Post by: scrub-buster on November 19, 2019, 07:52:48 PM
Last winter I spent many days cleaning up around a small overgrown pond in a wooded valley on my property. It had been neglected for at least a decade. This is the only constant water source we have on our place. After I got it cleaned up I put out a trail camera and left it going all year. Immediately I started seeing a lot of activity. Over the summer there were 2 decent bucks that routinely showed up shortly before dark. I watched their antlers grow in the pictures. They looked to be 3.5 years old and were bigger than my only trad buck which was a 2.5 year old 8 point with a selfbow. I set up a ground blind above the pond where the trail that they usually took came out at the corner of the pond. I really wanted to get a deer from the ground this year with my bow.
I tried for the first two weeks of bow season but 2 pesky does kept sniffing me out or walking into the back side of my blind where I couldn't get a shot. It seemed like they ruined every hunt without giving me a shot at them. On a couple of nights I could hear a deer coming through the woods right before dark but it would stop before showing itself. I figured it was one of the bucks I had been hoping for. With the ground blind a bust I resorted to plan B. I had put up a ladder stand in the creek bed below the pond.
On October 14th I fired up my gas leaf blower and cleared the trail all the way to the stand. The maple leaves are so thick on the ground it's impossible to walk quietly. After I was done with the leaves I got a shower and then quietly snuck back down to the stand. The same two does and a young buck munched on acorns in a half circle around me. They does were right on the edge of my comfort zone. Twice I had tension on the string but let down because it just didn't feel right. Shortly before dark I heard steady walking on the hillside above me. I looked up and saw a good sized deer coming through the trees. I stood and got into position while it was still a ways out. As it got closer I saw that it had a big body and decent antlers. I never counted points or anything. Usually the body size it was does it for me. I never paid any attention to the rack. The buck stepped into the dry creek bed a little over 20 yards away and stopped. I don't remember drawing the bow. My instincts took over I guess. Suddenly I see my arrow heading towards it and I thought it was a little high. I almost thought I missed by it's reaction. It bolted out of the creek bed and ran about 30 yards before coming to a stop. There's a large oak tree directly in front of my stand and I couldn't see the buck. I nocked another arrow and leaned way out to get a view of it. The buck was just standing there. I heard a gurgling noise and it turned around on wobbly legs. It started to stagger towards me. I prepared for another shot but it collapsed before I could get a chance to send another arrow. It dropped 25 yards from my stand. I was very excited with how it all played out. I sent a few text messages to friends and family while I calmed down enough to climb down and take a look at it. I had a moment of sadness when I thought about my friend David Hewitt. He would have been one of the first messages I would have sent out.
I used a Yellowstone Custom Longbow made by Rich Wormington. It's 56@28" but I don't draw it that far. I had Cliff Zwickey broadheads on Easton Axis arrows. I got a complete pass through with that set up. I traded for the bow and the arrows at trad events during this past year.
(https://i.imgur.com/FteogSr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Q4I6xDK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/A1dkIQi.jpg)
Post by: Possum Head on November 19, 2019, 08:10:30 PM
Post by: achigan on November 19, 2019, 08:12:34 PM
Post by: Captain*Kirk on November 19, 2019, 08:16:14 PM
Post by: Friend on November 19, 2019, 08:19:21 PM
Post by: digicon on November 19, 2019, 08:26:41 PM
Post by: arrow30 on November 19, 2019, 08:27:33 PM
Post by: Zwickey-Fever on November 19, 2019, 08:35:03 PM
Post by: Bisch on November 19, 2019, 08:37:36 PM
Congrats!
Bisch
Post by: Orion on November 19, 2019, 08:40:36 PM
Post by: Kopper1013 on November 19, 2019, 08:42:08 PM
Post by: GCook on November 19, 2019, 08:42:57 PM
Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Post by: Wudstix on November 19, 2019, 08:53:46 PM
Post by: Modad2010 on November 19, 2019, 08:56:19 PM
Post by: Joeabowhunter on November 20, 2019, 05:43:21 AM
Post by: matt steed on November 20, 2019, 07:30:54 AM
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on November 20, 2019, 07:45:23 AM
Post by: RAU on November 20, 2019, 07:49:57 AM
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 20, 2019, 07:52:04 AM
Congrats.. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Post by: SlowBowKing on November 20, 2019, 08:16:44 AM
Post by: Yooper-traveler on November 20, 2019, 08:23:03 AM
Post by: twitchstick on November 20, 2019, 08:38:57 AM
Post by: Wile E. Coyote on November 20, 2019, 09:34:46 AM
Post by: rastaman on November 20, 2019, 11:14:15 AM
Post by: SlowTurtle on November 20, 2019, 12:58:44 PM
Post by: Homey88 on November 20, 2019, 03:32:59 PM
Post by: 8upss on November 20, 2019, 04:49:08 PM
BIG BODY!!!
Congratulations on reaping the rewards of the time and energy you spent improving your habitat.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Basinboy on November 21, 2019, 11:10:52 AM
Post by: Bvas on November 21, 2019, 09:28:24 PM
Post by: Patknight on November 22, 2019, 12:41:12 PM
Post by: Gene R on November 22, 2019, 10:05:05 PM
Post by: mangonboat on November 24, 2019, 09:05:24 PM
Post by: Mint on November 24, 2019, 09:38:36 PM
Post by: Irish Archer on November 28, 2019, 08:59:39 PM
Post by: BlacktailBowhunter on November 28, 2019, 10:32:48 PM
Post by: Tajue17 on December 01, 2019, 09:24:21 AM
Post by: Roger Norris on December 02, 2019, 07:40:47 AM