Thanksgiving Doe

[Missouri CK]

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.  
   

 

[vermonster13]

Congrats!

[BMOELLER]

You're a bad man!  Chris Kinslow

Good Shoot'n buddy!

[varmint101]

Nice job!

[Jim Jackson]

Proud of you bro!  The poison ivy stand pays off!!!

Its certainly a long way from sitting in the snow with our wet butt coveralls jumping at the sound of every squirrel in the territory.

You are doing great this season!  Can't wait to get my end of the state working and some meat in the freezer also.

Proud of you Chris.

[Neutron]

Nice.  I wanted to go out today but my places are too far to get back in time.

[lpcjon2]

Nice job,I saw a monster after I turned the alarm off and fell back into my dream.way to go!

[woodchucker]

CONGRATULATIONS Chris!!!!!!!!!!  

[limbow]

WOW!! Very nice. Congrats

[Wannabe1]

Now there's something to be thankful for! Congrats.      

[ron w]

Well done...

[Steve Nuckels]

Great story and hunt!  Thanks for sharing!


Steve
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IN GOD WE TRUST

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Awesome buddy    Congrats on another fine animal.

Tracy

[Gatekeeper]

You're a legend in the making!

Check out that second picture, the sun had just fully cleared the horizon and you had a dead deer! You make it all look easy.  

[just_a_hunter]

Congrats my friend.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well bud..

Todd

[Warden609]

Nice story and pictures.

[KentuckyTJ]

Very nice. I think I'll bring up to my wife I'm going to hunt on thanksgiving morning next year...someone get the needle, thread and gauze ready.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Now You really had something to be thankful for Today... Congrats.

[Missouri CK]

Brian,

I tried as hard as I could and never really got close to a doe down at Tiffany.  Today I go out and had one within 20 minutes of first light.
Go figure.

Tom,

She is still hanging in the garage since it is going to be nice and cold tonight. I was in a hurry with the hide and sliced it up a bit but your welcome to it and the sinew if you want.

[Charlie Lamb]

Worth a case of poison ivy, I'd say!  Way to lay the hammer down bud.