RE: close encounters
Years ago, while I was walking up a rather steep point, I rested, leaning myself and my bow against a wide oak tree. As I was catching my breath, I looked behind me and saw a rather large doe coming up the pointheaded for the tree I was resting on.
I used the tree to shield my presence. The doe kept getting closer and closer as I came to full draw, me on one side of the tree and her on the other.
I patiently waited for her head, neck and finally her shoulder to come around the tree when I s-q-u-e-e-z-e-d the release.
Dang!
I hadn't noticed the small 2 inch diameter, sapling growing beside the huge white oak. My aluminum arrow hit the tree and made like 90 degree angle out of the projectile. The startled deer snorted, and stared at my face for a brief second and tore back down the point to never be seen again ...
When the doe snorted, mucous flew into my face ... that's close!