Got one!
 

Got my first of the season yesterday! Went hunting right behind our subdivision which is in a small town. There were houses about 200 yards behind me and a 4 lane highway about 200 yards in front of me. I'd seen deer on the edges of the woods going to and coming from work a few times so I asked permission to hunt it from the developer (eventually it will be clearcut and our neighborhood will be expanded.)

I got back home from work later than usual but wasn't worried about getting out too early since I was so close to the road. At 5 the traffic was pretty heavy on the road...so I waited around for a bit and played with my kids. At 6 I threw my stand on my back and started walking down this narrow path leading back there. I hadn't gone 100 yards when I looked up and saw a deer standing on the edge of the path about 100 yards down. She was looking right at me so I calmly crept off the path and into the woods on the side she was on. I creeped about 20 yards closer to where I last saw her and found a tree that I thought was pretty decent and climbed up. I've got a Lone Wolf Hand climber and if you're familiar with it you know that it's almost perfectly silent setting up.

It wasn't 20 minutes later that I saw her and another deer browsing through the woods toward me. I watched her for maybe ten minutes until she got to about 20 yards and let her have it. My arrow hit her slightly high and a little too forward, but it worked out great. It clipped the bottom of her spine and she dropped in her tracks! I'd never had that happen before. I've always, always had to track them in the past.

A couple of things about this hunt that I thought noteworthy enough to share...

1. I'm convinced my climber helped me shoot this deer. This is the quietest climber I've ever had (just bought it last year). It's more expensive than some of the others but with no pins, cables, lock nuts, etc to fool with I was able to set up and climb a tree within 80 yards of two deer, one of which had seen me, and they still didn't spook.

2. Carbon arrows and expandable broadheads are the way to go. I switch to both this year from aluminum and fixed blades. I know you're probably not going to believe me, but I swear I can tell a difference in the speed of my arrows since switching over. I'm telling you, that arrow reached that deer QUICK! The mechanicals opened just like it should have and did good damage both going in and coming out.

3. This hunt again reminded me that very often you're going to find deer in the most unlikely of places. The spot of land I was hunting was maybe 400 yards wide and 600 yards long with houses and a major highway on all sides. Through the trees I could see the cars on the street and I could hear the kids playing in our neighborhood behind me. I agree that you're going to find more deer in the hard to reach places, but if you're short on time then don't overlook the obvious.


She may not have been a ten pointer but my personal motto is that anything with a bow is a trophy. I'll post a pic tomorrow for you guys to see once I get the pictures downloaded.

Image is on second page of this thread.

RE: Got one!
 

GREAT JOB THERE JRSOWER
WHAT STATE?

RE: Got one!
 

Any deer with a bow is a good deer.....at least where I'm from. Congrats on what sounded like a cool hunt. Those Lone Wolf stands look slick and if I ever get one without a front rail, I'll be looking at their portable version.

I'm drooling for this Saturday..............[:-]

RE: Got one!
 

i dont know if it is just me but i dont think that every deer is a good deer just because you got it with a bow. no mater what every deer is a GREAT deer. I think that it is much harder to get deer walking around stocking with a gun than sitting down in a tree and waiting for them to come around. I do both during bow season i am in a tree and during gun season i am stalking.

i think it is a lot harder to get a head of a whitetail on ground.

i just had to mention this

RE: Got one!
 

I agree love my Lone wolf hand climber. The best part is the sales girl at Gander Mountain charged me for a lone wolf hang on stand ..like $186 instead of the proper price of like $286..I asked are you sure that price is correct? She said yep, I gladly paid and out the door I went. :eek:

Congrats on your deer!!

RE: Got one!
 

Congrads on your kill. I'm very familair with hunting in residential areas. It's where I prefer to hunt. You'll find deer moving all day long. Don't worry about the traffic, that just helps you get into the stand. It's a great cover for noise and you can even do a confrence calls from the stand. However, I would never advocate slipping out of work early to go hunting.

RE: Got one!
 

Great job and story. I am going to try hunting a similar patch this year. The lady that owns this small area and surrounding land has not let hunters on it for over 20 years. Even though you can hear softball games in the background, there sure are deer there!

RE: Got one!
 

:)Great story and Congrats. on the doe.
Sounds like your tuned up with your set-up and thats what matters most.
Good luck in the rest of the season.;)

RE: Got one!
 

Way to go

RE: Got one!
 

Congratulations on your deer. Sounds like a great hunt.

Not necessarily. That is a broad statement to make and misinformation for alot of shooters who for many reasons shouldn't carbons or mechanicals. They are not for everyone.

Again, congratulations on your first one of the season...keep up the fine work.