HuntingNet.com Forums - A Hunt of Firsts

My expectations for this weekend weren't real high. It was supposed to be 90 degrees here in Southern Iowa on Saturday, but it was the first chance I have had to get out so I was going. I went Saturday morning and hunted a new stand. It was pretty much what I expected, not much movement. It was my first hunt with my Hoyt TrykonI bought last spring. If it wasn't for the Thermacell I bought there was no way I would have been able to sit out there. Those things are awesome.

I had promised my 6 year old daughter Mackenzie that I would take her out with me for the afternoon hunt. I had some reservations aboutit because of the heat. I wanted her to go on a good hunt and see some deer, and I wasn't sure if this would be the best time to take her. We went anyways. It was 86 degrees at 5:00 when we went out. I decided to try another new standin betweena creek and a food plot of turnips, wheat, and clover. To my surprise there was a small doe in the plot when we got there. I was figuring it would be right before dark if we saw anything. We got to our stand and got settled in, and about 30 minutes later I could hear deer blowing south of our setup. I knew with a south wind they weren't blowing at us, and that was confirmed when they kept blowing but were getting closer. Pretty soon I got a glimpse of a couple of does. After watching them for a couple of minutes they started working their way towareds the plot in front of us.

About 5 minutes later Mackenzie said I see two does in the field and the second one is huge. I decided if I got the chance I would try to take the big doe. As they came through the plot I got ready. I had two shooting lanes cut to the field. As they got to the first one the smaller doe started to angle away from me and out of bow range. I then knew I was going to be taking the longest shot of my life. I set my sight for 40 yards and waited for the bigger doe to come into my lane. When she did I grunted to stop her and let it fly. She tried to jump the string, but my arrow still found her spline and she dropped right there.

That is when I thought I had Stan Potts sittting next to me. All I heard was YES!! and saw a fist pump from Mackenzie. It was one of the best feeling of my life. My first day out this year, my first hunt with my new bow, a new stand setup, my longest shot( I ranged it at 42.5 yards), and best of all the first time I had harvested a deer with my daughter. It is something I know I will never forget, and I don't think she will either.

Sorry for the long read, but I just had to write this story down.