At about 3:45 I looked to the east along a bank on the other side of the creek and see a line of BIG long beards, Ive never seen that many big birds together at once. The lead bird was easily as big as any bird Ive ever seen. They were sporting beards from 11 inch ropes to 6" cigar types but all fat and in their prime! I was watching them spar and eat acorns as they kept getting closer and closer.
A big boss bird and a 6" bearded bird jumped up on a blowdown about 30 yards away and just tempted me while the others walked up hill toward the houses.
As I was watching and waiting I heard a deer running in from my back left. I turned in time to see a nice buck skid to a stop 7 yards away from me. He only looked for a second and was gone uphill only to stop at 25 yards away. I really can't remember deciding I was going to shoot but before I knew it I was at full draw and my string slipping from my fingers.
I couldn't see the flight of the arrow but saw and heard when it hit him in his ribs and the mule kick that followed. With his head low he ran over the hill from where he came.
I gave him a half hour before I walked to check the scene of the hit. I was more than thrilled to see the bloody, bubbly arrow 25 yards from the base of the tree I was sitting at. I knew where he was headed but a so so blood trail confirmed that he was headed for a marshy spot with a large stand of cattails. He never made it though, he died within 80 yards of where I shot him. Absolutely full of awe and gratitude I spent some time alone with him and gave thanks to the earth for the gift of his life. Then it was off to get my sons and dog to help with the drag, do some blood trailing and just share the moment with the ones I love.
Jackson was awesome and put his nose to the ground where the arrow had stuck into the leaves and ran the blood right out to where the deer lay. His second successful blood trail in 2 years, his only two actually.
Topic: Friendships, Giant Gobblers, Silvertips and a Mule kick! (Read 878 times)
