Late season antlerless in Kansas
(http://i.imgur.com/9HnwlqY.jpg)
:campfire:
:campfire:
Snufferized?
It's been a long season full of "almost" "saw a few" and "missed another one".
Snuffed! Looks good!
...and now, we wait. :coffee:
Hmmmmm.........
Come on don't torture us" :campfire:
no hurry, I can wait.
This is my second year totally wheelless and it has been tough. The "almosts" really had me thinking if they were worth it.
My first year I flip flopped compound and recurve. Sliced a brisket with the recurve and just didn't have confidence in my shooting.
Second year decided to commit and succeed............ I did not. Had a shoulder hit that ate me up on a good buck and a missed shot on a doe.
I think that most of us took our lumps starting off with the traditional gear. I shot my first when I was 12 but then went till I was 18 before the next fell.
Fast forward a bit to this season. Missed a buck over his back at 12 yards early November and center punched tree shooting at a doe at about 20.
Confidence was fading once again. I mean, I was getting shots and seeing deer! Each time I would regroup, shoot 3d and get back out. (Targets and real animals are entirely different)
I was determined and had a goal to achieve. I knew I could do this.
So anyways, the rut had ended, Christmas came and went, a scoreless hog hunt in Texas, and work was busy busy. Has been to cold to hunt (I'm a woos) and finally wanted to get out and give it another go.
I struggled to drag my rear end out of bed but got there and got set up. Had some work to get done today so only could set a few hours.
So I sat the brush blind for my allotted 2.5 hours and saw nothing, zilch, zero. Not even a squirrel. I was happy to get out though and it was a beautiful morning in the deer woods. The cold and snow had caused alot of branches and limbs so I decided to get up and improve the blind.
:campfire:
After it was improved I decided to sneak the creek on the way to the truck. I was moving slow, looking for tracks in the left over snow and hoping a bunny would at least give me some action. And then I caught movement...
Well hello Uncle Glenn. :wavey:
Come on, I'm anxiously waiting to hear "the rest of the story"
2 does moving east to west, turned into 4, into 6, into 8. I crouched down and watched as all 8 grazed away.
Come on, I'm anxiously waiting to hear "the rest of the story"
:campfire:
I could feel the wind in my face and felt confident they wouldn't bust me, but a lot of ground needed to be covered. They fed closer, then farther, then closer, then farther, and farther. I decided to do some hands and knees work and try to follow.
They were moving slow (luckily) so I could keep up and an eye on them as I crawled. It's amazing how much better you can see through the woods on your hands and knees vs. standing up.
So I maybe covered 25-30 yards and thought I'd lost the group when a caught movement ahead. I only could count 6. But wasn't there 8?
So I paused to try to locate the others when I saw them heading straight towards me. They angled toward the creek I was sneakin and I was able to get behind a small pine for cover. I listened as they drank, but I could not see them.
I heard a slight splash and crunching footsteps getting close. She paused, took a step, paused, cleared some brush, and the Snuffer was on its way!
:coffee:
After a moment of wonderment I could feel the smile on my face. It was almost like it was in slow motion, auto pilot if you will. The arrow flew straight and true right behind the shoulder.
15 yards on the ground. Not in a blind, not in a tree, just setting in the mud. What are the chances?
So I took up the trail about a half hour later and boy does a snuffer make it easy. I followed it about 75 yards and found a big pool of red. Think I may have bumped her so I sat down and took it all in and texted for some drag duty
I took it up again and came to a fence where she'd jumped so I jumped it to :goldtooth:
Sorry I couldn't help drag her out and share in the moment.
Proud of you Dave.
There was a solid line of red through the CRP where she went. Wish I had a picture of that, pretty cool. As I crept forward to the next patch of woods I see 4 tails waving at me. :banghead:
:coffee:
Sounding good so far!
You got me there Glenn!!!
It had been almost 2.5 hours and the trail was deceiving. Thought for sure she had expired but I was wrong. So I sat some more and decided to push on. Another hundred yards and i found her.
After a quick gut and hundred yard drag back to the piece we hunt here I am with my first trad deer!
(http://i.imgur.com/Weu6A1d.jpg)
Way to go!
Congrats!
Bisch
I'm not gonna lie, it feels good. I'm pleased with myself. It's been challenging and probably my best trophy thus far. I'd like to thank my Uncle for introducing me to "traditional" archery and helping me along the way. And also this site as there is a wealth of knowledge runnin around here.
Hope you enjoyed.
My biggest fan
(http://i.imgur.com/IdFuJYD.jpg)
For those who care:
Bow: Wild Horse Creek Hawk
Arrow: GT 5575
Broadhead: Snuffer 225gn
Congratulations! :thumbsup:
Ended up being single lung destroyed and broadhead stayed with her the whole way.
AWESOME!!!!!
Good job David! I love that last photo... those two smiles say it all! ha Well done! Jim
That's a huge doe! Congrats on your first:)
Congrats! Great hunt!
Thanks guys, that ol girl has probably blown me more than once!
Dave, I didn't get you there. I just was privileged to watch you get there yourself.
Congratulations! That kiddo sure looks proud of his old man!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
great job !
Great Story. Congradulations
Great job on the doe and I love the last pic with the littleman!....that's what it's all about!
Father and son lookin' pretty happy.
Nice work!
Congratulations on a fine deer :thumbsup:
Congratulations. I remember my first few years. It's a great feeling to get that first one.
Congrats! Im sure Mike will be calling to offer his congrats to for the kill. He makes a great bow. Whats the specs of the 2pc?
Great job making a good clean traditional kill, David. What a great story. Send me a photo so I can get you "in the book."
--Mike
Great picture of father and son-enjoy the BIG smiles-and congrats on the nice doe as well.
Congratulations on your first! Won't be your last. :thumbsup:
Congrats Brother!
Way cool!
congratts! on your first :thumbsup:
That is awesome, congrats!!
Crawling in the mud for your first trad deer; way cool!
I appreciate your sharing your story and pictures with us.
Congratulations!!
:archer:
Great Story!
great time & pics congrats !
Way to stay with it.
Hey great job on a nice doe! Congrats on your first. I love that pic of you and your son!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
AWESOME! Way to go David!
You have a great mentor. Looking forward to meeting you!
Congratulations! :thumbsup:
Thanks again everybody, it was a good day.
Specs on bow are 60", 55@28