Got down to the wire, but still a late season success

ZachCL · 01-13-2009, 08:27 PM

Well in my scheduled 3rd from last sit, I pulled it out.
After an extremely windy day yesterday I was really hoping for some good deer activity today, wish granted. I got to the stand late, about 4:30 and knew that I was definately gonna need a little luck to pull this one off. I sat for maybe 20-30 min with no activity, the reality of there only being 2 days left in the season sunk in. I began to think back to the beginning of the season and how much fun I had had this season, how much I had learned and all of the ups and downs that come with this great sport. I thought about all of the swealtering days in early Oct, and the frigid temps of mid Dec. I thought about all of the wonderful thing that we are able to enjoy, free to us, unlike our forefathers in Europe where only the Aristocrats had the right to hunt. How fortunate I was to be able to have the abitlity to shoot a bow and enjoy close encouters while still appreciating the encouters that just werent quite within range. Being able to watch the woods wake up and put them to bed as well. Breathing in a cold breath of air I started to hear a little increase in birds chirping and squirrel barks behind me. Hmm.... that it downwind and exactly opposite of where these deer usually travel, but not to take any chances I turn my head to look. Thats a freakin deer!!!! I saw a doe lift her head and look back behind her. Like as if it were second nature I grab my bow and lift my binocs in one slow motion. One, two ,three does right downwind and coming closer. This is not what I expected to happen, but the good Lord was on my side today. I guess all of the routine of scent control does help a little. I watched em play and chase each other around. There were two adult does and a fawn. I really started to cringe when they came into range, I knew at any minuet they would wind me and my hopes of filling my last tag would haunt me for another day. But they kept moving in, 40-30-20-10 no shot. Not only had these does came from behind but they also came to the right of me, which as a right handed person, is not my shot of choice. Take what you can get thought right, I watched as a doe split off of the pair and moved out into a clearing. Time to draw, dont get busted I kept telling myself. I draw and wait for her to step on out. As she started to walk straight away I ponderd a low volume mouth bleat. Nope just wait her out. Well I let back down and took a quick range just to make sure, 25 yards-top pin. Draw back again and if it was something from last nights dreams she turns directly broadside with her head down, grazing on a little wintergrass. I settle the pin right where I want it and squeeze the shot off. Oh you gotta love that THWACK!!! I watched my arrow bury into her chest as she turned for her last hoorah. She makes it about 35-40 yards and piles up. I glass my arrow that got both lungs and the top of her heart and see good bright red blood. I thank the Lord for this last opportunity of the year and feel a complete contentment while tying my bow to my let down line. I did what I set out to do, fill all 6 of my Oklahoma archery tags. No horn, but I still had my most memorable season to date. I really do love this sport and hope that you all enjoy it as much as I do. I am looking foreward to next Oct. where the chase starts all over again. It will be a new game for me, moving away from college will have me in another part of the state, but I am going to have 10x as much ground to hunt as I do now, which I know will be 10x as much work but as we all know, it is well worth it. I really hope you all had a great season, I know I did.

Dressed wt-78 lbs
Dec 13 2009 5:11 PM

Schultzy · 01-13-2009, 08:33 PM

Great story, congratulation's!!

hardcorehunter · 01-13-2009, 09:03 PM

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

shed33 · 01-13-2009, 10:09 PM

congrats on the late season success, real happy for ya!

AK NIMROD · 01-13-2009, 10:40 PM

congrats to your late season success and great season WTG

[8D]

KodiakArcher · 01-13-2009, 10:40 PM

Way to go! I know I could never find the time (wishI could say it was for all the studying...) to hardly fill one tag when I was in college much less six!

im ocd · 01-14-2009, 02:43 AM

Congrats on your deer.
I'm hoping to pull off a last minute success myself

Ben / PA · 01-14-2009, 03:14 AM

Awesome write up bud. Congrats.

louddrummer69 · 01-14-2009, 07:57 AM

Great job! Persistence and positivity will pay dividends.

kickin_buck · 01-14-2009, 08:17 AM

Getting it done late in the year, that is awesome!!! I will be going out for the last time this weekend, trying to get my two boys on another doe or two during the Illinois Anterless only hunt. I don't think I will be hunting, but will take the time to do a little filming of the boys. Great job again!!!!!!