I was able to get my first deer with a traditional bow yesterday. After 2 years of no success, with opportunities, this was pretty sweet. Not the biggest deer but thankful nonetheless.
The day started pretty nice with me seeing a deer just after sunrise. We had a foggy morning, and while the fog was still lifting, I saw a single deer wandering about 10 yards in front of me. Being that it was a single deer I figured it was a button buck. I passed on a potential shot on that one. Shortly after that I had a buck show up about 6 yards behind me. He was reluctant to take another step into an opening and the brush was thick covering his body so no shot there. A short while later I had 3 deer, all bucks, in the field in front of me. They danced around for a couple minutes before moving over to where my son was at. He didn't get a shot either. So, a great morning seeing deer.
I went back in the afternoon not expecting to see anything. The place I was at is definitely more of a morning spot. Being that it is on the ground all shots are close, most within 10 yards, one shot out to 20. So, I was mainly reading on my phone, enjoying the day, taking videos of birds hanging out in front of me. About 20 minutes before dark I heard a familiar crackle behind me and I turned to see some legs through the same brush I mentioned earlier. This time the buck stuck more than his head out and was walking past the opening that I had to shoot in that direction. I debated whether I wanted to shoot him as he was smaller and it was opening day but when he stopped and started eating in that opening I quickly decided that I was going to shoot.
The next thing I knew I was drawing, I hit my anchor and held for a second to refocus on that spot I wanted to hit. I knew then that it was all over. And then, there was my arrow sticking out of his side right where I was looking. He was probably 10 yards away at most when I shot him. He ran for a bit along the edge of some corn and my son tracked him to where he was. I really couldn't be more thankful. First traditional deer, hunting on the ground, very close, very exciting.
Update: Equipment used, Spirit LB, 53@28, wood arrows with 145 gr Magnus Snuffer Broadheads. Total arrow weight at about 585 grains.
Topic: First Trad Deer! (Read 3751 times)
