Season opened up here in Tennessee Saturday. It was the hottest opening weekend I can remember. But it didn't keep me from hunting Saturday and Sunday morning before it got way too hot. Deer activity was very slow. Saw 4 all weekend, all out of range. Had to work yesterday and the yard needed mowing after work, so no hunting.
A nice little cool front moved in overnight and it actually felt like bow season today. So after work, I came home and gathered up my gear for an evening hunt. I had in mind to hunt a stand at the back end of a hay field on one of my leases. But when I got there, they were cutting the hay. Change of plans, fall back and punt.
I ended up going to a stand on the other side of the property. It's located in a stand of white oaks that the deer wear out this time of year. I had no sooner got up the tree and fired up my Thermacell when I heard activity off to my left. A doe was browsing on acorns about 60 yard off. I was hopeful she would browse my way, but as luck would have it, she browsed on up to the top of the ridge, well out of range.
The woods are really dry right now. With what few leaves have fallen, it's really easy to hear a deer pretty far off. The doe had wandered off about 100 yards, still feeding last I saw her. At about 5:15, I hear a helluva a ruckus in the direction where I last saw her. She scurries back off the ridge to the bench I'm on, but heads the opposite direction. What little wind there was, was in my favor so I know she didn't wind me. Hmm...wonder what got to her.
Then I hear the unmistakable sound of a deer walking through a small cane thicket in my direction. One buck steps into view, then another. The lead buck gets right to the trail I walked in on and catches my scent on the trail. He does an about face and turns, angling up towards the top of the ridge.
I honestly don't remember what happened next. I know he stopped in a little hole between some white oak limbs on the tree I was in. I remember looking at a spot mid ways on his body. Next thing I know, he runs about 30 yards up the hill with my arrow sticking in him, stops, wobbles to the right, then to the left, and fell over stone cold dead.
I'm standing there in the stand, after having just made a shot from the worst position in that stand, looking at him laying there dead, thinking, "Did that really just happen?"
"WOW! That really just happened!"
I paced the shot off after I got down. Ended up being 27 yards. It was a really hard quartering shot and the arrow entered behind the last rib and exited in the lower chest cavity up front, being stopped by the inside of the opposite leg. His insides were hash.
I would have never thought about trying to make a shot like that...but there wasn't any thinking involved. It just happened. Instinct completely took over.
He's no monster by any stretch of the imagination. A young 7 pointer. But I couldn't be more pleased. This has been a long time coming.
I used my 58" Bigfoot Sasquatch SS 50#@27" Easton 2213 tipped with Werewolf 200gr double bevel heads.
I would also like to note, I field dressed him with the beautiful Tippit knife that I won in this years St Jude auction.
I'll try to get my wife to upload a pic or two to photobucket when she has time.
I can honestly say, this would have never happened without this site. First and foremost, all the information and advise...I'd still be lost without y'all. And secondly, I got the bow and arrows from the classifieds here. I got the broadheads, the quiver and the knife from the St Jude auction. A huge, heartfelt Thank You to everybody here.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o101/TnLadyHunter/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps1msw5zpj.jpeg) (http://s118.photobucket.com/user/TnLadyHunter/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps1msw5zpj.jpeg.html)
Congrats to you! Great story!
Congrats! Looking forward to some pics. :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
Congrats! looking forward to some awesome pic's!
Way to go! Can't wait to see the pics!
Congrats,
Bisch
Congrats!!! I'm in Tn also. Haven't gotten to hunt yet because of work. Can't wait though. This will be my first year with the recurve.
Congrats Brandon-knew it would come together for you.
Congrats
Congrats! I am looking forward to pictures.
ATTABOY!
Let's see that guy!
Well done!
Congrats...
Awesome! Congrats to you! If you need help posting pics just shoot me a pm and i can get them up.
Congrats! Great feeling, eh?
Congrats. You'll never forget it.
Dan in KS
Love it when you see them go down. :)
Photobucket is giving me fits. Thanks for all the responses and kind words guys.
Awesome!
Great story, Congratulations :thumbsup: looking forward to seeing him.
Steve Jr
did you read the rules? :readit: :readit:
Without a picture it didn't happen!! ;)
Congrats, sounds like a heck of a shot, I am glad it ended in your favor!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice buck!
Well done! Congrats!
LD
You were in the zone, good concentration.... Well done!
Way to go!! Congrats.
Congrats!! He is a beauty!!
Nice one!!!
Nick
congrats
Awesome! Great job!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Fantastic buck congrats Brother!
Awesome looking buck!
Congrats again,
Bisch
Way to go!!!
:archer2:
Beautiful harvest...congrats!
Very nice. Congratulations
Congrats!
Very nice job. Congrats.
Pappy
Congrats!
Congrats! Nice buck!
Great job,you went thru the motions of a predator with out even thinking about the process...a true hunter.. congratulations my friend... Pat
Congrats !
great story, awesome pic! man, i got the fever!
:clapper: congrats!
Nice!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats ... must of had some of that St Judes mojo go'n for you
From the comments, it took time to get the pic up. Much better pic then one on phone... (bigger by far to! ) :)
Nicely done... Instinct took over....
Happy for you, Brandon! :goldtooth:
Thanks again for all the congratulations and kind words, guys. I really appreciate it.
Doc Nock, Yeah it took me awhile to get a pic uploaded. All the pictures with me in em looked like crap cause it was getting so dark. The pic I posted was the best one we had of him. The adrenaline must have still been pumping pretty hard when I took the pic of him in the woods where he fell that I sent to you...it looked like I was shaking like a leaf on a tree lol.
When I got home from work yesterday, Rachel said, "Dang. If you had been 2 hours later I'd have had him mounted." She wanted to surprise me and have it mounted when I got home. But the ticks were coming off the hide and eating her up so I told her to freeze it for awhile and don't worry about it. That would have been the worlds fastest turn around from a taxidermist though.
QuoteOriginally posted by shag08:
That would have been the worlds fastest turn around from a taxidermist though.
Brandon, not everyone CAN or would WANT to sleep with their taxidermist... :laughing:
Sent you text on the live broadcast today... go well?
Congrats!
Awesome congrats
LOL...Very true, Dave, very true! That's a good one! :biglaugh:
The show went extremely well. Rachel did an excellent job. And my doe I took last year as my first trad harvest is now famous lol. We brought it just to show how pretty a doe mount is and that every deer can be a trophy. A good time was had by all. Little Evey even got to be on TV for a minute...she loved that.
Way to go sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nicely done. Size isn't always important. I'm sure most, if not all, can remember their first trad buck. They seem to hold a trophy status all their own.
You've had your challenges, Brandon, but you also have had a lot of good fortune in the time I've known you...
Great presents, from your bride... building that awesome Taxidermy shop by your own self...
Having the great family you do! That is funny about Evey on TV.. sorry I missed that...
I get a great kick out of you and your two ladies, but I won't be envying you in a couple years with that young'un!
Glad the show went well...and your first trad deer is now the talk of the Town..
Next will be your BASS! :rolleyes:
Congrats on a great deer!
IF any of you would like to watch Brandon's (Shag08)wife's Taxidermy interview on Southern Woods-Waters, from Nashville, email me and I'll send you a link...
Links aren't appreciated here, so I hope it's ok to share it via pm or email...?
Great job!
Well done!
Nice job Brandon! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
This stuff is unforgettable. still remember more details of my first bow deer than my last! LOL
That's a story that will stick with you for a lifetime ! It is great to be a part of a gang that support each other and feel invested in the success of the individual.
Congratulations....good story and a fine buck to boot!
oh yea!!!!
Awesome! Congrats
The mount his wife did of that doe is incredible...looks like she's about to blow and bolt!
Been privileged to hunt once with Brandon and see his dedication to the hunt and all things outdoors!
Anyone who wants to see the TV series on his wife and that deer can email me for a link...I still have it
Congrats!!
Is that a leather covered Kwikee? I have been dying to find someone who can cover one for me, who did you have do it?
Beautiful buck, hope its the first of many for you!
Congratulations on a great deer and great shot!
you gotta be pumped. nice deer
Wolf1007- that is a leather covered Kwikee Kwiver. I got that one from Tim Roberts on the St Jude auction several years ago. But...I THINK somewhere in my email I have a link to a DIY for a leather Kwikee cover. I'll try my best to find it and I'll shoot you a PM.
Thanks again to everybody!
Congrats. Beautiful deer!
Congrats!! Great story!
Way to go....