Well fellas I am on the board with my first traditional kill! It only took 3 years but this morning I got my first!
We hunt a 400 acre farm here in Orange, Virginia. The owner of the property is actually a home builder we sub-contract drywall and paint for.
My set up is right on the edge of a finger of woods. A field of soybeans is behind me and in the middle of the finger of hardwoods is a thicket with holly trees and a dry creek running in the middle.
Right at daylight this morning is saw 10 does crossing the field behind me about 100 yards away, so that got me pumped. Then about a quarter to eight I saw a doe about 80 yards in the woods to my right and then I happen to look and a small doe was coming right to me less than 20 yards away!
So I slowly stood up and followed it with my Redstag longbow and it walked quartering away from me out to 20 yards in front of me, then slightly turned broadside. I gap shoot, so I placed the broad-head a quarter the way up the front leg like I practice which puts me dead on at yardages 20 and less, then stared at the crease behind the shoulder and let the arrow fly.
Time seemed to slow down as I watched that arrow flying straight and perfect right to the vitals, but all of a sudden at the last few seconds of impacting the deer I saw the arrow fish-tail and then fly further back and hit just in front of the hindquarters! :eek: :banghead: :banghead:
Upon the autopsy I discovered my first arrow hit in front of the hindquarters and the angle was so steep it exited low barely missing the heart but barely clipped the bottom of the second lung. I felt horrible watching it finally pass from my back up shot.
I have no idea if a gust of wind hit my arrow and made it fish-tail or what. When practice shooting my arrows fly straight and true and hit where I want them to, but not this time.
Either way I am grateful for the doe and the meat she will provide me and my family, as well as some sinew for my bow/arrow making hobby. Unfortunately the hide was a bit shot up so I couldn't really save enough of it to make a quiver like I want.
What a rush for my first!
Equipment:
Redstag Reflex/Deflex Longbow 64" ttt 57# @ 28"
3rivers Traditional Only 400 spine carbon arrows cut 28.5" tipped with 100 grain brass insert and 150 grain VPA Terminators.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/Number01hunter/First20trad20deer_zpskf1roox3.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Number01hunter/media/First20trad20deer_zpskf1roox3.jpg.html)
CONGRATS on your first , hope you have many more..
,,,Sam,,,
congrat's to you. Nice story. We have said it before, a lot can happen from the time the arrow leaves the bow until it hits ( hopefully the critter's kill zone).
Glad it worked out well.
ChuckC
:thumbsup:
Post those pictures! No shame in a first
Congrats on the first!!
:clapper:
Thanks guys!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! :clapper:
Great Job!!!!! Thanks for sharing your story!!!!!
Congrats!
:thumbsup:
Congrats!!!
Congrats to you!
Congrats :thumbsup:
congrats
Fantastic!!! Congrats on your first one!!
Congrats...nice post and pic. :archer:
Congrats on your first,good patience shown by sitting tight and not pushing her. Too many get pushed early and are lost-good call on waiting her out.
Congratulations on your first deer!!
I remember my first like it happened yesterday and that was over fifty years ago. It will be like that for you as well my brother.
Congratulations.
that is an awesome deer... fire up the BBQ
Congratulations on your first,you are now hooked for life.
Awesome Randy!!
Congrats on your first!
Congrats! Thanks for sharing. That'll make a rewarding meal!
Congrats!!
Nice Congrats! :thumbsup:
Well done! Still looking for mine...
Right on congrats
Congrats! Glad it worked out and ended with a successful recovery!
Bisch
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
Thank you everybody! Now looking for #2! ;)
:thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
that finish shot sometimes happens to all of us, and you disciplined up and did what you had to do and nothing to feel bad about just move on to the next one while learning from all the previous and those little twigs or briars zig zagging thru those openings are invisible sometimes,,, you broke the ice now so get ready to buy a bigger freezer.
good job!
Good work!
Congrats!
Great job Brother! Good to see you up top also.
That's a fine first deer, second deer or any deer. Good job, Randy!
Darren
Thank you so much everybody, I truly feel blessed! Especially with my ugly mug at the top of the board! :scared: :thumbsup: :archer: :archer2: the next goal I've got to meet is getting one with a selfbow I made. Time to make some shavings for a hunting weight bow!
NICE! that's a good one to start with
Congratulations!