Got to my stand this morning while it was still dark. Sat for about twenty minutes till it was light enough to see. A lot of tree rats were about today. I did have my trusty tree rat arrow but it was still to early to think of that. After some time I heard the church bell off in the distance ring 7 times. Maybe 15 or 20 minutes later I see some movement to my right. It was a couple of yearlings that have been showing up a lot. The first time I saw them I told myself I would not shoot these guys and of course they show up everytime I'm in the stand. I do enjoy watching them interact. After a while they left the area and I was back to watching tree rats.
Around 8:00 Movement in the brush about 45 yds in front of me catches my eye. It's a deer! Looked like a pretty good doe. It makes its way closer until I can see that it is a buck with both antlers busted off. At 25 yds the buck is broadside and standing still. I remember drawing the string back while looking at a spot behind the front leg. The next thing I know the arrow is gone and the deer is running! I do not remember releasing the string nor did I see the arrow in flight. He only went maybe 20 yds and stopped, tail twitching. I tried holding him with a doe call but he walked into the brush out of sight tail twitching the whole time. A few seconds later I thought I heard him go down.
I called my buddy Steve on the cell phone, told him what happened and how I really wasn't sure I hit it. He said he would be right over. It took hime bout 15 minutes to get there by then I was down outta the stand. We walked over to where the deer was, found a small spot of blood and then the arrow which was covered with blood. The blood trail then became heavier and easier to follow. He did not go far, maybe 35-40 yds total.
This is how we found him:
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x94/vlcnrydr/DSCF2623.jpg)
A complete pass thru double lung, hitting and splitting the far rib before exiting. I was extremley happy! First deer with my new Bama Hunter T/D, made by Nate Steele, 55@28 (My draw length about 57#). I was shooting 31.5" tapered ash arrows with Zwickey Eskimos on the business end that I bought from a fellow TG'r (Thanks again John!)and thanks to TradGang for all the information I have learned since joining!
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x94/vlcnrydr/DSCF2626.jpg)
That's great!
Nice job, good looking bow.
Good shot!
Way to go, congrats! :thumbsup:
Excellent shot and recovery! :thumbsup:
Good Shoot'n!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Pictures/buzzards.gif)
Way to go! That theres how you break in a new bow!
Ash shafts, and Eskimos, great combo.
AWESOME! Great going Mark!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Great shot! Those Bama's are fine shooters, just got in from shooting one of mine. Congrats!
good shooting congrats on a fine eating deer :clapper: :clapper:
Great going.
Great shooting!! Congrats :thumbsup:
Well done !!
nice shootin , congrats :thumbsup: :clapper:
Sweet shot!!
Gotta love it!!!
Congrats and many happy returns!
Congrats!
Bisch
Congratulations, and nice shooting.
Great job!! :clapper: :clapper:
Atta boy!
Congrats and Good shooting.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Good deal!
Congrats! :thumbsup:
Job well done congratulations.
congrads to a fellow Mass hunter,,,nice deer and seeing 3 in one day in central Mass these days is a heck of a feat I'm told so your in the spot it sounds like..
good luck out there,, T
Great shot, she will be good eating!
Congrats!
Way to go!
Good picture too.
I'm really glad those arrows worked out for you.
Very cool seeing them put to GOOD use!
I guess you got to add the final coat to em..lol
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks everyone!
I appreciate the comments.
Nice job pal. We would have come help drag but we went to breakfast instead. :goldtooth:
Well done
Way to go Mark! Congrats!!
Congrats on the deer and with the Bama!