first deer of 2011

[eman614]

i asked my little brother if he wanted to on halloween, and he said yes. well last night was the first night that he could go and i could get someone to babysit my son. so at 5 yesterday afternoon i pulled up to my moms and he wasn't there. i thought to myself , this isn't going to be a good evening, but he showed up about 15 minutes later, and we were in the woods by 530.

i got him settled into his stand and i went to mine which was only 15yards away at max. i climbed up and settled in myself and the looked at the clock, 545. a little later than i wanted but i couldn't complain.

i had my rattling horns with me so i decided to give them a go. i have had a lot of good luck with them in the past so i figured what the heck. i rattled for about 2 minutes, not getting real aggressive, but being as loud as i could. the sun was just starting to sink behind the hill in front of me when i laid the horns down and settled back in.

[eman614]

well after 15 minutes or so i had heard nothing. with light begining to fade i picked up the horns again. i tried to be as passive as possible but stillbe heard by the deer. well about 650 i hear a bit of commotion across the creek behind me. i didn't have a grunt call so i picked the horns back up and banged them together pretty good, but only for 15 seconds or so. i put the horns back down, grabbed my bow and stood up just in case.

shortly after i stood up i heard something splashing threw the creek. i felt my heart begin to race, i had no idea what it was but all i could think was buck! i began to hear the footsteps coming my way, but it was getting dark fast.

all of a sudden it was 30 yards in front of me and closing quick. it was dark enough in the bottom i was hunting that i couldn't make out horns, but i could tell it was a big deer. he walked threw my shooting lane at 20 yards. i let out a little grunt to stop him but to no avail. he then turned just a bit to quarter towards me. at about 18 yards he stopped but his vitals were covered by some branches and i had to hold off. as luck would have it he took a path that lead him into a small opening in the branches, and this time when i grunted he stopped.

[eman614]

in one motion i picked my spot and drew. as soon as i hit my anchor the arrow was away. i heard a loud crack and as the buck turned i heard my arrow break. he ran out of my line of sight but i heard him stop and thrash for just a moment. the whole thing didn't take 10 seconds. i looked at my brother and gave him a thumbs up. he saw the whole thing and said that he saw it fall.

while we waited a few minutes another deer ran up from the direction that the deer i shot came from. it then ran over to where my deer had fallen. i began to think that i had shot a doe with a fawn still hangin around, and had really talked myself into it. we got down and went to the point of impact. there were scuff marks where he turned and ran. a few feet past that was the broken arrow. it had blood 10 inches up it and my broadhead was broken off. a few feet past the arrow the blood trail began, there was plenty of the red stuff to follow. 15 yards into the trail it appeared as though he had stopped using his front feet and there was a path clear of leaves right to where he lay.

all told he didn't make it 30 yards from where i shot him. as we got up to him i was thrilled to see a fair sized rack sticking out of the leaves. i gave thanks and we took a few pictures.

thanks for reading, eric

 
 

[Big Ed]

Very nice on all accounts!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Great Buck Congrats.

Congrats!

Bisch

[lpcjon2]

Way to go!

[rastaman]

Way to go sir!      

[limbolt]

Nice one!! Congrat's.      

[yellow bow]

   

[vintage-bears]

Congratulations! Great buck.

[Coonbait]

Great Looking buck!
Congratulations
Glenn

[Froggy]

Good job Eric... nice buck !!. need to come over and shoot sometimes .....

Lanier

[magnus]

Great buck and a great story. Congratulations!

[Gen273]

Congrats!!!

[DannyBows]

Well Done!

[kennym]

Great job Buddy!! You are makin a habit of killin nice ones!!      

[soap creek]

Looken good!

[imhntn]

Good shooting Eric!

[Thumper Dunker]

Nice buck and good shot.