Not sure whether you consider today (26-Nov-10) a really good day hunting or a really bad one. I'm known for having a great time in the field almost all the time. Usually, I'll see game (or not, whatever) but rarely do I get a shot - and that's fun for me.
Today, instead of just having fun the whole time, I actually had to work - what's up with that? Probably it was a good day but work?! Bleah.
Spent the morning hunting our primary spot. Saw one doe by the power line - no shot. Stillhunted the horse trail and saw a couple of squirrels - no shot. Finished and it was still a bit too early to head home, so I went to one of the public areas a bit south of this one.
Stillhunted quite a way around there and saw no game and few tracks. On my way out, I spotted a nice old doe bedded about 20 yards away in some very thick cover. In fact, all I could see of her was her face and neck. Normally I wouldn't consider a neck shot (especially on an animal quartering towards me as she was) but given the cover she was in, it seemed unlikely that I could hit her badly.
She gave me a target about the size of a tennis ball - figured I'd either kill her or miss her entirely. The arrow went right where I was looking. She ran 200 yards and dropped in some of the thickest brush I've ever tried to move through.
The blood trail to her was great - she gave me an arterial spray about every five yards or so. Later inspection showed entry wound drilled an artery on the left side of her neck, boadhead passed through one lung and clipped her heart before exiting the far side.
Found her and it took me another hour or so to prune my way through grape vines, blackberry bushes, random poky things and annoying little saplings to actually get to her.
Walked back to the car (right at a mile) to shed lots of wool clothes and gear and to get my water and the deer cart. Walked back to the deer (right at a mile). Nearly had an infarction dragging her out of the HEAVY brush (getting turned around only three or four times) back out to the trail. Got her cleaned up and on the cart for the walk back to the car (did I mention this was a mile away?).
Deer is at the butchers, gear is cleaned (but for the arrow - may leave that as is), knife is sharpened and my bod is showered. I'm pooped.
Here are some pics...
Got hungry (before seeing much for the day)...
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/black_friday_2010_doe/20101126_ac_04.jpg)
First bit of blood (close to the bow - not a great pic)...
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/black_friday_2010_doe/20101126_ac_05.jpg)
Ooooh - goopy arrow!
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/black_friday_2010_doe/20101126_ac_06.jpg)
See her? This is after the underbrush cleared out a lot - you should have seen the nasty bit...
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/black_friday_2010_doe/20101126_ac_08.jpg)
Aaaaaaand the money shot...
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/black_friday_2010_doe/20101126_ac_09.jpg)
Hard work, but a great way to spend black Friday. Bob
"Red Friday"...formerly known as "Black Friday"
On the ground, and sneaking...pure awesome! :thumbsup:
Nice work. The kind of work I like. Congrats on the meat.
Way to go sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Well Done! I've got one of those Becker BK-2's myself. Great knife, and an excellent bang for the buck. I've also got a BK-9 for big jobs, and a BK-11 necker.
Congrats on some fine shooting! :thumbsup:
Congrats, I like the last pic..VERY NICE.. You should frame that one :readit: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Cool... congrats
Nice!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Way to go!!! Nice longbow and deer. I hope to spot and stalk a deer someday.
Khan, I have to assume that you're a relatively young guy. I know how much work your experience entailed and as an oldster, i don't think I could do it. You did a great job.
nice deer, jim! congratulations!
Congratulations!! What are the specs on your Hill?
God bless,Mudd
:thumbsup:
Nice job! And still made it to work?
:thumbsup:
Congratulations Jim! That's doing it the Howard way!! :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats GK!!
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Good eye spotting that doe in her bed Jim....Congrats on a nice doe!!!
Congrats on a fine doe! :thumbsup:
Went back and looked again. Great pics!
A job well done. :notworthy:
It`s good to be "pooped"
Jim, Jim, Jim
One doe in the hand is better than a paycheck next week....
Sorry, that's the best I could come up with!
Good job my friend! :thumbsup:
Well done Sir!
Thanks guys! What a fun day. :D
QuoteOriginally posted by landman:
Khan, I have to assume that you're a relatively young guy. I know how much work your experience entailed and as an oldster, i don't think I could do it. You did a great job.
Depends on perspective, I suppose. Nearly 45. I remember when our highschool got a new teacher that was 27!! Thought he was ancient - heh. Time flies, doesn't it?
QuoteOriginally posted by Mudd:
Congratulations!! What are the specs on your Hill?
God bless,Mudd
From the letter I sent to Craig...
Howard Hill Halfbreed
Yew lams on the belly and back and two bamboo lams in the middle
Clear glass (satin)
Draw weight and length should be 60#@29"
Bow length should be 66"
Bacote riser
Straight grip (right hand)
Moose wrap
Ek antler tips
The bow should be named 'Chili Maker' (rather than Halfbreed)
It's a fun bow to shoot and has picked up a few scars (beauty marks?) here and there. Give it a few more years and it'll have some character. :D
QuoteOriginally posted by maineac:
Nice job! And still made it to work?
Well, the "work" bit was all the pruning, dragging and fishing around in the goopy bits. That's way harder than what I do for a living - heh.
Congrats nice blood trail.The chili maker :biglaugh:
GK,
Just wanted to jump in there and say Congrats.
Did you happen to get one of those hero pics with you and the deer both in the photo?
If you did, post her up. You did real good!
Also, been reading some about yew getting darker with age. Have you noticed any change in your bow lams yet?
Hill shooters all the way !
Way to go brother :thumbsup: I cant wait for the snow so I can figure um out again
:clapper: :archer2:
:thumbsup:
Great job! It was bitter yesterday afternoon. Congratulations.
Merf
Great pics and story. Love that bow.
Well done, Eric.
Sometimes all the hard work pays off. Congratulations. :clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by longbowben:
Congrats nice blood trail.The chili maker :biglaugh:
Lol thanks - I kinda like the name. :D
QuoteOriginally posted by Irish Archer:
GK,
Just wanted to jump in there and say Congrats.
Did you happen to get one of those hero pics with you and the deer both in the photo?
If you did, post her up. You did real good!
Also, been reading some about yew getting darker with age. Have you noticed any change in your bow lams yet?
No real hero pics w/ me and the doe though my wife did take a semi-cool one when I got home. Once I see it, I might try to chunk that out here.
As to the limbs changing color - I don't *think* so but I'm not sure. It's been pretty dark all along. If anything is changing, it's the clear glass which is picking up more and more dings. :-p
Here's a shot I took of it two years ago shortly after I got it...
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/20081213_ac_hh04.jpg)
And here's one from a few weeks ago...
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/20100911_ac_09.jpg)
Looks a bit lighter if anything though that could be a function of the lighting, camera goofiness, sun spots or el nino.
Thanks GK. Nice lookin' bow.
Thw Wrath or Kahn!
I see alot of harvest pictures but theres just something about seeing a Howard Hill bow in one thats pretty dang cool,, what kind of broadhead did you use?
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by Tajue17:
I see alot of harvest pictures but theres just something about seeing a Howard Hill bow in one thats pretty dang cool,, what kind of broadhead did you use?
That was a Magnus 125 grain two blade riding in front of a Carbon Express Heratage 250. The business end passed completely through and buried itself 3-4 inches in the dirt, from the look of the arrow.
Worked like a champ!
:thumbsup:
Great job and cool bow....Phil
'grats
:thumbsup:
Congratulations!! The doe will be good eating! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats :thumbsup: