Thanksgiving Day success
 

Snow started falling this afternoon at around one o'clock, changing my plans of taking the day off in order to spend it with the family. A storm front hadn't been forcast for today, but how often are our weathermen right anymore?

I announced to everyone in the house that I would be leaving shortly in order to go sit for the afternoon; some laughed, others nodded with that knowing look on their faces - today was Thanksgiving andit was snowing, it could be magic in the making. Quickly I threw on my layers, regretting that I hadn't washed them since the day before. While driving to our property, Josh Turner's "Backwoods Boy" was blaring through my speakers. Singing about sitting in his stand, hopes of shooting a 10-point bucksuddenly had my head swimming with images of having such luck myself.

Arriving at my parking spot at around a quarter to two, I rushed to throw all of my gear together, it was still another 10 minute walk to the stand. After climbing into the tree and pulling my bow up, I was suprised to see a small 2x2 amble through, solidifying my thinking that today could indeed turn out to be a good one.

For those of you who don't know me well, I'm an avid reader and generally carry a book with my to read while on stand. I had just finished a rather good chapter in Agatha Christie's 'A Murder is Announced' when I decided to rattle the horns I had brought with me. I finished my sequence after about 45 seconds, set the antlers down and readied myself. After several minutes of no activity, I hung my bow back on the limb above me and commenced to reading - the book was starting to really take off.

I finished several paragraphs and looked up. Seeing nothing in front of me, I peered to my right and behind me just as he stepped from cover. In my head, I immediately counted "1, 2, 3, 4. 1, 2, 3, 4...5! Shooter!" Slipping the book into my hip pocket, I continued to watch as the buck looked around for the fight that had apparently just gone down in the area. As he stepped behind a group of trees to my right, I slipped my bow off of its hook and clipped my release to my string.

And he stopped.

And he stayed.

For more than a minute, I waited for him to make some movement, queing me to draw and get ready. Finally he took a step and my string immediately came back, settling into my anchor comfortably; I had practiced this numerous times. Again he stopped and again I waited, the angle wasn't just right. Two more steps and he was mine - and he gave me those two steps before the thought even fully formed. My pin was solid, tight to his shoulder, and a split second after I released I heard what we all live to hear "THWACK!"

I watched as he ran roughly 50 yards and tipped over, not 15 yards from the road. To those who haven't been there, haven't experienced it, its difficult to explain that it happened just that fast. He stopped, I shot, he ran and died. This is when the adrenaline set in. I hung my bow up, sat down, and shook. I thought "Yes!" and "Thank You!" and "Yes!" several times before grabbing the binoculars. Glassing him, I knew I needn't wait the customary 30-minutes before climbing down.

I lowered my bow and then myself and the rest of my gear from the tree. Walking up to where my arrow was squarely stuck in the ground, I was suprised to see a blood trail that even a blind man could follow leading in the direction I watched the buck make his final mad dash. I snapped a couple pictures and continued to where I had watched the buck go down.

As I walked up to him, Ifelt no ground shrinkage.He was as I had imagined he would be, though I hadn't noticed that one of his brow tines was broken in half. I set my things down beside him and sat there, just the deer and me for several minutes. I spent that time thanking Whoever might have been out there listening for the animal I had been provided.

The snow continued to fall as I snapped some pictures and got down to business. Loading a deer into a lifted pick-up isn't the easiest thing to do on your own, but I got it done. It was indeed a magical evening in the woods tonight and for that, on today of all days, I am thankful.

The arrow [Ever see all three fletching get blown off on impact?];



The trail was like this and heavier in spots all the way to the deer;





The hero shot;





The entrance;



This fall, I was shooting/using the following;

2007 Hoyt Vulcan (70#, 28" draw, 297fps)
27.25" Easton Full Metal Jackets (426 grains total)
100 grain Shuttle-T Lock broadheads

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Awesome... Great buck... he has a big body!
Nice work...
Congrats. Happy thanksgiving.. no turkey... just backstrap~!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats WH...nice buck.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Excellent story there Dan!! A big congratulation's to you on a great looking buck!! He's got some meat on him!!

Thanksgiving don't get no better then that.:)

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Well done bro, congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Got to love those Shuttle T's. Deer seem to fall awfully fast when ripped open by them. I shot my first deer with them last year. Everyone has been a short walk and recovery. I'd talk to you fletcher. Something isn't right with your epoxy, glue or wraps or something.

Nice deer. Great shot and pictures. Nice blacktail. Hey, what happened to the war paint you usually sport. LOL

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Very nice read, and congrats on a great hunt!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Great story and great buck! That right there is something to be thankful about.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats on a great hunt and kill.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Great story and nice buck, enjoyed the good pics as well.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Nice buck, congrats. Well told story.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats Washington!!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Who needs freakin turkey??

Impressive, congrats dude.

Ryan.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats Dano!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Way to go Dan, congratulations!
I recall you saying you couldn't get the Shuttle-T's to tune for anything;). Congrats again!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Great job, Dan!!!! Beautiful buck and great story!!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

That's awesome Dan, you will never forget that! I have never killed a Thanksgiving Day buck in 20 yrs of hunting!! Good Job!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats Danny! It truly made my day when I logged on here and read "Thanksgiving Day Success" and my eyes jumped over to see your username as the thread starter.

Awesome buck.

Kudos to you for never running the white flag up the pole. That's the perseverance right there that separates the men from the boys.

I raise my glass.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Good job and a great story. Congrats!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats Dan!!!!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Awesome bud, Congrats.:)

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats Dan/Teammate way to get the job done. Cool story, and yes it can happen in a hurry. I kinda like it that way, no time to get the shakes!!:)

Team# 20 is making a late season move up the ladder. More points on the board.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats Dan!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Nice buck congrats

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Sounds like a great day in the woods, congrats Wash!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Way to go Dan, great buck.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Good Buck Dan, Pretty good reading too! Congrats.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Awesome deer! Couldn't be happier for you.

No cell service out in the hills huh?[>:][8D]

That is too awesome man...Duck time now.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

It really was an awesome afternoon!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

FoBs?

Congrats buddy, not a better deserving guy.

I think the Shuttle-Ts should work equally as well on bears next fall;)

Welcome back[8D]

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats Dan, nice buck. Where's the face paint:D? Yep those Shuttle T's aren't talked about much on here but I've used them for 3 or 4 years now with the same results, all deer have dropped within sight including the 4 I have shot this year. Awesome head that deserves more recognition. I too think the epoxy wasn't any good, fletch shouldn't have come off.
Great job.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Great story and great buck! Great pics!

Congratulations.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Hey bud, great job on your buck and great story to go along with it.

Shane

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

congrats. nice buck

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Great Story Dan! Congrats on a beautiful buck!

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats, nice buck.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Nice Buck! Must ask, where in Washington was the buck taken?

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats Dan, great looking buck buddy, you spent that one tag on a good one.

RE: Thanksgiving Day success
 

Congrats nice buck!