This has been my most successful bow season to date--and I still have a little over 3 months to hunt! I may not get another shot, but so far I've taken: 1 deer, one grey fox, one raccoon, and one grey squirrell. The only miss I've had so farwas at a crow. The furthest tracking job was 50-60 feet (straight line--blood trail was more like 50-60 yds) on the deer. The fox went maybe 20 feet, the 'coon and squirrell fell in their tracks. Furthest shot was about 18 yds, on the fox.

Everything except the squirrell was taken with a Wensel Woodsman, but I just ordered some Ace Standards to try out. Took the squirrell with an Ace Hex Head blunt. Of course the bow I used was my #1 Chek-Mate Crusader longbow. Plan to do some hunting with my selfbow this season too--it's never killed anything but foam. I'll be using either Ace or Ribtek broadheads with it. For some reason I'm feeling pretty lucky!

Chad

Chad.

Ya just hexed yaself

Congrats on the season so far.

I have to agree. I have had a good season so far, and I am going to leave it at that. Scared to say more.

Congrats, especially on the gray fox. I can count on one hand the number of people I know who've taken one with a bow.

Sounds great Chad, congratulations!!!

Thanks! I was just in the right place at the right time for the fox. Should have gotten a double on them--dummy me, after I shot the first one, didn't nock another arrow. I figured the deer hunting was over after the fox polluted my spot with it's scent, so I was just sitting there giving it some time to die before looking. Danged if another didn't come out and stop in the same spot--of course by the time I got another arrow on the string it was gone. My buddy told me I still got work to do there--his wife saw 3 more cross the road really close to where I shot this one.

Going with another friend this afternoon, to a place I've never been. Think I'll take the Orangutan (my selfbow) on this trip--it needs to be christened on something other than foam, and I need to get my confidence built up with it too. I know I can shoot it, and I know if I do my part it will put meat on the ground.........but I need to bloody an arrow with it anyway, just to seal the deal.

Hope to have a good report tonight!

Chad

Well, I got two shots with my selfbow and missed both. The good news is both were at a small armidillo. I was about 20' up a tree (according to my pull-up rope), first shot was stepped off (after I got down and found my arrow) at 20 yds. Just a hair short on a broadside shot. Second shot (at the same 'diller) was about 15 yds. I was going for the head shot, pretty sure I took a couple of hairs off it's nose. I only had two blunts with me, and wasn't willing to sacrifice a good arrow on one of those little tanks (chances are high they will ruin it for you), so I let it go. Saw a dang P&Y 'diller before I got up the tree, but no shot. That bugger looked like he'd weigh 30 lbs.

Normally I don't shoot at varmits, at least not until just before it's time to go, but I needed to practice--those were my first two shots ever from a tree stand with my selfbow. Lots of hog sign where we were hunting, so I was thinking if I got one, it would be hog food anyway. I didn't get him, but the misses were close enough that I was happy with my shooting. My buddy saw 4 deer (including two young-'uns still hanging with momma), but no shots. We were in some beautiful hardwoods just off the Tenn-Tom waterway, acorns and hickory nuts dropping every few minutes. We both saw 'coons too, but that was it. He's seen a good hog in there, 250-300# is his guess, but he wasn't around yesterday.

Anyhow, no bloody arrow yesterday but a dang good hunt. I still have 3 months to get some blood on the Orangutan, so I'm not discouraged just yet.

Chad

Shooting at armidillos don't count as misses last time I checked.

That hog sounds huge. Good luck with him. And if you miss him, that will count!

Sounds great Chad. Good luck at christening the self bow. A big hog wold be a great way to do it, though a big buck mighht be even better.

Sounds great!

I've had a pretty good season too.. I've counted coup on several 'dillos and coons. I want to shoot them, but I keep forgeting to bring my "coon" arrow withme.... Killed a doe and a big copperhead. Now I just need a big ol' wiley buck to make a mistake!

Never seen a fox from the stand, good job!