Archery Talk

Story in a bit...

 

Well done! Can't wait to hear the story, congrats!

 

Congrats

 

@rtkbowhunter, get yer lazy tagged ass outta bed already, we awl are awaiting the story.............

 

Can we make one up? You found a buck, laid your bow on him and your taking a dump while photoing the deer?

Just kidding! Congratulations, nice

 

So.....this season has not gone too well. As I mentioned awhile back, the mast was almost non-exsistent and the 100 acres of soybeans did not help. They would bed and feed pretty much in the same spot. Deer sightings were few and far between. I did have an opprtunity at a mature doe on Oct 10th, but the shot was a little quartering to and she was somewhat on alert. Learned a long time ago, be a little more selective on shots and kill/recover rate will hit 100%.

I was off the first two weeks of November and saw a few young doe, spikes and what looked like a lost forkhorn the first couple of days. They finally cut the soybean on Nov 3rd and almost as if by magic deer started to appear back in the woods. They would still venture into the cut beans to feed but were finally forced to seek bedding and cover back in the woods. The morning of Nov 6th should be a great day to be on stand. At least in the morning. The forecast including the 10 day, was calling for lows in the mid 50's and highs in the 70's. Not good for daytine rut action. So around 7:30am I hear movement behind me, turn and see a small doe coming in. She's gonna get a pass, but I'll get my phone out for some video. She stops at my 10 o'clock and is staring in front of her. She's watching a nice heavy chocolate racked 8 pt coming in. Lift my bow off the hanger, and draw. As soon as he's clear and broadside, the flo-green pin settles behind the shoulder about mid way up. The arrow is gone annnnnnnnd, it hit's high. At first I thought it was spine but no, it was above. I blew a 23 yard chip shot!! He took off and ran about 60 yards then proceeded to snort and blow for the next 5 minutes before trotting off, tail held high as if to say F you. One spot of bright red blood the size of my hand is all that was found. He'll be chasin' ass before too long.

The next morning I'm in a different location, my son is hunting the edge of the cut beans. The stand is in a narrow strip of woods that drops down steeply. Can you say funnel? At 7:00am I get a text he missed a really nice 8pt. Happened so fast he didn't have time to range him. Shot him for 35 yards, was 40-ish. Said the arrow was running straight hot and true, till it passed right underneath him. We're 0 for 2.

The following week again brought warm temps and minimal daytine activity. The morning of Nov 9th was probably the best morning of the bunch. Had a buck chasing a doe on a far hillside, about 150 yards away. The buck was grunting so long it almost sounded like a growl. Finally they headed my way and the hot buck turned out to be the lost little forkhorn. lol The rest of the week was pretty much of the same. We did have cooler temps for Friday and Saturday, but all I saw was one small buck Saturday evening.

Which brings us to today. Working from home has some definite benefits, such as getting out for a few hours in the morning. And that was plan for this morning. As with all plans, they seem to go to hell in a hand basket. Last week my wife had a stomach bug and I seemed to get it on Sunday. Ended up running about a 1/2 hour late this morning because of it. Pull in and park at my "favorite road to nowhere" and start to hustle up the road. It's chilly mid-30's. Not quite cold enough for frost, which means the leaves are damp and soft, not crunchy. Turn up the trail off the road and begin the steep climb. Even though I'm running late I am still cautious as deer like to bed at the top. They'll bed with their backs to the wind using their eyes and ears to look for danger in front and below. About 10 yards from the top, something is out of place. It's the white of a deer's belly!! I check it with my binoculars and see it's a nice buck. I drop to the ground as he stands up. He looks around a bit turns and beds down. Now I've seen doe do this, but it was the first time I watched a buck lay down and stretch out like a dog. I moved off to my right as quietly as I could and worked my way to the top. Once there, I started to work back towards him, keeping the the big oak between me and his head. He knew something was quite right as I could see parts of his rack swiveling back and forth. He shifted his body position and opened his chest. I drew anchored and settled into the shot. The flo-green pin sat low on his chest and the arrow was gone. He stood, wobbled, laid down. Did I really just shoot a buck in his bed? I walked to my ladder stand about 40 yards away and actually finished gearing up. Needed to let the adrenaline surge pass. Went back 15 minutes later. he hadn't moved.

This most likely was my last opportunity to get out during archery and when the alarm went off at 4:30am I almost said screw it. Almost. Never quit. Never give up.

 

Nice, one to remember. And done with a true bow not a ^&&$^% crossbow. Crossbows are not archery. Now I sound like the manual boys giving the auto boys hell....But congrads

 

Looks like a compound, not a recurve which is TRUE archery if you want to get technical. If it flings an arrow, it's archery to me

 

Congratulations on your buck

 

about damn time....well done sir, well done, congrats...

 

So, when your body can't take it any more, are you going to quit archery hunting for good?? You wear glasses or contacts?? Take any medications for physical ailments?? A TRUE bow is a long bow!

Sorry, but I no longer can draw a compound bow due to physical issues and crossbows are legal here.

rtk.......NICE buck and GREAT story!!!

 

well played sir...

 

He probably wears camo, too....what would FRED BEAR and HOWARD HILL have to say about that??

 

Here we go!! Does it really matter if it’s a recurve, compound, crossbow, muzzleloader, shotgun or a high power rifle, after all it’s called hunting and they’re al legal in certain areas. Believe it or not there are hunters who have had back surgery or shoulder surgery who may no longer be able to pull a recurve or compound bow back and a crossbow allows them to continue hunting. As for myself, I was never a huge fan of crossbows but at the age of 61 and having surgery on both hands due to arthritis and having arthritis in both shoulders, I am thankful for having the option to use a crossbow which I started using last year after 45 years of recurves and compounds. Other hunters use crossbows simply because they tend to be more accurate, yes I know that you can make a bad shot with a crossbow but I also know hunters who have wounded and not found deer using all other methods of hunting listed above. I don’t know you personally or your health situation and you don’t know every other hunters situation so let’s try not to criticize each other’s hunting methods. If it’s legal it’s ethical. We already have enough issues dealing with the anti-hunters and tree huggers!

 

Congrats on a great buck and love the story.