October Lulls and Bloody Arrows

[wapiti792]

I haven't been out much this fall. Work, family and community projects have kept me hemmed in. Luckily some time opened up and I got a chance to hunt a little public spot. Well, it's kind of public...I access the property through an open bean field that I had waited to get picked. Once I saw the beans off and the wind was right, it was go time. The farmer gave me the green light and it was time to GO!!!

Yesterday morning I was a mess. Running late I forgot my fanny pack with my camera, knives and bow holder. I did manage to remember my harness, bow and climber. Pretty rookie move for a guy with 33 bow seasons under his belt. I snuck across the field as dawn was cracking, leaving my truck in the wide open. Deer are used to trucks around here sitting in fields, so long as they don't move.

Luckily I found a great tree on a little finger just off the public. I had a commanding view of an oak flat and a honeysuckle thicket with the field edge to my back. Deer love to cruise the edge cover in the prerut and by the looks of the field edge scrape under me they had been reading the script.

36 degrees with a light frost, mid October. This was supposed to be the lull. My second hunt of the year, and frankly I was just glad to be there. I was in for a treat during this supposed lull this morning. I had eyes for a fat doe after a "no bear" spring and an elk hunt that ended with the aroma of tag soup wafting through my kitchen. I was dreaming of osso bucco from a whitetail shank or perhaps a favorite at our household, internal filets cooked in a port wine sauce with the chanterelles I had gathered in the summer.

Let's just say I wasn't disappointed...

[Bisch]

Come on! Don't stop now!!!!

Bisch

[huckbuck]

 

[Ted Fry]

AND?

[wapiti792]

Sorry ya'll...moving a ladder stand and breaking a critter down. Where was I?

As soon as it got light I saw a solo deer walking towards me in the oak flat.   I realized it was a doe by herself vacuuming up white oak acorns.  Since I did not have a bow holder and was holding my bow already, I stood and prepared myself for a shot.  Like a lot of times with this thing of ours, she stayed just out of my effective range. Speaking of range, I constantly think about it. I'm not blessed like my friend Browning who can just let his brain do the work. I am primarily a gap shooter and know what the yardage is and where my hold is. It is less art and more science with me.

After she skirted me I sat back down. I enoyed the occasional clunk of acorns as they fell and just tried to soak up all of the fall I could. Soon I heard some racket and watched a doe and fawn run in that zig zag motion that told me they were being chased, and that they rather enjoyed it.  It is early here in our deer woods for chasing. However this forky had it in his mind that his clock told him it was time. He ran the 2 females all over the oak flat and into the thick honeysuckle.

Soon things settled down again. I once again was serenaded by acorns falling and a slight Southern breeze that rocked me to a heavy lidded mood. Fortunately for me a new visitor woke me up. Standing underneath a branch of a white oak at 40 yds a very good buck worked a licking branch. I watched him make a scrape, wag his tail as if to say his job was completed and start a March directly for my tree.

[wapiti792]

He made his way on a beeline straight to me. When I realized he was going to pass broad sided but behind me on my left I sat back down and twisted in the seat. I slowly began to put tension on the bowstring and asked myself where the spot was. Once the spot was found I consciously pushed and pulled to my anchor. At that moment things became a blur and I saw my arrow disappear into his rib cage. A shot inside of 10 yds with a 53 pound longbow with a heavy arrow, 700 grains of carbon and steel, 300 of it on the tip along with a scary sharp Grizzly broadhead. The sound was more of a pop and I watched the buck cover 30 yards quickly, then stop. He had no idea what happened!

At that moment I noticed him stagger, start to trot and then begin to go down.  He only made it about 50 yd before he gave up the ghost. It happened in under 10 seconds I can assure you. In all of my years of bow hunting, I cannot remember a cleaner or quicker death. He simply had no idea and then it was too late.  I am always relieved when I know it is a good shot, but I am overjoyed when that good shot turns into a fast and ethical death. I sat there and looked up to the heavens. I'm so thankful for these animals and for the God that put them here. Even though I knew he was down I wanted to be sure and sat for a few more minutes.

I had a large doe with son in tow walk down the field edge to me. Knowing I had a lot of work ahead of me I let them go for a later date perhaps. It was then that I remembered I had no knives. I did have my tag at least and climbed down. After getting my gear together I followed the blood trail more out of habit than out of necessity. It was a good one.

[wapiti792]

Once I reached where he stopped there was a tremendous amount of blood on the ground. I could see him lying close by and made my way to him. It is a beautiful sight to walk up on an animal you have cleanly taken that you know will soon render itself into some of the best food on the planet. I snapped a couple of photos and put my tag on him.   

[wapiti792]

It so happened that my wife was off work and was able to grab my pack.  She met me at my truck and we were able to drive across the field to load him up. Lucky for me the drag was only a 100 yds or so. This Midwest whitetail was most likely 4 years old and quite heavy. My wife is a Saint for putting up with all the things I do in regards to hunting. She recognizes that without it I am not a happy person. The by-product of such a lifestyle is wonderful, delicious meals from the animals we take.  It is an important part of our family. Although I love to kill big deer we try to celebrate each and every one, whether it be a big buck or a fat doe.  They all provide food for our family and the honesty that each meal represents is what drives me to continue this thing of ours.

 

[wapiti792]

That is my tale.  Once again God blessed me with a fantastic whitetail buck. I'm also blessed to have family and most significantly a spouse who supports what I love to do. She is always excited when I take a deer and she wants to recover them with me. She says that the brief moment that we have after finding an animal, my prayer of thanks and my mix of tears and smiles reminds her of why she latched on to me 25 years ago. I guess that is alright by me. Good luck out there friends. Keep after it 

[KentuckyWolf]

Nice buck and a good story. Congratulations

[Kopper1013]

Beautiful buck, congratulations sir and tremendous shooting and writing! Really enjoyed reading it I'm my trees stand on this warm Saturday afternoon.....gives me something to dream about

[Bisch]

Awesome buck, Mike, and great story telling too. You have a gift when it comes to putting these tales to words!!!!

Congrats!!!!

Bisch

[Roy from Pa]

 

[Joeabowhunter]

Congratulations Mike and thanks for the fantastic post! 

[Jayrod]

Fantastic story and greatbuck Mike well deserved along with the respect you show with each and every one!

[Tom M]

Heck yeah!! Nice job!! Excellent story!

[mec lineman]

Awesome buddy!

[goingoldskool]

Outstanding!  Congratulations on a nice buck, nice shot and most of all a spouse that is just as excited about it as You!

You are truly blessed!

[arrow30]

congratts!

[knobby]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your story.  Well done.