Post by MywifeandMe on Oct 11, 2006 13:26:32 GMT -6
Where to start...where to start...........
First off I should note that my dad bought me a new bow less than two weeks ago. It is a Mathews Mustang and I LOVE it!
Well...yesterday it was raining during the morning so Jon stayed home from work and we decided to go put up a tree stand so I would be able to hunt on Thursday when the first really good cold front is supposed to come in. We walked around the area and picked a spot that looked great. We found a good run (actually several in the same area) and deer poo and tracks galore. It was sprinkling off and on most of the time that we were setting up. I climbed the stand so I could know the proper way to use a climber with the coaching of my husband. It was his favorite stand and made sure he let me know that several times. LOL
Well...we got all that ready and went for a walk around the place. I took my bow for "just in case" *wink*. We seen a coyote and then shortly after I drew back on some turkeys. SO FUN! Wish I would have had a good shot because that woulda been way cool! We also jumped up a couple of does but again was not able to get a shot off.
We headed to another area that we just got permission to hunt and walked around it for a while. It also looks quite promising.
We decided to come in for lunch. I asked Jon if he thought I should go since it was a gorgeous day. He said "go" so I didnt argue. I was in the woods by a little after 4.
I climbed up in the tree (taking my sweet time of course) and got all settled in. It started sprinkling again. The woods were beautiful. I sat looking around and taking everything in. I stood to make sure all my shooting lanes were clear. I only left one small branch near my face for concealment. I was about 20 ft up. I watched the squirrels play and a woodpecker playing around for quite a while. How I was sitting I was about 20 ft off a fenceline with my back to a field that no one can hunt. I was sitting very near an intersection so had a good feeling that I would at least get to see a deer coming through there. About 30 ft or so in front of me was a dry creek bed that there are deer trails all through. To my left the woods got thicker and there was some knocked down brush. To my right was at least two clear paths that I could tell the deer frequented.
I sat until about 6 just enjoying the cooler weather and looking around. It was shortly after 6 that I seen two does enter the field and I watched them for quite some time. Then I seen a little forky and a smaller doe come in to them. I watched them eat with their little tails flicking for at least 45 min. I watched them disappear into the woods on the far side of the field.
I heard some movement coming my left and turned to see what it was. I kept hearing it come closer and knew it wasnt my friendly squirrel so I stood up. I seen white and knew that the deer were coming although couldnt tell at that time what gender it was. There she was....two of them. Walking right up the trail that Jon had marked off as 20 yds! I pulled back and readied myself. Everything that I have been learning going through my mind. She was a decent sized doe followed by a small one. Walking myself through the steps I never really felt horribly anxious but definitely wanted a good shot. Almost talking to myself I walked myself into a shot. "Get ready....bend your arm...tip of the nose on the string....loosen your grip...find your target... call out to her" I made a bleat sound with my mouth and she stopped. "Release" I fired the shot at her and it went about an inch over her back. Both deer took off. The larger doe went straight back into the woods in front of me. The smaller one turned and went in the direction that they came from.
My legs were shaking from the shot and I was disappointed but still relieved that at least it was a clean miss and I didnt wound her. I put in another arrow because I could still hear them. They hadnt gone far. I heard them back there and thought I may soon get my chance at one of them again. I sat back down just so I wouldnt fall. LOL
I heard a snort off to my left and rustling through the leaves. This was only about 10 minutes from the time I missed the doe. I seen the deer's body but couldnt tell the gender. All I could see was the back end. It came out at about 20 yds just behind a couple of trees. I stood and placed my release on the string. It stepped forward revealing, between the trees, his rack. My eyes widened. I actually whispered out loud..."its a buck...I want him" then my focus was intense. As he walked forward and his face disappeared behind the tree I drew back. I held the pin where I expected him to show but he had stopped behind the tree. Whispering "come on....come on, baby" He started slowly walking again and stopped just inside a little clearing in the brush. "he's yours" I said to myself as I let the arrow fly. I seen it hit his shoulder and he spun on a dime and hooked it back into the woods. I watched him as far as I could and listened to where I thought he went.
The nerves set in. My fingers shaking like crazy and my senses definitely heightened. I had seen the arrow hit and knew that I had hit him a little high and left of where I would have liked.
I pulled out the phone and called Jon. "Hey, I just shot a buck" After I talked him into believing me (hahaha) he said he was on his way. It was getting dark so I climbed down as he headed that way. He was there before I got to the bottom of the tree.
We went to where I knew the buck was standing and looked for the arrow or blood. Couldnt find either. We looked for a while but needed better light so we came home for the lantern. Headed back out into the woods (without the camera... grrr ) and still couldnt find blood. We did find where he dug in as he pivoted and thats where we began. We walked in the direction of where I knew he had went. Our dog had followed us this time and I heard him let out a bay. He only did it once though so I couldnt pin-point exactly where he was. We walked down into the creek and went right. Nothing. We went back towards the sound of the dog's earlier bark and found where he had came running through but still no blood. We walked up the side of the bank and FINALLY...blood! It wasnt much and it was watery looking. Jon asked exactly where I had hit it and when I told him he said that the deer may still be alive with a blood trail like that. I was disappointed to say the least but was NOT giving up. We walked several steps more and found a drop of blood. We couldnt find anymore on the ground and thought I may have to come back in the morning to find him when I can see better. I took out my pony tail holder to mark the last spot of blood then continued to look some more. I took a deep breath and stood up. No freaking blood. I wasnt happy.
As I stood, Jon had swung the light around and I caught a glimpse of something on the tree in front of me. Surely not...this tree was my heighth. "Jonathan....gimme some light"..."where" he said. "here...what is this?" He brings the light around and the whole top of the tree is covered in blood. Oh GOSH! Excited again we found more blood....a fairly good trail was forming. Apparently when he was running he ran smooth over that tree. I stood at the spot of the last blood drop and Jon went forward with the light. I seen him bring up the light then back down quick. His voice changed and goes...~Linet...come here quick!....Blood! Follow the trail" The light came up and I seen our dog first and then......THERE HE WAS!!! What a beauty. Jon had seen him first (hence the change in voice) but wanted me to find him. I was beyond words with excitement. I kicked myself that I forgot the camera but SO excited that we found him. The arrow was still stuck in him. It hadnt shot all the way through but slightly punctured the other side. Thats when we had found the good blood trail. Jon called his friend and told him that we got him. It seemed like we had tracked a ways but if we had taken the same path as the deer then it was only about 90 yds that he ran after the shot.
We finally got him to the truck and rushed to get a couple of pics before we gutted him. (Jon did this btw) When he pulled the heart out I found that even though I thought I hit him too high... at the angle that I was in it pierced his heart.
Then we were off to tag him in. Finding an open check station at 9 was not an easy task but we got him tagged in. I had taken my first deer with a bow and it was a buck!
Oh...btw...my pony tail holder is still in the woods. LOL
First off I should note that my dad bought me a new bow less than two weeks ago. It is a Mathews Mustang and I LOVE it!
Well...yesterday it was raining during the morning so Jon stayed home from work and we decided to go put up a tree stand so I would be able to hunt on Thursday when the first really good cold front is supposed to come in. We walked around the area and picked a spot that looked great. We found a good run (actually several in the same area) and deer poo and tracks galore. It was sprinkling off and on most of the time that we were setting up. I climbed the stand so I could know the proper way to use a climber with the coaching of my husband. It was his favorite stand and made sure he let me know that several times. LOL
Well...we got all that ready and went for a walk around the place. I took my bow for "just in case" *wink*. We seen a coyote and then shortly after I drew back on some turkeys. SO FUN! Wish I would have had a good shot because that woulda been way cool! We also jumped up a couple of does but again was not able to get a shot off.
We headed to another area that we just got permission to hunt and walked around it for a while. It also looks quite promising.
We decided to come in for lunch. I asked Jon if he thought I should go since it was a gorgeous day. He said "go" so I didnt argue. I was in the woods by a little after 4.
I climbed up in the tree (taking my sweet time of course) and got all settled in. It started sprinkling again. The woods were beautiful. I sat looking around and taking everything in. I stood to make sure all my shooting lanes were clear. I only left one small branch near my face for concealment. I was about 20 ft up. I watched the squirrels play and a woodpecker playing around for quite a while. How I was sitting I was about 20 ft off a fenceline with my back to a field that no one can hunt. I was sitting very near an intersection so had a good feeling that I would at least get to see a deer coming through there. About 30 ft or so in front of me was a dry creek bed that there are deer trails all through. To my left the woods got thicker and there was some knocked down brush. To my right was at least two clear paths that I could tell the deer frequented.
I sat until about 6 just enjoying the cooler weather and looking around. It was shortly after 6 that I seen two does enter the field and I watched them for quite some time. Then I seen a little forky and a smaller doe come in to them. I watched them eat with their little tails flicking for at least 45 min. I watched them disappear into the woods on the far side of the field.
I heard some movement coming my left and turned to see what it was. I kept hearing it come closer and knew it wasnt my friendly squirrel so I stood up. I seen white and knew that the deer were coming although couldnt tell at that time what gender it was. There she was....two of them. Walking right up the trail that Jon had marked off as 20 yds! I pulled back and readied myself. Everything that I have been learning going through my mind. She was a decent sized doe followed by a small one. Walking myself through the steps I never really felt horribly anxious but definitely wanted a good shot. Almost talking to myself I walked myself into a shot. "Get ready....bend your arm...tip of the nose on the string....loosen your grip...find your target... call out to her" I made a bleat sound with my mouth and she stopped. "Release" I fired the shot at her and it went about an inch over her back. Both deer took off. The larger doe went straight back into the woods in front of me. The smaller one turned and went in the direction that they came from.
My legs were shaking from the shot and I was disappointed but still relieved that at least it was a clean miss and I didnt wound her. I put in another arrow because I could still hear them. They hadnt gone far. I heard them back there and thought I may soon get my chance at one of them again. I sat back down just so I wouldnt fall. LOL
I heard a snort off to my left and rustling through the leaves. This was only about 10 minutes from the time I missed the doe. I seen the deer's body but couldnt tell the gender. All I could see was the back end. It came out at about 20 yds just behind a couple of trees. I stood and placed my release on the string. It stepped forward revealing, between the trees, his rack. My eyes widened. I actually whispered out loud..."its a buck...I want him" then my focus was intense. As he walked forward and his face disappeared behind the tree I drew back. I held the pin where I expected him to show but he had stopped behind the tree. Whispering "come on....come on, baby" He started slowly walking again and stopped just inside a little clearing in the brush. "he's yours" I said to myself as I let the arrow fly. I seen it hit his shoulder and he spun on a dime and hooked it back into the woods. I watched him as far as I could and listened to where I thought he went.
The nerves set in. My fingers shaking like crazy and my senses definitely heightened. I had seen the arrow hit and knew that I had hit him a little high and left of where I would have liked.
I pulled out the phone and called Jon. "Hey, I just shot a buck" After I talked him into believing me (hahaha) he said he was on his way. It was getting dark so I climbed down as he headed that way. He was there before I got to the bottom of the tree.
We went to where I knew the buck was standing and looked for the arrow or blood. Couldnt find either. We looked for a while but needed better light so we came home for the lantern. Headed back out into the woods (without the camera... grrr ) and still couldnt find blood. We did find where he dug in as he pivoted and thats where we began. We walked in the direction of where I knew he had went. Our dog had followed us this time and I heard him let out a bay. He only did it once though so I couldnt pin-point exactly where he was. We walked down into the creek and went right. Nothing. We went back towards the sound of the dog's earlier bark and found where he had came running through but still no blood. We walked up the side of the bank and FINALLY...blood! It wasnt much and it was watery looking. Jon asked exactly where I had hit it and when I told him he said that the deer may still be alive with a blood trail like that. I was disappointed to say the least but was NOT giving up. We walked several steps more and found a drop of blood. We couldnt find anymore on the ground and thought I may have to come back in the morning to find him when I can see better. I took out my pony tail holder to mark the last spot of blood then continued to look some more. I took a deep breath and stood up. No freaking blood. I wasnt happy.
As I stood, Jon had swung the light around and I caught a glimpse of something on the tree in front of me. Surely not...this tree was my heighth. "Jonathan....gimme some light"..."where" he said. "here...what is this?" He brings the light around and the whole top of the tree is covered in blood. Oh GOSH! Excited again we found more blood....a fairly good trail was forming. Apparently when he was running he ran smooth over that tree. I stood at the spot of the last blood drop and Jon went forward with the light. I seen him bring up the light then back down quick. His voice changed and goes...~Linet...come here quick!....Blood! Follow the trail" The light came up and I seen our dog first and then......THERE HE WAS!!! What a beauty. Jon had seen him first (hence the change in voice) but wanted me to find him. I was beyond words with excitement. I kicked myself that I forgot the camera but SO excited that we found him. The arrow was still stuck in him. It hadnt shot all the way through but slightly punctured the other side. Thats when we had found the good blood trail. Jon called his friend and told him that we got him. It seemed like we had tracked a ways but if we had taken the same path as the deer then it was only about 90 yds that he ran after the shot.
We finally got him to the truck and rushed to get a couple of pics before we gutted him. (Jon did this btw) When he pulled the heart out I found that even though I thought I hit him too high... at the angle that I was in it pierced his heart.
Then we were off to tag him in. Finding an open check station at 9 was not an easy task but we got him tagged in. I had taken my first deer with a bow and it was a buck!
Oh...btw...my pony tail holder is still in the woods. LOL
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