I have been hunting very hard this season and have had great success, for which I am very thankful. After my third this season, at the end of October, I had great hopes of holding out for a big buck, as I have never taken what I would consider to be a wallhanger with my bow.
So all the month of November I have been out nearly everyday (have stayed home only 4 days, including Sundays in Nov.) with high hopes for pre-rut and full-on rut action. All I have seen are spikes and forks.....have passed close shots on two spikes, one fork and many, many does....the farm I hunt is wayyy over-populated with does.
On the way to the farm this morning I made the decision that I would be aggressive and try a stand that I have shyed from due to the difficulty in accessing it without spooking many deer. My hopes were of seeing a buck that I have not seen in scouting and hunting. I also decided that if a shot at a mature doe presented itself, I would make a small investment in the future of hunting on this property.
I got to my stand well before sunrise and just as light was crossing the horizon I heard a twig snap and could see the outline of a deer about 50 yards away...it came closer to about 30 yards, but I still could not see it well enough to make a shot. A short while later a doe meandered up the hill to my right, I watched intently in hopes of seeing it look back with a buck in toe. It feed at leisure for about 45 minutes, came within 20 yards....but offered a marginal shot at best, could have possibly snaked one in, but did not want to chance it....another pass. Then another doe popped over the ridge and it too was very relaxed and slowly, over about an hours time, fed towards me. It was larger than the first doe and walked right to my stand, looked at me, didn't care and continued to feed....so, my season ended on a 10 yard shot that caught a lung and the heart...and I am quite proud of my doe, and my season.
It was not a complete pass-through which surprised me at such short range (70 lbs. 30.5" draw packs a respectable whollop) but the arrow broke off and the blood trail could be seen from my stand. I followed the trail to the doe, piled up about 10 feet from a nasty-thick briar patch. The shot did penetrate both sides, but for some reason did not pass all the way. I found the arrow very close to where I made the shot, which was broken just below the fletching. When I dressed her out, I found the nock-end and fletchings buried in the heart, one demolished lung and two nice star shapes on both sides of the rib cage.
So...with bittersweetness, the time of year which I love the most and look forward too from the end of the last, bow season...is now over. I have had my best bowseason, and am quite proud in taking a 6pt. and three does. The freezer is full, I'm happy and I feel good about doing a small part in helping the future of the herd on the farm.
Life is good my friends.
If she looks like she's been throught the wringer...she has. A mile and half drag up hill through briars is not conducive to keeping the hide looking good....<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>
Pat in WV
Edited by - springgobbler on 11/15/2002 11:36:21