As the light was fading...

[Focusource]

As the light was fading, in the blink of an eye, three deer appeared before me.  

I was eight feet up an oak tree in a field that was a horse pasture until very recently.  I had been on my feet, nocked and ready for more than an hour.  The slight breeze was in a favorable direction.  A short, light rain shower got the deer moving at sunset.  

I didn't see the deer approach even though my senses were on edge.  There they were at twenty yards, a large doe and two fawns.  My heart slammed in my chest and I told myself to stay still and breathe deeply.  I settled down quickly and looked over the situation for about thirty seconds.  The large doe was quartering towards me so there was nothing I could do with her.  I came to draw on one of the small ones that turned broadside, but I just couldn't bring myself to take that shot and let down slowly.  Soon the small ones moved towards the doe and she turned broadside at seventeen yards.  I came to full draw, locked onto her with everything I had and pulled through the string.  The deer hit the ground, necks arcing backwards and my vision froze like a picture.  They blasted out of the field.  I composed myself and listened hard.  I knew where they ran.

My younger brother showed up about fifteen minutes later.  He found the blood trail and stayed on it like a hound.  He is an amazing outdoorsman.  My cedar arrow with a Zwickey two-blade was found at the edge of the woods completely unharmed and covered in bright red blood.  It was a double lung hit and she was spraying from both sides as she ran.  Still, she managed to run around two hundred yards and jump a creek.  She was one tough girl and I was proud of her.

She is the first animal I have ever taken.

Jeff Howell
Friday, October 10, 2008

 

[Cory Mattson]

Congratulations! Great hunt.
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[Shedrock]

Congrats on your first!

[bowhunterfrompast]

Congrats  

[longbowben]

Congrats  

[blueline]

sweet success!!!

[Butts2]

Your not fishing your just hooked!!!!!Congratulations!!!!  

[joe ashton]

Good job! The statement  of frozen vision is so perfect. Years from now and with many havests under your belt you will still be able to see this deer. The arch of the arrow, the sounds of this success. Again good job.

[Jerry Jeffer]

congrats on your first.

[ron w]

Well done.

[jimmerc]

Congrats on your first and shes a beaut!

[yellow bow]

[Wannabe1]

Beautiful! Just beautiful!!!!

[Blackhawk]

You tell a story very well.  Watch out Don Thomas!

[Kevin Bahr]

Congratulations, Jeff.  You'll always remember your first one.

[bentpole]

Outstanding! Congrats!

[Gatekeeper]

Congratulation Jeff! She is a great looking mature doe. Tan and save that hide to have as your first traditional trophy.  

[Fletcher]

Congratulations, Jeff!!        May she be the first of many.

[vermonster13]

This has been the year for first timers!

Congratulations on a fine deer.

[MJB]

OUTSTANDING Jeff CONGRATS