OK, here's the "skinny": Roger ("Serpent Slayer")just recently switched to tradional bow gear, with the significant help of Tim (Stonemedic). Roger is a heck of a nice guy but was openly keyed up to take something (anything) with his trad bow, to justify Tim's help and his own learning efforts. We were all on our way out for an evening sit. Tim and son, Justin were traversing one road, while Roger and I trudged another, parallel one. Both teams were to head out for a grassy crossing between the two roads and then spread themselves out along that road, towards its middle, where we had seen deer coming out to feed on the grasses. Before leaving my truck, Roger stepped to the weed overgrown edge of the road, to attend to one of those personal matters. He encountered a small snake that appeared to be of the Copperhead persuasion. He quickly backed to the truck and grabbing his machette, dispatched the youngster, with one, well-placed side-blade whack. We then proceeded out the dirt road. I was soon engaged in spinning one of my infrequent
tales, while Roger was busy injecting appropriate remarks of appreciation. Suddenly I interupted my story by croaking out, "Look at the size of that snake crossing the road there, and that's just his tail end!" Roger was imediatly going full-tilt toward the retreating snake, with nocked arrow, and bow at the ready. I cautioned my new friend (and hero), "You be careful, Rog - I can't haul you out of here, you know." I quickly added, "Especially not in time!"
Roger's first arrow just skinned the back of the large, rattle adorned snake - obviously slicing the flesh. We latter discerned it had clipped the backbone as well. The bearded hunter quickly, swiftly, and delftly nocked and launched another broadhead, from about five yards. The equally well aimed second shaft pinned the arm-sized body to the ground. The snake writhed and gave us some nasty looks at his head before burying it in the roadside weeds. Then (and only then), I located a nice, whippy sapling and proceeded to belabor the area where the snakes head and neck seemed to be, with strokes meant to break any lesser snake's neck. I was not at all sure it was working on this particular no-shouldered fellow but Roger wanted his first arrow back, for later (hopefull) use. Niether of us were too anxious to reach for it though. Knowing we needed to continue to our appointed place for the evening sit, I finally summoned enough courage :eek: to reach out and snatch the arrow in question away from the snake's resting place. It was about then that the great serpent appeared to roll over on it's back, as best it could while still pinned by the second arrow, and ceased all movement. After tossing some weeds on the upright arrow to cover it, Roger marked the roadway with copious heel-drag hyroglyphics, to be later decoded only by a "Serpent Slayer" of this intrepid archer,s newly acquirred stature. We then proceeded to our assigned posts, along with much reliving of our exciting yet satisfying encounter. On the way out, after a non-effective evening vigil, Roger retrieved his well earned trophy, sporting ten rattles and a button, thank you. He remarked a couple of times that the snake was heavy. I agreed solicitously that it indeed must be, and that I would love to offer to carry it part way for him - but that I was not going to!
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Oh, Roger doesn't like snakes either :p .
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Topic: North Carolina coastal archers (Read 42668 times)
