Greetings all,
I am new to the forum and just wanted to introduce myself.

I have been a gun hunter for the last 7 years, this was my first year bow hunting. I have been reading all the posts about gun hunting and bow hunting and which is more gratifying or which is easier. To be honest bow hunting was easier for me. It took me 5 years gun hunting to harvest my first deer. I got my first deer bowhunting, the second weekend of the season. Here in Oregon we are allowed only one deer and one elk. This year was buck or doe, cow or bull. I try to practice QDM in the areas I hunt, but it is all public land. I had many chances of taking smaller less mature deer, than the big doe I ended up taking. I knew I wasnt going to get to hunt after the second weekend so I took my doe. She was a big girl. I am not a small guy, 6'4" 250#, and I needed help getting her out. I estimate her at being in the 130# range, field dressed.

I am very proud of the deer I chose to harvest. I and a nice quartering away shot. As I released, she turned toward me quartering to me. I ended up hitting her in front of the left shoulder. I was not happy about the shot. I didnt look like I got very much penetration as she was running away. I heard a loud crash in the direction she ran, so I slowly went looking. I found a nice blood trail. I found half of my arrow covered in blood. And then I founf her. She went down about 30 yards form where I hit her. When we opened her up, all vitals were intact. I guess I hit a major artery and she bled out quick. There may have been a nick in one lung, it wasnt very big. My hunting party was proud of me for remaining calm while drawing on my first deer. I am proud of myself and she will always be a memory I can look back on.