Got in the stand at 5:30 this morning. HOT!!! Just the short 200 yard walk from the house to the stand had me soaked wearing shorts and a T shirt under a leafy suit.
Got in the stand and settled in. Sure was nice to watch, and listen the woods wake up again. Been doing it all summer chasing hogs but theres just something different when its deer season.
Thought I blew the morning when I stood up to get my water bottle out of my pack at about 6. It was still way dark and in standing up I blew a deer out of the area. Never even knew she was there but she (or he) sure let me know they were not happy!
Just as it was getting light enough to consider shooting I watched two does cross the swamp to my North and head in my direction. As they got close enough to shoot I drew as the lead doe stuck her head behind a big pine. She took another couple of steps and just as I was about to let fly she turned 90 degrees and showed me her butt.I let down and took a couple of deep breaths..
The second, yearling doe was milling around in some thin myrtle bushes about 20 yards behind the lead doe. She eventually wandered out and stopped, Just slightly quartering away at about 12 yards. Looked up and turned her head to watch the bigger doe walk away.
I drew, picked a spot and let fly. At the shot she just humped up slightly and trotted off. I thought I missed! But just as she got out of sight in the swamp I heard one loud crash and a couple of kicks, then silence.
I looked at my watch and it was 6:42 am. 1 hour and 12 minutes into the season and I had my first deer on the ground.
I gave it 15 minutes just to be safe and got down. Went to were the doe was standing and found my arrow stuck in the ground covered with blood. Looking into the swamp I could see a patch of white laying about 40 feet away.
Went back to the house and my wife was sitting on the front porch drinking her morning coffee. She asked me what I was doing out of the woods so early. I just smiled and asked her if she wanted to help me drag one out. :D
I've been wanting to see what my dog would do with a blood trail since I lost a hog in some really thick stuff a few weeks back and this was the perfect opportunity. The wife and I and our border collie cross, Domino went back to the woods and I showed Domino the bloody arrow. He went from playfull puppy mode to tracker quickly. He ranged back and forth but followed the general direction almost perfectly. He found the deer and gave a low growl then got lots and lots of praise. I think he has potential! It was a short and simple trail but its a start!
At any rate. The first deer of the season is in the freezer.Hopefully there will be a few more between now and January but if not, I'm just thankfull for the time in the woods.
Sorry for the poor pictures. It was still pretty dark in the woods when these were taken.
(http://cdn-2-service.phanfare.com/images/external/2655273_4139643_106314344_Web_3/0_0_2dcd2de9a281bb3560797412269bdb48_1)
(http://cdn-2-service.phanfare.com/images/external/2655273_4139643_106314334_Web_3/0_0_38458b213474b3f74d0f98dc0c089176_1)
Equiptment used
Border Black Douglas
50#@28"
GT 55/75 cut at 30.5" with a 100 gr brass insert.
125 gr woodsman broadhead with a 100 gr steel adapter.
640 gr arrow.
Awesome! Aint fare though...I have to wait till late Sept to do that.
Out standing. :notworthy: Our season starts in 4 weeks. We get one deer license very 2 years!! I'm hoping for success but would like me season to be more than 1 hour and 12 minutes.. Joe
Congatulations!!!!!!!!! That's getting it done.
How cool is this? Way! I'm saying!!
Congratulations!
Thank you for sharing with us even if it does make us jealous.
God bless,Mudd
Good work! I still have 2 months to wait! :knothead:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the story and pictures.
October 1st for me. Nice job!
-Jeremy
Great job man!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Good shooting. :thumbsup:
Now THAT'S the way to start a season! Congratulations, Brad.
:bigsmyl:
Good going!
Very cool I can honestly say that I envy you...
Been working like a dog and only had 1 weekend all summer to get out.
Congrats!!!
Mid October here :(
Good shooting :clapper:
Congrats!
Those are one of the smartest dogs, I'm sure they can learn just about anything.
I like pic #2. Youve got a halo around you like some type of angel. :)
I had no idea the season started so early anywhere in the US...wow, that's cool.
Very cool, congrats!!!
Congrats Brad! Skeeters weren't near as bad ad I thought!
Thanks guys. Was a heck of a nice way to start the season! You do any good Marty? The skeets weren't bad and I was out of the woods before it got too dang hot. Thermometer on the side of the house is reading 96.9 right now. Sure hope we get a shower before I head back out around 5 or so!
That should get a SPECIAL Tradgang award for first venison of the new season! :clapper:
Dan in KS
Congrats! and great story!
Nice.
Congrats on the first of 2010...!
WAY TO GO :clapper: :clapper: Bout time we got a deer story. It's been a looong summer. Come on September!
You get to hunt in July!!!!!
Congrats :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
I'm sure that I'm not the only one that is jealous that you are deer hunting already, Congrats! :clapper:
July in Florida????? Congrats
Congrats and thanks for sharing :thumbsup:
Congrats. October seems so far away.
Congratulations. I can't wait for the last week of September
Good job that is a start for the stock of meat in the freezer!
Congratulations, and the pictures were better than you think. Great job... :thumbsup: :clapper: Come on October.
Very cool! When I hunted in the zone (can't recall the name) near NW Palm Bech County, the mosquitos were sooooo huge and in such number that it made me nuts. Spooked a few gators and snakes - even a panther but never took a FL deer. Congrats!! Cool dog too!
Congrats!!
Great job Brad! Good to see you get one so early in the season. Looks like you've definitely put the doubts you had last season to rest!
Congrats again, keep on Bringing them back dead!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:archer:
Congrats,Sept.4th here in Ky.can't wait.
Great job!! :clapper: :clapper:
:scared: if it's gets much above 45 here it's "too hot to hunt"
Great start to the season !
Good job, I could'nt take the heat or bugs.
:clapper:
I had no clue your deer season opened so soon. way to go!!!!!!
Great job Brad. Seared backstrap for sure!!!!! :clapper:
Great job Brad! Man, what a deal.
Billy
Congrats!!! :clapper:
nice! but you know its driving us that have to wait till october crazy
:thumbsup:
You lucky dog...lol
I'm jealous!!!
Gotta wait till October.
Way to go!!!
Nice to see a DEER HUNTING post!!
Sept 15 for me. Wow. Good job man!
:thumbsup:
thank you for the pics and story and a big congrats!! :clapper:
:thumbsup: :archer2: Good job, man!
Mmm, mmm, GOOD!
MMMMM, bacon wrapped jalepeno stuffed backstrap on the grill.
Congrats to the start of a great season Swampdrummer!!
Nice. Can't wait for Aug. 15th crop damage.
I like it! Well done!
Nice job!
congrats to you!
Great job bro! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nicely done, I can't wait for september!
Thanks again folks!
Its a good thing that deer came along Saturday morning. I've been in the stand, morning noon and night since and haven't seen another one.
Always tommorow!
Thats great! She a pretty one. I have to wait utnil 21st,my fingers are itching.
:thumbsup: Congrats!!! I've got to wait till October 1st.
nice one, we start next month here in North Central Fl
DANG!!!...translation, congrats! :thumbsup:
Man that is cool! I got to wait another 2 months before I can deer hunt here in TX.
Congrats,
Bisch
Me too! That's 8 weeks to practice though for us Bisch!