HuntingNet.com Forums - Opening Day Doe

Opening day here in Illinois was incredible! I met my hunting partner at the public land parking area about 4:45am. It had been raining off and on all night with the temps in the upper 50's - low 60's and the wind 18-20mph. So we get all our gear ready, talk to another hunter to make sure we won't be hunting on top of each other and finally start hikingin about 5:20am.

Since it had been raining so much and it was my friends 2nd time to go hunting I decided to go in and sit on the ground. I leave him in a small funnel and climb to the top of the ridge about 60yds from him. I get to my spot and situated under a large pine tree surrounded by oaks at 5:55am. At 6:05 (legal shooting time 6:20)I had a doe and fawn wall by me at 12 yards I could just see their outline. At 6:45 I had another doe come in behind me at 15yds totally caught me off guard. I moved to quick and she bolted blowing all through the woods.

At 6:55 I could see four doe up the hill from me eatingthe acorns. I made a couple of fawn bleat and a minute later I see a doe trotting down the hill, she slows into a walk. She's coming on the trail that will take her in front of me at 10yds to my right. I duck my head back behind the tree and come to full draw when she was 20yds out. I'm sitting there waiting for her to step out when I see movement on my left. There she stands 10ft away !! She looked at me for a second then ran about 12yds away and stopped behind a bush. When she turned to run I swung around to my left, still at full draw. There she stands 12yds away facing me doing the head bob, my new predator camo worked! I've been at full draw now for probally 1min, she took two steps putting her perfectly broadside.

I let the the new striker fly andit hit the mark perfectly! I watch her bolt into the thick woods and hear her fall within a minute. I called my friend told him what happened. I waited a few minutes and then looked for my arrow, there it is complete pass through with good blood!! I waited another 30min and went and found her 50yds away.

What an incredible experience being that close on the ground!! Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures we went and got some ice, packed her down and went back into the woods. When we came out my main concern was getting her to the processor.
I've been crazy busy and not able to post until now.
My friend got a shot at a doe but thats another long story!:(