I've been hunting on Thanksgiving morning for the last several years. It's always a relaxing time for me before going to a family Thanksgiving dinner. However I've never been able to harvest an animal on Turkey day. That changed today as I headed out to a stand over looking a uncut corn field. Usually the corn is out by this time of the year but the wet weather has delayed the harvest. Some guys don't like standing corn, but my wife's grandfather turns his cows into the field after it is cut which usually means I don't see any more deer. So I was glad the corn was still in the field.
Today I saw deer from the moment I turned my truck into the pasture where I park. Three does were bedded down not 20 yards from the gate. They got up when I drove in and trotted down towards the corn field. I thought to myself it would be great to see them later.
After settling into the stand I waited for first light and was quickly rewarded by a doe who popped out of the corn down by where my treestand was positioned during the early fall. Sure enough she was followed by two other yearlings. I'm sure it was the same does I saw when I first drove in. They were a nervous wreck as they scampered up the edge of the corn field. They hit the line where I walked in and the lead doe was all over the place. I figured it was over and they would bug out but interestingly enough they headed right down the path I walked into the field.
I was on edge myself because of the nervous behavior the does were displaying. I was hesitant to move on the stand even as the headed my direction. They were coming towards the corner of the corn and if they turned the corner they would be right in my wheelhouse.
Earlier in the fall I shot a nice 10 point and was cool as a cucumber during the shot. But with these does trotting towards me I was a basket case. I drew just before they got to my shooting land and let the lead doe walk into my window. They came in fast and I felt rushed to shoot. As I released the arrow I felt like the shot was going to be too low but the arrow hit with a smack and the doe let out a strange bleeting sound. Despite my concern about the shot it looked perfect as the doe ran off. She was out of my visual window quickly.
I gave her 30 minutes but I had to be home by 8:15 to get ready and head to Thanksgiving dinner so I went to check the arrow. It looked great but the blood trail was sparse.
I crested the hill and spotted the doe at the bottom of the field. She had only gone 70 yards.
It all worked perfect today as I had shot a doe and had it hanging in my garage just in time to go to Thanksgiving dinner. I'm certainly thankful for this doe and the thrill of traditional archery as it never gets old to match wits with these animals.
Topic: Thanksgiving Doe (Read 1537 times)
