Which bowhunt means the most?
 

I am sure we allhave many bowhunts that mean a lot, but lets hear it, which bowhunt from the pasthas meant the most to you? (That special hunt that you put above the rest) Tell us about it and add some photos if you have them!

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

A great question from my good friend Troy!
As you have aluded they are all meaningful and special so choosing one shouldn't take away the significance of all the others.
There are two that come to mind for me.My first bow kill in my second season of archery hunting,an eight pointer that I had seen exactly one week before from the same stand,I new that he was bedded close by,I purposely circled the area to come in to my stand from quite a distance,I didn't want the wind to have any chance of blowing my scent in to his bedding area,he came out just like clock work the same time as the week before but this time about ten yards closer.I shot him at 37 yards,he went about thirty yards and crashed.With the exception of my Wedding day and the birth of my daughter I have never been happier!
The second one ties in to the first for me.I had a mentor and a friend who was an exceptional hunter (by practically everyone considered to be by far the best in our area)after shooting that buck,I couldn't get it to his house quickly enough,I was so proud.He was so pleased for me! I asked him how his season was going and I had all I could do to get him to admit that he had shot a beautiful eight pointer,my buck was a nice deer but his was exceptional,I had to practically beg him to see it,he didn't want to steal my thunder.This man "was" the best hunter and woodsman that I have ever known and as rugged as they come!
This past september my above mentioned friend died in a truck accident while hunting Elk in Idaho,he had arrowed a 5x5 earlier in the day and had it quartered in the back of a pick up truck that he was driving.While driving he got his tires in loose gravel on the side of the road and ended up going over an embankment,he died as a result of the injuries suffered in the accident.My sadness was overwhelming,Stan was larger than life to me,I couldn't imagine any thing being tough enough to kill him!
In our area killing a bear with a bow seems to be representative of joining an elite rank of bowhunter,Stan had killed three or four over the years,and I supposed if he was so inclined he could of killed many more.Well this fall I arrowed the first bear I have ever taken,and some how I can't help but think that Stanley in some way had something to do with it,almost like it was his gift to me.In my mind the bear will always be Stanley's bear.(I will get pictures posted of the rug)
Just as an eerie aside.The morning of Stanley's memorial service I saw the biggest buck I have ever seen from my house making a scrape.In the 12 years that my family has been in our home I have never seen a buck that big from the house or seen one make a scrape from the house.It gave me chills!

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

Any hunt that is "worked" for! Do-it-yourself, and the rewards are great!

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

A good topic. To make a LONG story short my first bowkilled bucks were taken on a good friendsfarm. One of the bucks was a nice 100 class ten point that is still on my wall. The reason that this one comes to mind is my friend lost a battle with lukemia 10 months ago.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

the first deer i shot, i had my uncle, bro, cousin, and dad with me. and then the second one i shot, i had my bro sittin with me then when i shot it we watched it run then fall, then we shook my hand!

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

I would have to say my 1st bow kill.

I was scared to move while four bucks were walking around my tree. when I got a chance to to reach for my bow they all walkedout of range. I blessed my self out for not being ready and not hearing them coming. They smelled where I came inthe woods and turned around and came right back to me. When I stopped shaking he fell 30 yds. from where he was hit. I still waited for 30 min. before getting down. Those were the good old days..........

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

The day my bro-in-law and I bothed tagged bucks on the last morning of a DIY Illinois hunt.... That was awesome.... From our vantage points, we got to watch each other shoot our deer!! I'll never forget that one...

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

The one that won't happen for another 7 yrs or so.....my son (first born) will be about 12 then!

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

I hear you PSE this past season I got a ground blind as the youngsters are wanting to go. We have some more practice to go yet, but just haveing the 7&10 yr olds with ya is as good as the the first bow buck, ad the ten year old saw deer several times last year. cant wit til his adrenalin REALLY kicks in

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

My favorite bowhunt is the one of my first archery kill and first buck ever. It was a momentus moment for me because not only was it my first buck and archery kill, but I did everything leading up to and on the day all by myself. I scouted the area, picked the stand location, setup the stand and prepped the area for the upcoming season. I worked very hard to get my bow dialed in and made sure I was lethal. Finally the season opened and on the second day of my forth archery season I was setup in the stand all by myself where the buck walked by and I made the shot!

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

My best bow hunt was last season and I didn't even get a shot. I hunted the Edmonton Bow Zone in Alberta and I'll be there again in '06. I saw 5 buck for sure and around 12 doe. Also two cow Moose at 20 yrds! It was a great hunt despite no shot opps.It only gets better, I'm looking foward to another chance this season. Sorry, can't upload pics yet.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

I think my greatest bow hunt would have to me my first elk with a bow. I never thought getting a cow could be as exciting as this hunt was and i was amazed with how systematic and calm my shot was for how excited i was just before the shot. its amazing how with a lot of good practice once you pull that bow back all the excitement fades and your body just knows wat to do with that bow. it was probably the biggest emotional swing that ive ever had. I went from absolute excitement to nothing and back up in less than a couple of minutes. It was definently a hunt i will never forget.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

I have two favorite ones that will be with me til the day I die. the first saw a elk hunt that turned into a cougar hunt

The next one is my first hunt with my son on his first elk hunt. he missed a 7x7 bull at 21 yards. he couldn't stop the ssshhhaakkingggg

It really doesn't get any better than that!!!!!!!!!

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

The first time I elk hunted was pretty special. I hunted 3 weeks, mostly by myself, backpacking into a wilderness are solo and I ended up with a 5x5 elk and many stories to tell



A couple of year after that I took my Dad into the same area. At the time he was 64 or 65 years old. We both took nice bulls, helluva hunt that was.




3 years ago he got to go with me to Kansas whitetail hunting. We both took nice whitetails, his was a frickin dandy !




My first and so far only traditional kill was special too.




Overall most of my special hunts have been with my Dad. And the toughest hunts that put me in the least chances to succeed were the best ones too.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

I have many memorable hunts but I think the best will come when my son finally gets serious about bowhunting and shoots his first deer. He is starting to come around a bit and is joining me on a 3D shoot this Sunday.:)

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

4 years leading up to my first deer, no help from anyone. I will always remember the bad shot to the neck that droped him after only 50 yards. Good times:D

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

Mine would have to be my first buck, which turned out to be a 6 point that scored 113 and 4/8s. Took me 3 years to finally get the first one out of the way. The next most memorable was hunting a big nontypical in one neighborhood. I never saw the deer all season last season, but the property owners saw him on several occasions. Well on christmas eve this past year i finally saw him, turns out to be a main frame 10 with 2 drops. Never came in range, but just seeing a mature animal like that made my season.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

My favorite would be the ones I take a newbie out and they get their first deer. I get to relive that rush of the first time.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

Mine would be opening day last year because it was the first time I went out without my dad.(he passed away a month earlier) My brother was home on leave from the Navy and my best friend and my newbie neighbor all went out with me. I went to sit in my dad's stand and someone had stolen it, so I got my climber and set out for the evening. I never saw a deer but it was the most at peace I had felt in months since my dad became ill. I was never more greatful to my father for taking me hunting, and I knew he was right there with me. A great bonus was the newbie shot his first deer(buck) that night.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

My favorite two bowhunts were when I went with my dad on my first bowhunt and got a small 6 point. Running shot with a recurve when I was 12. The second was when I was with my son when he was 12 and he grunted a nice 8 point away from a doe, his first deer. His first was a lot bigger than mine!

My first deer...

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

My sons first deer...

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

For me definetly opening Morning of my first ever bow season

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

I've thought about this for a while now, and I honestly don't know. I guess I've been fortunate enough to have several hunts that stand out. Some involved getting a deer, some didn't.
1st bowkill
Bear at the bottom of my tree
any of the hunts my dad or I watched the other shoot a deer
Successful hunts while I was away at college
Random hunts that for some reason stand out becausethe colors of the leaves werea little more vivid, the smell in the air was fresh and the crisp feel of fall was all around

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

I have two and they both involve a particular buck. One a real fine 10 point I got about a15 years ago and the other a 9 point I shot on public land after the locals had been after him the enitre season. The 10 point we knew was in the area. I knew the woods would be filled with pursuers opening day. I decided to figure out what this buck would do when all the hunters hit the woods. I figured out what I'd do if I were the deer and went with that. I shot him about 800 yards from where I'd seen him all summer. I found what I figured was the optimum bottleneck if he did what I figured. I shot him about 30 minutes after good light.

The 9 pointer I found his sign on a weekend hunt in NY. I then found out all the locals had been after him. I returned 3 weeks later and using what I'd learned the last trip, figured where he'd go come daylight. I shot him 3/4 of mile off the main road where everyone else was hunting. I shot him about 8:30 after hearing him work scrapes around me out of sight for45 minutes. I had gotten to the woods a good hour and a half before daylight to get in there. I called my buddy on the phone to come and help me drag the deer out. He said there were hunters parked all over on the road,all hunting the same deer. Not a monster, but the biggest one on that piece of public ground who was as hard hunted as they come.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

Good strategy for high pressured deer. Did you get the big boy with a bow?

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

My first year bowhunting when I was 12 years old. I'd been practicing with my dad all summer with my Darton MX-30 set at 45 pounds.Dad took me to his favorite treestand near "his Meadow" on State Land (Rifle River State Forest). He set me up and walked away, telling mehe'd come and get me after dark. Not 10 minutes after he walked away, I heard some crunching behind me.My heart wasjumping out of my chest. Finally I turned my head and looked. There was a doe about 20 yards behind me.She walkedright in front of me and I was shaking so bad my arrow fell off the rest. I put it back on and rushed a shot. I forgot everything I had practiced and grazed the top of her back.Not 20 minutes into my very first day bowhunting and I already MISSSED my first deer! I'll never forget that excitement that day. Missing that deer haunted me for the next 17 years. I had to waitmore 17 years to kill my first deer with a bow after that!

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

Probably this one. Not huge deer, but my partner and I both got one the same day.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

Greg
Is that recurve and old indian. Looks a lot like one ofmy first bow.;)

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

Here is a photograph of the bear I killed this past fall.It squared a little over six feet.As I had mentioned in my original post it was a special kill for me because of the loss of a friend! He certainly was a significant factor in the development of my skills and passion for bowhunting.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

Good eye, Burnie. It is an Indian Archery bow. If it was flipped over, you'd see a black leather indian silouette glued to the riser just above the arrow shelf. I still have that bow. I got it in 1966. I shot the deer in 1968, when I was 12.

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

So Troy are you going to share yours with us?

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

Best hunt... no doubt... getting to watch Tyler shoot his first deer with bow at age 13. He made a dandy shot when the buck was slightly quartering to at 12 yards. After the buck ran off, Iwill never forget him saying, " Dad, I tucked the arrow in tight to his shoulder cause he was quartering to. ". That reallyimpressed me. Even with first time jitters, the excitement of the buck being so closeplus we were hunting on the ground... He remembered shot placement and executed it flawlessly. The ' Moment of Truth " says a lot about a person in my book. He passed with flying colors!! :D



Tim

RE: Which bowhunt means the most?
 

sorry for the bump... I havent been able to get on for a few days...

Great stuff guys, thank you all for sharing the info, stories and pictures!

Ryan, this was very hard for me to answer as well. Like you said, so many that mean a lot for different reasons. I would have to say the ones that mean the most to me are the ones I invest the most time and effort into. I have a couple. My 03 early archery buck and my first mature whitetail with a bow are probably tops. I spent over a year following each of these bucks around,making a plan for interception for differentparts of the season andpicking up their sheds etc..before taking them.