post your first bow kill story...
 

I would like to remember my bow hunting experience as long as possible so I thought it would be best to type up a short narrative on what happened.

Whew I remember waking up that morning 3:30am. It would be a first to wake up that early, but we had plenty of rest the night before. It would also be a first for me to make coffee, bacon, and toast for a full stomach. Once James and I woke up we were drinking coffee and talking about what we might see. This would be our first experience in our new cabin as well, so we had all the amenities. I got my bow ready with the arrows and such and then took my first morning shower with all the scent free soaps etc... Once that was complete I went outside to get dressed. We were soon on our way up the hill side to the hunting stands. I dropped James off as usual wished him good luck and off I went. Once I was at my parking spot I got everything ready to make the quiet walk to the tri-pod about ¼ mile away. I quietly made my way to the tri-pod in the dark taking every step on a big rock or clump of grass so to limit the noise during the short travel. Finally I arrived, everything in hand but had to be sure of one thing first. A year ago this same opening morning I ended up in a tree with a porcupine, man what a tale that was, but I’ll leave it for another time. So before I crawled up in the tri-pod I carefully looked the Oak tree over for porcupines and other critters. I then carefully crawled up in the tri-pod as quietly as possible and began my hunt.

Through the years hunting in this exact stand I have learned a few things and one of those is to remain motionless and as quiet as possible. A hard thing to do but it works. I was there listening to the sound of darkness when I heard some rocks clink. It’s still dark but I remained silent. A few moments go by and I hear it the sound you don’t want to hear. It was a deer snorting. It was not the distress snort, but just the snort where a deer is trying to get some attention and make something move that might not be right. He wasn’t sure of something but it wasn’t that big of a deal. It was a deer staging before the feeder went off. It was still dark. The deer snorted three times turned and walked off. The same familiar event that happened two times before, but on the other side of the game trail closer to me. It just started to get light and the feeder went off. As usual it scared the daylights out of me, but soon after I heard some rocks clinking behind me coming down the main trail. Could it be the same deer? I stayed there motionless and didn’t look over my shoulder. I could barely manage it cause by instinct you want to look but I didn’t. I waited but the deer turned and ran. I thought maybe it was a human that turned and ran as it sounded like something with two legs. Maybe it’s the legendary Bigfoot? Anyhow I thought to myself my hunt was over. A few minutes go by and I heard what sounded like a horse coming down the trail again for another attempt. Maybe this time the deer will keep going? Yes it did and I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye a grey deer “Whitetail” came out behind the cedar tree and I saw horns, I about lost it. My nerves were so bad I could hardly think straight. I told myself that he’s not a shooter and I instantly began to calm down. I’m about 12ft. up thus the reason to remain motionless. I watched and heard the deer eat, this beautiful 7 point crunching on the corn picking up 10 pieces or so at a time. Then he turned his back to me, no eyes could be seen and I thought why not he would be my first bow buck so I began to draw back. Wouldn’t you guess with my luck everything at that moment stopped right when my shoulder popped and the deer bolted. Well he only ran about 5 yards, turned and came back the shoulder didn’t alarm him to much. He came back to the same position with his back to me and I started to draw again. This time there was no pop. I couldn’t believe it I actually got the bow back. I wanted to yell yippee that this was about to happen. The buck turned quartered slightly away so I aimed for the opposite shoulder and let her fly. Time slowed as soon as I released, everything was in slow motion. I could hear the string twang and see the arrow flying. The arrow seemed to take for ever getting to the deer. Finally it made its destination and the arrow disappeared. I actually connected I couldn’t believe it. My body felt like it was going in convulsions after the shot. During the shot everything was as practiced so many times before. Once the bow had been drawn all buck fever suddenly vanished. The deer, he took off like a rocket and out of site. I listened but couldn’t hear much because of the pulse of blood rushing in my head. I stayed in the stand for what seemed like an eternity but actually was only 30 minutes. I inched my way out of that tri-pod holding on for dear life as I could not control my legs as they shook un-controllably. I followed the arrows path and found the arrow. The Mighty Mite new and pretty, shooting 290fps, a 350 grain gold-tip pro hunter with an 85 grain NAP spitfire the bow and arrow did its job. All the blades opened and there was blood completely covering the arrow. I was sure of the shot as I had seen it connect right were I was aiming. I tracked steps of the deer as no blood was found for about 15 feet. I found blood and began to track. The deer ran about 60 yards and never left the most obvious path. There he was in all his glory. I was confused did it actually happen? I had every emotion possible going on at one time I had to actually sit and think what had just happened.

Well I was congratulated by my best long time friend, he looked a little mad when I walked to his stand but understood that I wanted to share the excitement. I’m sure he’ll do the same one day and I will be just as happy for him as he was for me.

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

Woke up, went out and sat in what I though was a good spot during shotgun/firearm season. Sat for about an hour, saw a 6 pt walking at the bottom of the hill, took a 100 yard shot. Knocked him down, he rolled into a creek and expired, the rest is history.
Then realized how difficult the drag up a 200 yard hill was by myself :eek:

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

Last night First night out for me. My buddy hung a stand on my property a couple nights ago and i thought i would give it a try tonight see how much activity is going on for him cause he is a much better hunter then me and i have never even harvested a deer.

Went out at about 5:30 and didnt see any activity besides turkeys and a squirell that came up my tree. About 7:15 i spot 2 nice does about 50 yds to my left and the shakes already began. I was just gonna pass on them cause i know ive seen much bigger does on my property(11 year old was taken last year and was huge!!)

They were walking on my dirtbike trail just looking for acorns and one doe turned directly at me and started walking my way!!....This is when i decided well ive never shot a deer before lets make this one count.

She was actually being blocked by a branch cause she was to close compared to my lane. I was squatting pulled back...Didnt hear me so im good... Gave her a quick baaa... and thump at 18 yds was a perfect shot.. After some hard tracking she never showed a blood trai.. i still ended up getting lucky andl i found her 40yd from my stand......

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

LOL you got a bow shot at 100yds no way?!

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

He posted a gunshot story not a bow kill story.... (I Hope)

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

Well my first was opening day of the '04 season. I climbed up about an hour before daylight and got situated. Shortly after daybreak I heard that unmistakable crunch of leaves behind me. I turned around to see this beautiful eight point standing 10 steps behind my tree. Man I never knew a heart could beat so fast! He made his waypastme and presented me with a 20yd braodside shot. I put it on him and sent it flyin. I swear it looked like you jerked the rug out from under his feet! All I saw was the deer go down and the arrow go over his back.:(
I was sick! I finally pulled it together and ended up getting a doe about an hour later. It was fun, but that eight would have made it alot better.

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

It was in October 97, I got into my stand for an afternoon hunt and had a doe walk into a cut corn field. I watched her for about 15 minutes before she finally made it into range. I took a broadside shot at 20 yards and she went down about 50 yards away from my stand. Nothing huge, but a hunt I'll never forget.

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

i had an old bear whie tail ,i mean O L D it was ancient . i was about 15 and had it just laying in the back of my truck . i had baught 3 easton 2018 gold stalkers and 3 bear razerheads 145 grain . no sights no nothin but a flipper style rest. i was spending the night with a friend when his mom came in screaming that there was a monster in the shed. we ran out to see a hog . a big hog. i am talkin over 400lbs. i ran and got my bow and fallowed the hog . about 40 yards down a trail we heard something we turned and we saw a smaller sow about 200 lbs walking fast at about 15 yards. i drew and shot and shot and shot . i missed all 3 shots. my friend ran and got my arrows and we fallowed again. got another shot at about 25 yards and nailed her in the shoulder. she ran about 100 yrds and died. we ate good the next day or 2. that was back in the early 80's. i been hooked since.

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

well it was nov 11th, 1999 youth day riflehunt in maryland. I wasnt going to go because I was hunting state property and had a feeling it was going to be packed. But I said what the heck im going, its saturday the only day I can hunt, soI went. I get down to my spot and no one at all in the area I said yeah this might be good after all. It was early about 1:00 so I got suited up and took my time and still hunted asI went on back to my stand. I got up in the tree and got quiet. well about 3 hrs later all of a sudden this doe came busting threw the woods,I mean a hellingI didnt even have time to stand up grab my bow or nothing. well after she disappeared I stood up and grabbed my bow and just thought wow I just missed my shot on a deer, I had been hunting this place ( state property )hard for the past 3 yrs and 4 yrs on another tract and hadnt killed a deer yet. I seen alot of big bucks and drew on a few but thats another story. well I thought to myself maybe she was pushed by a youth hunter, or a dog. bout 15 mins had past and I heard leaves crunching threw the woods from where she had came from. I seen movement and kept my eye on whatever it was coming and he was coming, the closer he got I started hearing him grunt, brrp brrrp brrrp brrrp . nose to the ground, well my blood pressure like went threw the roof. I seen horns but I told myself not to look at em just concentrate on this shot. I knew he was gonna come out where she had busted threw which was right under my stand. soI got into position and seen him out the corner of my eye, soI drew. when he came to this clearingI was hunting on he slowed right up and give me a broadside shot poww!!I seen the arrow hit its mark and he was gone. sounded like a train going thru the woods. I listened and heard him crash, I just couldnt beleive what just happened.I was shaking so badI sat down for about 15 mins beforeI climbed down out of my stand. whenI hit the forest floor the doe that had busted threw thereearlier took off a snorting, I think she had came back waiting on him. ( lil tease ). well I tracked a real nice blood trail and found my first ever buck a 9 ptr with the bow. 7yrs of hard hunting and close encounters I finally bagged one. It was funny to cuz whenI drug him out out of the woods there was this lil guy and his pop sitting there hunting waiting on a deer. and hereI came all camoed out with a bow dragging a 9 ptr. I looked at the boy and said theres a doe back that way you ought to try and get her, and continued on. Ill never ever forget that day thanks for bringing this topic up I enjoyed all the stories so far

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

It was 1971. I had practiced since January. It was the last day of the Texas bowhunting season. I was given permission and directions to get to a piece of land about 30 miles west of San Antonio. I found my way alright, walked in and saw this guy had towers built. I just didnt see anyway to hunt from them with my Damon Howitt recurve. I wandered around, found a downed live oak and sat on the trunk looking through thebranches. With 10 minutes of day light left on the last day this little 4 pt walked out right beside me not more than 10 yards from me. I turned my head and froze. He got nervous and ran out in front 7 yards away quartering hard away. I drew and released in one motion. He took off with my feathers sticking out just in front of his back leg angling hard forward. I followed the modest blood and found my arrow about 75 yards out, broken and soaked in blood. I found the deer 25 yards further. What a relief. THe arrow came out in front of the off side front shoulder. Old Bear Razorhead with bleeders. I had shot a pig before that but don't count pest as a "REAL" kill.[8D]

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

I was in southern Iowa BP hunting.
I had taken my bow with me in case I filled my BP tag on Sat.
I had not so I left my bow in the hotel Sunday morning.
My hunting partner and I were both BP hunting and his son Chris was with us bowhunting.
We sat in our stands Sunday morning with, again, no luck.
We decided to move my stand to a finger of woods that went out into the CRP field.
As we approached the finger 2 doe stood up.
I dropped the stand,shouldered my rifle and shot one of them. They took off!
We went to where they had been standing and started on the blood trail while Chris started to put up my stand.
We found my doe about 30 yards past the finger laid up against the fence. Dead.
I propped my gun up against the post and got out my knife to field dress the deer.
As I worked, Larry held the leg out of the way.
I happened to look up and the doe that had been with the dead one was watching us from the top of the hill, about 60 yards away.
I told Larry to slowly get his gun and shoot it.
He did, dropped it right there.

I finished up my deer and then went up the hill to dress Larry's.
Pretty good day so far but it gets better!

Chris had my stand up and I was down to my bow tag but the bow was 15 miles away!
I went back to the truck,drove to town,got my bow and went back and got in my stand.
45 minutes later, a doe comes along the finger. I draw and shoot her at about 20 yards. She runs and I see her drop. About 10 yards from where we have the other 2 deer laying in the shade of the brushy fence!

She was my first bow kill. What a day!

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

It wasthe September of 2004, I was 16, and she was a doe.

You've most likely all read the story by now, but I'll post it again... It's written in the form that it is because it was a submission to BowHunter Magazine's Youth Hunter Essay contest. The question to answer was "What does it mean to be a bowhunter." Rather than just answer the question, I felt like incorporating the story of my first archery kill into it. I won a Winn Archery Free Flight release.

“What does it mean to be a bowhunter?”

“Patience is the key to any successful archery hunt.” I had heard or read those words dozens of times before in magazines, on TV, or on one of the many online hunting forums that I visit regularly. Never had I taken them completely to heart though, until my first archery season that is.

I had seen her on several occasions from the same stand overlooking a lush green alfalfa field. I had watched her use the same trail to come out into the alfalfa field for three days. I had watched her hop the same rusted barbwire fence on three separate occasions, each time stopping at an apple tree some 80 yards away taking time to nibble on the fruit that had fallen in the course of the day. Each time she hopped the fence my adrenaline rose. Each time I attached my release to a carefully tied string-loop my hands would shake. Each time she took a trail just out of range I learned a little more about our sport.

I had visited numerous websites, talked to a countless number of people online, and read everything I could in books and magazines on shot placement on whitetail deer. The answers were all the same, right behind the front shoulders, in the lungs.

When she finally presented me with a good broadside shot, I was more than ready. My bow at full draw, my 20-yard pin behind her shoulder, I mentally told myself I was ready. Even as I squeezed the trigger of my release, I knew she was mine. As I climbed down out of my stand a half-hour later, I silently thanked God for the animal he had allowed me to harvest.

Hunting patiently, ethically, and with a positive attitude is what it means to be a bowhunter.

RE: post your first bow kill story...
 

It was oct 2000 . I was in the "3 tree" stand on my buddies farm . It was an afternoon hunt . The stand is perpendicular to a point that has a small creekbed on each side . I was on the western side of the point . I hardly got my bow up and an arrow knocked when i heard the distinct sound of a deer at a trot coming down of the hillside behind me . As he crested the hill about to head into the creek bottom i saw horns and quickly counted 7 points . I drew and found my opening . By now he slowed down to a cautious walk . As soon as I let the arrow fly he stopped and my arrow flew harmlessly about 2 inches in fornt of his chest at 10 yards. LOL , Dang it I thought he then trotted across the creek bottom and up over the point and disaapeared . Not 30 seconds later I hear more deer coming this time coming around the hillside from my left . I could see them from a longer distance in this direction . 2 doe were trotting down the trail that would put them at about 30 yards in my lane . I drew a bead on the second doe as it slowed a little to duck under a tree limb and to cross the small creek . When she entered my lane i let fly . Thwack ! A little bunny hop and she took off like a bat outta Hell . I heard her crash about 30 yrds on the other side of the point . About 1 min later I heard the unmistakeable jingleing of a dog collar . Just then 2 dogs came running down the same trail the 2 does were one . Hot on their trail . I yelled at them and they stopped dead in their tracks . They could not figure out where the sound was coming from . They started to proceed towards my deer so I yelled again and this time I also banged on my tree so they would see me . I finally got them to go away . I climbed down and marked off my shot . 30 yards exaclty . Perfect shot right behind the shoulder 4 balde 125 muzzys . straight pass thru . I still to this day am amazed by that shot i made . I often relive the moment when I walk passed that spot . The doe was on the smaller side , about 120 pounds . Made for an easy drag . That night I went to my buddys house and he taught me how to butcher my own deer . It was cool . Backstraps striaght from the deer to the fryin pan ! MMMMMM . So not only was it my first bowkill it was also my first butchering! LOL