Yesterday morning I was heading to my favorite stand but this time I was carrying something different in the woods with me. I good friend John Sweka made me a longbow this past March. I have been struggling with my shooting and really was not ready to be in the woods with my trad gear. I have been shooting and shooting and shooting. And getting tons of support from my friend Brian Robinson and Jarrod (Pred90) Stickey Keith Zimmerman and Kim Zimmerman. I have a great support group , and with there help my target panic issues are now over I am shooting better than before and I am having fun again. And I have the proof , I had this guy come in with a big nine I have been after . The big nine was out past 65 yards and was heading elsewhere and this little spike had a bad leg and was hunched over like he was punched in the gut. Dragging that back leg he gave me a 15 yard quartering away shot and stood there for like ten min. I had one buck tag and just could not let with walk around like that anymore.
I grabbed my Sweka bow and placed an absolutely perfect shot he went 15 more yards and was down. And this might sound funny but I swear I felt a weight being lifted. (http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w372/ghall80/2014SwekaDeer005.jpg) (http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/ghall80/media/2014SwekaDeer005.jpg.html)
(http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w372/ghall80/2014SwekaDeer006.jpg) (http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/ghall80/media/2014SwekaDeer006.jpg.html)
I can't thank you guys enough John for the bow, which I might add was glued up the night my mom died there is something special with this one John says there's MOJO in it. I agree !!
Jarrod and Brian for all the support and help with shooting . Brian and I would shoot almost every Sunday checking each other's form and giving lessons to each other. Both of us were hell bent on getting back to where we wanted to be. Bad thing is I think he got a little better!
The big Nine I have been after all year seen him twice. He will have to wait until next year. (http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w372/ghall80/IMG_20140905_113101.jpg) (http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/ghall80/media/IMG_20140905_113101.jpg.html)
This picture was taken 10 yards from my stand
I forgot to add one small thing my family has been in the archery industry for 60 yrs. I am the first one to harvest a deer with a longbow. I thought that was cool. Lots of compound shooters and recurve shooters but no longbow.
Gary D Hall
Congratulations! The more I do this, the more I realize that friends and family are about the most important component in the great sport!
Awesome , well done!!
Awesome job Gary!!!
Great job brother...congrats!!
Great story Gary. Thank you for sharing.
And congrats on a fine harvest! :clapper:
Good job... the nine will just be bigger come next year anyway!!
Congrats!
Great stuff Gary!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I'm so glad that bow is working out for you.
Our archery season ended yesterday and although I didn't even get to draw on a deer this year, it does give me a great amount of satisfaction to see that you put one down with a bow I made.
I can't wait to see you in January when we head to Maryland for sikas!
Congratulations brother so proud of you and it's GREAT that you kept up with shooting and overcome your issues you were having!! Awesome job and great deer I am sure you are proud!
:thumbsup: Well done.......
Congrats on the Deer. :thumbsup:
Congrats Gary!
Very nice! You did the right thing for the right reason! It doesn't get any better than that! A big congratulations! Jacques
Awesome!
Congrats,
Bisch
Your buck is a true trophy AND you made a trophy decision. Congrats!
Excellent...congrats!
Congrats, Gary! Glad for you and nice arrows as well.
Way to go my friend. By the way your arrows work great, killed my first turkey ever with one out of my 56" Schafer in Texas. I will send you a picture when I get back to Guam.
Well done,Gary
Super cool buddy, congrats!
How SWEEEEET it is :thumbsup:
Way to go Gary! Congrats!
Kenny :thumbsup:
Thanks guys seems like the deer are moving around hope my nine last this season . Would love to see what he grows into.
Congratulations and well done for getting through your shooting slump...way to persevere.
Good on you, Gary! It sure sounds like the Creator put that right buck in front of the right person..both of you needed the same outcome. :thumbsup:
Great job. Congrats
Congrats. John makes a great bow. He's helped my bow building than he knows. Happy for you
Great buck !!!!
Nice work Brother!
Outstanding story and nice buck! Congratulations on being the first longbow provider. :thumbsup:
Great job Gary.Glad it all came together for you.
Very cool story, congrats! :clapper:
Way to step up to the plate. Congratulations and great job!
Good deal , and good shot.....
,,,Sam,,,
Congrats!
Congrats, Way to stick with it and overcome your issues.
Good deal!!! - Nice bow
Hey Gary....
Great. When it's right....it's right.
Perfect buck and a beautiful bow.
Good on ya man!
By the way...the new woodies look and fly great.
Still sittin a ton to try and get some red on them.
AWSOME!! Great job
Congrats, way to do the right thing and put an animal out of its misery
You absolutely did the right thing by shooting your buck! You'll get a lot of good eating from him this winter! Now you can set your "sights" on the 9 pt. for next season. Congratulations!
Bernie
Way to go, Gary! :clapper:
Great job, Gary. Congratulations on pulling it all together and taking a beautiful deer.
--Mike
Awesome job! Congrats!