The deer that made me stick it out....

[Vabowman]

I have a story to tell, if you are not interested don't read any further, if you are I hope this may help someone some daay. Back 2001 shortly after 9/11 I found my self in the woods every chance I could. I was still in college and I was bowhunter but not as serious as I am now. I had killed a few deer with the bow and many with a gun, but I had no real expectations in the early fall that year. I was sad, in fact I think the whole country was. So one afternoon in late October I went to my favorite stand that had produced many deer for my friends and me. It was Wed. and I was hunting a hill top over looking the swamp on the farm which had plentiful acorns. I must tell you that the year before was horrible for me as a bowhunter, I wounded more than one deer and it took its toll on me. Back to the story.. Anyway, I was set up and ready by 4 pm and awaiting the unknown. I saw a few does at 4:45 pm and one small buck at 5 pm. All of a sudden up from the swamp comes a beautiful tall tined 8 pt right to me! He turns slightly but still coming. He walks within 30 yds and checks a scrape and eats some acorns. I stood up when he was looking the other way and waited to for him to get closer. He came in about another 4 yds and stopped and looked at me. I waited until he dropped his head to eat and then came to full draw. I took a deep breath and released the arrow. The arrow hit him low and back, right in the guts. He turned and ran into an island of trees about 35 yds in front of me and never came out the other side. I waited for 40 min and then climbed down. I went and got my arrow and walked over to the island of trees. As I approached the trees I could see the deer's body, upon closer inspection...wait!!! I see him looking at me!!! He was still living!! I knocked an arrow and took the only open shot I could. When the arrow hit him he jumped up ran 30 yds and collapsed. But he did not expire. I knocked another arrow and tried to creep up to him to put another arrow in him and he got up again and ran 20 yds and fell down. I decided to not approach him again. For the next 5 min I watched him slowly lose his will to live. I decided to turn and walk away and go get my long time hunting partner, but when I moved the buck got up yet again and ran out of sight! I was deflated to say the least. I told myself that was it, Im done with bowhunting, never again will I do this to an animal. I walked over to my partner's stand which was about 1/4 of a mile and he came down the tree and I told him the whole story... I told him I couldn't do it anymore and he said to me "calm down" "we will get "him" "he's down"...I didn't have to tell him that this was the biggest buck I have ever shot with a bow, he knew from my reaction. We went back to my stand picked up the blood trail and walked all of 35 yds and found him dead as door knob!! I grabbed him by the antlers and thanked God and then hugged my partner and told him thanks for the encouragement. I decided that night that I wanted to become a more serious bow hunter and He and I both have done this over the last 7 years. I was ready to quit and throw in the towel until this buck and hunt came together. Thanks Eric and thank you Meadowville!(The pic with all three he is the tall tined buck)

[early in]

Neat story! It goes to show how persistence pays off.

[Bullet Hole Bailey]

Very nice!

[MOTOWNHONKEY]

Beautiful buck but how did he make you stick "it" out? Cool story.

[mohunter82]

its not always a big rack that you consider a trophy. sometimes its hunting a certain deer harder or a special story like this one.

[Vabowman]

Thanks EI! I just wanted people to know that when it seems things will not get better, they all of a sudden do !! I could have quit right then and not even looked for him, but I didn't want to give up.

[Vabowman]

Mowtown, I was considering giving up bowhunting for good had I not found that buck, because I recovered him , I decided to become a better, more ethical and patient hunter. I still make mistakes, but b/c of that hunt and that buck, I will bowhunt forever. That's how he made me stick it out.

[Edcyclopedia]

It's a good story and I have some similar to yours, almost exactly like yours.

But in thinking about it (as a few from this sight has educated me on), it may be a story you share around a campfire,
as the whole world has access to some of the sentences you wrote about and would like nothing better than to use it against us hunters.
No what I mean jelly-bean?

I do agree with your statement "I decided to become a better, more ethical and patient hunter" and that truely is the key and my "new" ways also.
It is a very good post, so don't take this as a personel attack, I hoped you understand...[&:]

[Vabowman]

I thought about it while I was writing it, but the fact is, it is the real world and these things happen. The lesson I was getting at was told, don't give up and make a very strong effort to be ethical and wise when shooting. No hard feelings Ed, I understand.

[Edcyclopedia]

I'm in the same boat, buddy, and did like your story, maybe someday we can chat about others...

I'm glad you heard the sincerity in my typing (ha-ha)!
~ Thanks ~