My 2023 buck
Oct 29, 2023 22:47:59 GMT -5
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Woody Williams, squirrelhunter, and 11 more like this
Post by Sasquatch on Oct 29, 2023 22:47:59 GMT -5
Over the last three seasons I have passed a number of bucks with my bow and missed a doe last year. This year I have a lot going on; many home projects, including a bathroom remodel and plans to sell another house. All this and a new job promised less hunting time, so I figured I’d shoot whatever this time around.
My first sit was on the 14th, a morning after a good rain. Perhaps 45 minutes went by when two deer appeared to the Northeast, a direction they don’t usually come from and on this morning vaguely downwind. I realized they were bucks only when one began battling a sapling. One was a short spike and the other a forky with pencil thin antlers. Forky clearly smelled something but seemed more interested in finding me than running. He gave me several shots, but I was still debating. Another deer with more of a rack appeared from where they came from. It looked like he might have had a little more meat, but it’s hard to say. I decided I would shoot him if He gave me the chance.
The two smaller bucks kept walking around in front of me, while the bigger one hung back. I knew he’d likely follow if they finally moved on. Eventually they did, and the third buck began to follow. I drew the 64lb. Mathews, and naturally the first two stopped, and number three did as well. I had to stay at full draw for probably three minutes until the first two moved again. When my target emerged at 25 yards I bleated. When he stopped I steadied my aim and shot. I heard the hit and he ran maybe 50 yards and stopped at the edge of a very steep hill that many deer have disappeared into. I thought he probably dropped, but I wasn’t gonna push it.
I waited around 45 minutes. Probably 15 minutes in I heard a snort just below the rim of the canyon. As it turned out, it was likely him. When I got down he wasn’t where he disappeared, but I found good blood. He had turned back toward where he had come from and I found him at the bottom of the hill, maybe 100 yards down. I dragged him maybe 30 yards up the steep terrain before the landowner arrived and we used rope to bring him the rest of the way. It turns out waiting was a good idea. The entry hole was near the paunch, and the exit in the vitals. I think he walked slowly along for some time, unheard because of the wet leaves.
The broadhead was a NAP spitfire on an Easton 340 Helios. I never found the arrow. It's a shame I did not have a camera running, as it would have been entertaining, but I did make a video of the trailing job.
I wish you all success this season!
My first sit was on the 14th, a morning after a good rain. Perhaps 45 minutes went by when two deer appeared to the Northeast, a direction they don’t usually come from and on this morning vaguely downwind. I realized they were bucks only when one began battling a sapling. One was a short spike and the other a forky with pencil thin antlers. Forky clearly smelled something but seemed more interested in finding me than running. He gave me several shots, but I was still debating. Another deer with more of a rack appeared from where they came from. It looked like he might have had a little more meat, but it’s hard to say. I decided I would shoot him if He gave me the chance.
The two smaller bucks kept walking around in front of me, while the bigger one hung back. I knew he’d likely follow if they finally moved on. Eventually they did, and the third buck began to follow. I drew the 64lb. Mathews, and naturally the first two stopped, and number three did as well. I had to stay at full draw for probably three minutes until the first two moved again. When my target emerged at 25 yards I bleated. When he stopped I steadied my aim and shot. I heard the hit and he ran maybe 50 yards and stopped at the edge of a very steep hill that many deer have disappeared into. I thought he probably dropped, but I wasn’t gonna push it.
I waited around 45 minutes. Probably 15 minutes in I heard a snort just below the rim of the canyon. As it turned out, it was likely him. When I got down he wasn’t where he disappeared, but I found good blood. He had turned back toward where he had come from and I found him at the bottom of the hill, maybe 100 yards down. I dragged him maybe 30 yards up the steep terrain before the landowner arrived and we used rope to bring him the rest of the way. It turns out waiting was a good idea. The entry hole was near the paunch, and the exit in the vitals. I think he walked slowly along for some time, unheard because of the wet leaves.
The broadhead was a NAP spitfire on an Easton 340 Helios. I never found the arrow. It's a shame I did not have a camera running, as it would have been entertaining, but I did make a video of the trailing job.
I wish you all success this season!
I did get a few pics but hadn't got em on Imgur yet.
