Got in the stand at 5:30 this morning. HOT!!! Just the short 200 yard walk from the house to the stand had me soaked wearing shorts and a T shirt under a leafy suit.
Got in the stand and settled in. Sure was nice to watch, and listen the woods wake up again. Been doing it all summer chasing hogs but theres just something different when its deer season.
Thought I blew the morning when I stood up to get my water bottle out of my pack at about 6. It was still way dark and in standing up I blew a deer out of the area. Never even knew she was there but she (or he) sure let me know they were not happy!
Just as it was getting light enough to consider shooting I watched two does cross the swamp to my North and head in my direction. As they got close enough to shoot I drew as the lead doe stuck her head behind a big pine. She took another couple of steps and just as I was about to let fly she turned 90 degrees and showed me her butt.I let down and took a couple of deep breaths..
The second, yearling doe was milling around in some thin myrtle bushes about 20 yards behind the lead doe. She eventually wandered out and stopped, Just slightly quartering away at about 12 yards. Looked up and turned her head to watch the bigger doe walk away.
I drew, picked a spot and let fly. At the shot she just humped up slightly and trotted off. I thought I missed! But just as she got out of sight in the swamp I heard one loud crash and a couple of kicks, then silence.
I looked at my watch and it was 6:42 am. 1 hour and 12 minutes into the season and I had my first deer on the ground.
I gave it 15 minutes just to be safe and got down. Went to were the doe was standing and found my arrow stuck in the ground covered with blood. Looking into the swamp I could see a patch of white laying about 40 feet away.
Went back to the house and my wife was sitting on the front porch drinking her morning coffee. She asked me what I was doing out of the woods so early. I just smiled and asked her if she wanted to help me drag one out. :D
I've been wanting to see what my dog would do with a blood trail since I lost a hog in some really thick stuff a few weeks back and this was the perfect opportunity. The wife and I and our border collie cross, Domino went back to the woods and I showed Domino the bloody arrow. He went from playfull puppy mode to tracker quickly. He ranged back and forth but followed the general direction almost perfectly. He found the deer and gave a low growl then got lots and lots of praise. I think he has potential! It was a short and simple trail but its a start!
At any rate. The first deer of the season is in the freezer.Hopefully there will be a few more between now and January but if not, I'm just thankfull for the time in the woods.
Sorry for the poor pictures. It was still pretty dark in the woods when these were taken.
Equiptment used
Border Black Douglas
50#@28"
GT 55/75 cut at 30.5" with a 100 gr brass insert.
125 gr woodsman broadhead with a 100 gr steel adapter.
640 gr arrow.
Topic: First deer of 2010 (Read 1233 times)
