Well, deer season opened for Tennessee yesterday morning. I missed out on the morning hunt, because I was busy packing for the afternoon!
The hunt club I'm a member of, has our land about 2¾ hours drive from my house. So, I packed for an overnighter.
I arrived at the site at 2pm, set up my campsite & got into my hunting gear. I threw my stand on my back, a book & a few bottles of water in my pocket, (It's still in the 80's & the humidity is HIGH) grabbed my beautiful Morrison Cheyenne & headed out for the trees.
I had a pretty good idea of where I needed to be after having an afternoon in a nearby tree last year & seeing good sign. I had a small hill to my right, a gravel road 20 yards to my left & beyond that a small backwater. The wind was coming nicely down the hill & hooking around to blow in my face (according to the Thermacell smoke)
After an hour or so, I began to figure out that I was probably in the stand a bit early (I live in the Central timezone, the club is Eastern :rolleyes: ) so I dug into the Den of the Old Bowhunter for some inspiration from Chester Stevenson.
.
.
.
Time passes.
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.
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More time passes.
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.
.
Sitting there in a slight downpour I started to hear movement up the hill. Sqirrels.
Finally the rain gave it up & the woods began to spring to life. I catch sight of movement. A flash, nothing more. I started to twist & gyrate, trying to see through the trees in the failing light. I catch a glimpse of a leg & my attention focuses instantly on that spot. I'm so intent on seeing te rest of the deer in tat tiny gap, 40 yards away, that I completely fail to see the doe walking calmly towards me. Finally my brain kicks in & I see the deer. I'm already on full alert now, bow in hand, vibrating like I'm on a caffeine high. Ever so slowly I bring my right hand to the string & locate the nock & begin to rotate towards my quarry. She stops. Facing me. Drops her head & starts to pick up the few White Oak acorns she can find. She turns away & I put tension to the 63# carbon & foam, diamond back-backed limbs. A step to her left. Feeding. Another step left & she's quartering away by a couple of degrees, my bow is up, heavily canted to avoid the bar around my climber, the arrow is suddenly not there & the deer is running away. Did I miss? I know I bent at the waist. I think I hit my anchor. I don't think I 'peeked' Can I see my arrow in the dirt? No. Hmm. Where'd it go then? I must've hit it. I hit it.
I.
.
Hit.
.
That.
.
Deer.
I HIT THE DEER!! IHITTHEDEERIHITTHEDEERIHITTHEDEEEEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, now the shakes kick in, big time. I struggle to remember how to sit down & try & compose myself. I try & remember where she was when I shot & where she ran to. OK, think I've got it now. Slowly, slowly down the tree I go (Terrified & shaking ever step of the way) to take up the trail. I can't see any blood in this light & my headlight is in the truck, dammit. No problem, I'll go to the last place I saw her & flag the spot before I go get it. I pace off 12 yards from my tree to where she stood. 12 yards, cool! 22 more yards to where I remember seeing her run. Oooh, there's my arrow. It's got all red on the end & the bleeder's missing from the big Magnus four blade head. Cool!
Ok, she went thattaway, over a small rise. Go on Rob, take a peek. There she lay. At rest, at the base of a small tree & very, very dead.
A quick peek at the wound tells me that I passed high through her right lung, through the middle of her left & smashed holy hell out of her left shoulder, leaving a small exit wound & lots of splintered bone.
Now the frantic texting & phone calls to everyone I've ever met or heard of to let 'em all know that I've just got my first deer with a bow!
Quick Robbie, grab the camera......****, ****, ****ing ****, it's at home, 2¾ hours away.
So, I don't have any 'Before' photos & no 'hero' shots. But I do have these.......
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/robtattoo/venison001.jpg)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/robtattoo/venison002.jpg)
Hope this isn't too rambling for ya! :D
Ataboy Rob!!!!
I knew you'd get one. Glad to see you opened your Tenn season with a success. Your first Whitetail!
Once again Congratulations!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Way to go Mate!!! Its cool as can be to see someone get excited, even over a doe!!! Good story!!!!
Very nice!Those pics are great.
Leland
Nice photos....my frig looks real similiar from last nights hunt! :thumbsup:
You gotta be kidding me, you kill your first deer, and YOU FORGOT YOUR CAMERA!!!!!
Shame on you :mad:
Congrats brother, very happy for you!! :clapper:
Bet you can't wait to do it again :archer2:
Good on ya, Rob!
CONGRATS ROB!!! :thumbsup:
Good for you, good story even if you forgot the camera. I like the after display also.
:thumbsup: Congrats Rob, hopefully the first of many. :clapper:
Excellent!! Im sure you are still smiling....but next time, bring a camera!
cool! :thumbsup:
WAY TO GO!!! CONGRATS :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Nice job! Your telling me you got a phone you can text on and no camera in it? :rolleyes:
Congrats!!
Way too cool Rob!! I wish I could have seen you shimmy down that tree after the shot, shaking worse than the leeves on the tree itself.
It just doesn't get any better than that!!
Way to go Rob! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Good story telling...i could feel the shakes myself!
Great Job Rob!!!! congrats :)
Congrats on the first deer Rob :thumbsup:
Way to go Rob!!! Now go get one and take some "hero" pics! ;)
Although I like the ones you posted!
Congrats!
:thumbsup: My turn on Monday.......
Way to go Rob!!!!!! Congrats......but don't forget the camera next time!!!
David
Awesome story and congratulations! Too bad about the camera thing though :( . Oh yeah, BTW, those are the strangest looking diamond back snake skins I've ever seen. If I didn't know any better I'd swear those look an awful lot like timber rattlers!
QuoteOriginally posted by ishoot4thrills:
Awesome story and congratulations! Too bad about the camera thing though :( . Oh yeah, BTW, those are the strangest looking diamond back snake skins I've ever seen. If I didn't know any better I'd swear those look an awful lot like timber rattlers!
Headlight in the truck, camera in the living room, brain in my butt.
OK, you got me! :biglaugh: I swear, I'd forget my own head if it weren't planted in my hind end.
great man
Congratulations !! :clapper:
Rob....Way to go....excellent.... :thumbsup:
There's nothing in life more exciting than your first archery deer!
Congrats :thumbsup:
Congrats,,Those pics say it all.Got me all ready to go.Our season starts this coming Sat. here in Va.... :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :archer:
Congrats!
Congrats! :thumbsup:
Way to go!!!
Congrats. Good looking pile of meat.
Congrats Rob!
CONGRATS :thumbsup:
Very proud and excited For you bud! Way to go
i know how hard you'v worked for that.
Venison will never taste as good as that deer!
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats!!
I'm pumped for you Rob!! Way to go my friend!!
Congratulations!!
The old adrenalin can really take a toll on your muscles when all the action is over and done with huh?
Good shooting.
God bless,Mudd
I didn't get my phone call.
:laughing: Killdeer
Year and a half here in TN and my how Uncle Robbie has grown ! Proud of ya bud, congrats !!!
Awesome. Great story. Congrats.
Congrats on your first whitetail! Great story!
Way to go rob!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Congrats :thumbsup:
Awesome stuff Rob, call me when the grill is hot.
this is probably one of the best stories ive read in a long time. i especially love the part where it registers in your brain that you hit the deer.very exciting, i damn near jumped out of my chair too. great job rob! ruddy
Man, I was trying to help you hold onto the tree. I am glad I ain't the only one that gets excited. Way to go on your first!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats Rob.
Great job buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :wavey:
Ain't it cool! Congrats.
Way to go pal!!! I can smell those backstraps grillin.
Cool Rob!
Very cool, congrats!
:thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
"High percentage hunt", yeah? :thumbsup:
Way to go, Rob...GREAT story!! :clapper:
Too bad about the camera, but at least SOMEHOW you managed to come up with a sharp blade for the finish work!! :laughing:
>>--Ron--<>
Nice!
Rob;
Great job. Great Story. You got me all excited to shoot something.
congrats.
Congrats on your 1st Rob; enjoyed the story too!
:thumbsup: I'm thrilled to see this thread. Looks like you did a great job of cutting up the meat.
Congratulations again...now get out there and do it again...and put your camera in you pack! :campfire:
Awesome Rob! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Congrats Rob, great story.
Bit of a wordsmith ain't ya!
Way to go Rob. Bet it wasn't as hot as when we shot togather at twin oaks in july. Congrats. Don
Congrats Rob!!
Smart Man leave the bad luck camera at home. You catch on Quick ;)
Great Job, Congrats. :clapper:
Outstanding, Rob!! Congratulations! :clapper:
WAY TO GO BROTHER!!!!!!YEEE HAAAA :thumbsup:
Good job dude ! Congrat's on your first deer.
Good job on the butchering too, meat looks well cared for.
ChuckC
1st of many I'm sure.
Bob
Do I see tire tracks on that one roast!?LOL
Way to go Rob!!!!!!
Way to go Rob!! Enjoyed the story as well, like I was in the stand with ya!
:wavey: :clapper:
Congrats! Morrisons make meat!
Way to go Rob. I hope to get my first with a bow this year as well. I appreciate the story, Travis aka Gabby. :thumbsup:
Rob, congratulations, Ya done good! The recounting of the hunt was even better...at least for me anyway.
Congratulations Rob!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Sorry, don't know how I missed this thread but I did. Your story tellin' is just excellent too. Brings back many fond memories and gets my heart poundin just reading it. Well done my friend, and good for you!!!! :thumbsup:
Ron
First deer. Way to go. :thumbsup:
Mike
Great feeling, isn't it? Congrats.
Way to go Rob! Congratulations! Yummy
Magnus
Congratulations! Real nice butcher job