Archery Talk

You’re not a grown ass man unless you’ve shit yourself… I’m grown a few times over. I can usually hold it past prime time, then it’s time to get down.

 

Oh, it's scary FOR SURE! Even in a ultrasafe-feeling stand like an API Grand Slam Supreme locked to the tree tight with ratchet straps. That's why I'm usually up at 3:30...to make sure there is sufficient time to take care of that chore BEFORE leaving camp. I remember back in 1982. Opening morning found me hunting from the ground on a swivel bucket. My first time in the Type II public land between the confluence of the Neches and the Angelina rivers. More than 4000 acres of ancient hardwood/palmetto bottoms and sloughs. Only accessible by boat, then foot access only, no roads, I'm a couple hundred yards in from the boat, sufficient I thought to have it to myself. I'm sitting there about 7:30am when I see movement. All of a sudden a guy step out from behind a big pine about eighty yards out, scans all around, then turns with his back to me, squats and takes a shit. A still and crisp 30 degree morning, even now I can't unsee the steam rising through the beams of low angle light coming through the trees. End of hunt. Excellent public land lesson. This before GPS, and the topo of it was under-surveyed and unrepresentative, showing only that "swamp" symbol over all of it, that's the day I resolved I would get a USGS aerial photograph, laminate it and use it to scout and learn the lay of the land so I could go in with confidence as early and deep as I could. And shit up in a tree, in a bag, in my stand, so I wouldn't be "that guy". When your have made the commitment to go that far in there, you don't come out, and you don't come down.

 

I was a wilderness guide for 4.5 years.. shit myself at least once a year in the field. Backpacking food plus major strenuous exercise will usually lead to poo-emergencies

 

Also, I ended up with the old goose egg on my land in Texas this past weekend. It was supposed to be perfect weather but it warmed up way quicker than planned so it was basically sweating my ass off and getting destroyed my mosquitos.

Gonna head back down there next month for rifle

 

What were you after?

 

Whitetail and/or pigs

 

FML.......

Was able to get out after work. Made good time to the parking spot. Changed geared up, took my time on the 1/2 hour walk to my stand. Climbed up, hooked in, pulled bow up. All set. Reach into my fanny pack.......and......my release is MIA. Sitting at home where I left it after I shot last night. *Sigh*

 

I wrap mine around my quiver when I take it off for the day. Then it’s always attached to my bow.

just for what it’s worth

 

Been there done that..

 

I've done this....
Walked to a likely looking tree before daylight, laid my bow on the ground, reach behind me....I'd left my treestand in the truck. I've done that 3 times.

 

Yep, I’ve done it twice (and I’ve only bow hunted for two years now)

never left my climber though, but could see how a 4am wake up and hike could cause me to do that

 

Must be common...Ive got all way up in tree stand and find out i left my release at home also...i just stayed there and enjoyed my time in the woods. I didnt see any deer that day anyhow.

I now strap the release to my bow! So i dont forget it

 

Not sure how I’ve never left my release but I haven’t. I’ve left my bino’s before and that sucked. I’ve left my Thermacell and that was down right miserable.

 

I bought a second, matching release to keep with my practice arrows. And my hunting release would stay in my pack so that scenario wouldn't happen to me.

Small cost to prevent this from happening again.

 

Forty years never forgot my release. Binocs, safety harness, boots,... Few years back, went out the last day of flintlock. Imagine my surprise when I opened my case and there was my Browning .243.

Typically my release goes right back in the bow case. Took it off to help "she who must be obeyed" with something. Loaded the truck the night before. Prolly walked by it on the workbench 3 or 4X.

 

I forgot my release just one time. Climbed down and walked back home to get. Back in tree 15 minutes later.

 

The buck I named Rib Cage will now get a pass this year because he now has 2 broken tines, his left G4 and his right G 2.

 

Put another ground blind up this morning.

 

That’s brushed in real good!!