Bear with me here as my story begins years ago to express my appreciation to the great bunch of users on tradgang. My journey into traditional archery started by playing around with my fathers old 1971 or 72? red wing slimline pro about ten years ago. I hunted mostly with a compound during that time but slowly mixed the recurve into my hunts . 4 years ago I finally took a doe with the old red wing (the first deer that bow killed nearly 40 years after it was made)! The sense of accomplishment and joy I felt from a doe was overwhelming. Slowly the compound stayed home and after a few more doe, I became obsessed . Last year I hunted only with the recurve and was rewarded with its first buck, a beautiful little 8 pt.
This is when tradgang joins the story. I wanted to get a longbow and research led me here . I began reading about form and realized how bad mine actually was . I was shooting alright but knew I could get better . I worked on back tension and release throughout the summer and soon found my draw was 1.5" longer and I could easily handle more than the 45# the red wing offered.
I ordered an unfinished 50# omega imperial and was immediately back on tradgang to answer all my questions on finishing the bow and tuning it in. Again, without ever starting a post, I read and learned a wealth of knowledge. It didn't take long before I was shooting better than ever. By the first week of October I eagerly and confidently headed out with a new bow and a quiver full of new arrows.
This all leads to last Friday, Nov. 4. I passed up a beautiful 8 pt with a double throat patch on Tuesday. I knew he was shy of making it on the wall, and he deserved to be. So hopefully we meet again next year, or he makes a wonderful memory for another hunter.
I wanted my new imperial's first arrow to be special, and I was rewarded with my biggest archery buck that Friday evening.
The sun was still high and I was watching a fox trying his best to control the squirrel population, with no success. A little busted up 5pt worked his way through and it was still only 15:30. Most deer I see from this stand follow the same routine, coming from my front left, making a semi-circle past some greenbrier and a scrape, and exiting to my front right. Everytime I imagined a big buck coming through, I pictured him coming from behind me to the left, even though I have yet to see a deer domthat.
Sorry, hit post by accident.
Anyway, at 16:50, I peak to my left, and just as I always imagined, there he stood at 15 yards. I slowly turn and wait for him to clear and at 16 yards I send my Imperials first arrow right through the spot I picked . Even though I thought I heard him crash, I backed out just in case. With plenty of light left, I didn't want to risk it.
At last light I sneak back in to find my best archery buck 45 yards from where I shot.
I want to thank everyone on here as you have helped me in this journey whether you know it or not.
Omega imperial 50# @ 29.5".
Easton axis traditional 400`s
VPA 150 Grain 2 blade
(http://i.imgur.com/wl9cpfm.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/fpiN8Av.jpg)
Dandy buck! Congrats on a good'un.....
Last one, I'm a bit excited
(http://i.imgur.com/QDeBGk2.jpg)
That is a heck of a nice buck. Congratulations.
Beautiful!
Wow congrats on a great buck.
Fantastic buck congrats to you!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Beautiful buck!!!
Awesome buck! Congrats.
Great deer and in NJ too
Atta'boy
Tim
:scared: :campfire:
That is an excellent Jersey deer.
Congratulations! :clapper:
Congrats on a fantastic buck!!!!
Bisch
That's a great deer and not just for NJ.
What a great buck, congratulations! Very nice pictures too!
-Jay
Beautiful!
What a great buck! Big congrats!
What a bruiser!
Congratulations!!!
Wow, you got a good one! Congratulations not only for a great buck, but also for some very nice pictures! :clapper:
Bernie
Congrats! Great deer. :thumbsup:
That's a great buck!
Well done!
I would have put an arrow in the next county if that guy gave me a shot :biglaugh:
Congrats that's a great buck
congrats
:clapper: :clapper:
Congrats to you! Great buck!
Congratulations. Great story, pics and buck.
Very cool. Congrats.
You should be excited! That is a great buck, especially for the east coast
That is just a really beautiful buck. Congratulations and God bless, Steve
Beautiful Buck, Congrats
Great deer, story and picks are done nicely. Well done congrats!!! :thumbsup:
Tracy
:clapper: well done!
Congrats that is awesome. :)
Congrats!!! :thumbsup:
Great buck Jim!! Congratulations!! Good work on the bow also,See you in January
Paul
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Awesome buck!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That is an awesome Buck, Congrats!!!
:clapper:
Well done all around sir!! :thumbsup:
Very nice deer sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks everyone! My girl did a fine job with pics. That's the first time doing hero pics. I'm glad we took the time to do it, way better than my normal rushed, bloodied cell phone pics.
Paul, thanks buddy! We are really looking forward to seeing you guys again in January. If your interested in coming down a little early, we plan on spending the whole week at camp.
Great story and congrats on a fine buck!
That's a dandy. It's tuff to hold back on the smaller ones but this is the reward you get.
That's a very fine buck ... congrats
And you should be. Great deer Brother!
He's pretty, congrats.
Nice job...and a whale of a buck! :archer:
Congrats on a great buck! :thumbsup:
WOW!!!!
OUTSTANDING!
Congratulations,job well done.
Nice Buck! Great pics also!
Congrats Eden, Well done!
Great buck,great story, and love that your 4 legged friend is in the picture with you.
nice buck!
That's a great deer!
Congrats and thanks for sharing!