ill. I stalk down near her and she gets up and moves 10 yard and drops back down. I know this deer is hurting , but I can't push it . I'm going to give it till morning after work. I got relief early at work, so I was back in the woods at the crack of dawn. When it is light enough, I see her looking at me. I decide she must be very weak and I can't stand to let her suffer another day. I get up and run with every thing I have at her. She gets up and the race is on. I ran her down after about 120 yards of getting my face beat by branches as I put my all into getting her. I pulled out my knife and punctured one lung then the other with two blows of the blade and it was over as her last breath blew out her sides. Thou I felt bad about the long time it took to recover this deer, I let out a loud praise to my God for giving me the wisdom and physical strength to do what I did and tag this deer. I don't normally like to share such a hard story, but I need to share how I gave every effort to get this deer. I found my arrow entered through the shoulder missing the lung and cut a slice through the esophagus and came out the lower part of her neck. The pink fletch allowed me to pick out the deer a long way off on the days I was checking up on her. So Joe, you kind of helped me with out even knowing it. I thank The Lord for answering my prayers on this tag.
This is my first longbow deer and my first deer in a couple of years.
Topic: First arrow of the year! (Read 1593 times)
