This is a little late, but last Saturday I was able to take my first whitetail with trad gear.
By my count, it was my 52nd deer, but, none was sweeter than this one.
Specifics are: whitetail spike at about 17 yards on the ground. Hit was very far back. He ran 20 yards and dropped. Got up, and went another 20 yards and laid down. Got up moved about 3 yards, then got up andoved about 7 yards. GrizzlyStik QN2 48#@28" with AD Trad Lites and 200 gr Grizzly.
Complete pass through.
He's the 5th deer I've shot at in the past 5 yrs of hunting with trad gear.
Special thanks to all you guys and gals who have helped me grow to this point as a traditional bowhunter. It has been am absolute blast and the amount of knowledge on this site is unbelievable.
Here's the story...
I hit the woods about 2:30. Was a steady west wind and just a heavily overcast day. We had had rain pretty solid for 4 days.
I hunt from the ground and hung my Millennium trees seat on a small tree near our family cemetary. Less than 50 yards from my father's grave.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Trad%20Kills/148145E2-2C33-4773-9C6D-E04EDC652BD0_zps7b0diuka.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Trad%20Kills/148145E2-2C33-4773-9C6D-E04EDC652BD0_zps7b0diuka.jpg.html)
I was watching a skidder road that wound under the hill to a saddle where I have a popup blind. I'm hunting with a longbow this year and this blind can't handle the length of the bow, so I set up to where as the deer came around the curve in the skidder road they would be focused on danger in the saddle area (which is also right next to a field). Their attention is focused on watching that open area, but they are already directly under me and in range at that point (15yd-20yd).
Here was my view looking down onto the road.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Trad%20Kills/DF217E2E-92DA-47B3-AED9-3DA485635460_zpsuhosvk5b.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Trad%20Kills/DF217E2E-92DA-47B3-AED9-3DA485635460_zpsuhosvk5b.jpg.html)
And my view looking left toward the field and the blind...
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Trad%20Kills/2F78541E-80D4-401D-BE77-B23F36FAE8A8_zpsuyqezgsg.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Trad%20Kills/2F78541E-80D4-401D-BE77-B23F36FAE8A8_zpsuyqezgsg.jpg.html)
At about 4:45 I catch a flicker and turn my head. Looks like a squirrel's tail...I watch a bit longer and make out part of a deer. It is feeding on the underside of the skidder road...working its way toward the saddle.
Eventually, I realize it is a small buck. He feeds along and steps up into the skidder road right dead center of one of my shooting lanes and stops.
Tell myself to pick a spot. I pick a spot right behind his leg and at the bottom of his body. Draw, anchor...and release. I watched the arrow pass through and go into the ground. The hit was back.
The little buck took off. Ran about 20 yards and was within 10 yards of my pop up blind. I saw him go down and I was a wreck. Was completely pumped and sent the text to my buddies.
Then I see another buck come up from the bottom and walk toward where I had seen my buck go belly up.
That buck then crossed road and walked to within 20 yards of me on the hillside. And then, here came another buck...my buck.
It bedded about 25 yards away. Its head would go down and then it would pick up. I decided to let it die and not push it with another shot.
It got up and moved about 3 yards...then moved off into the field about 7 yards further and died there.
Here is where I found him.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Trad%20Kills/032B3894-55E8-4CFD-943B-B1121210877C_zpsyaecaiwn.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Trad%20Kills/032B3894-55E8-4CFD-943B-B1121210877C_zpsyaecaiwn.jpg.html)
He wasn't big, but never been more proud of a deer I've taken.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Trad%20Kills/82829435-526D-4E1F-B20A-4D440BD55BBA_zpsgenojodl.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Trad%20Kills/82829435-526D-4E1F-B20A-4D440BD55BBA_zpsgenojodl.jpg.html)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Trad%20Kills/B6EC0FFA-5FBA-45AF-8452-8C1C30700E2F_zpsulhbwduf.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Trad%20Kills/B6EC0FFA-5FBA-45AF-8452-8C1C30700E2F_zpsulhbwduf.jpg.html)
Thanks again to everyone!
Ken
Congrats to you! Can't wait to see the pictures!
Congrats!!! Glad you stuck with it.
:thumbsup:
Ken . Congrats. I want to see some pic.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Congrats!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats Ken, on your first trad deer! Now it's time to go to work on your second! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Bisch
sweet!!!
Great job! Congrats!
Well done!!!
Congrats on your first-well done.
Several first this years - keep up the good work.
:shaka:
Awesome!
Big congrats, the first is sweet.
Congrats Ken !
congrats
Congrats Ken,you've broke the ice now for number two. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congratulations, the first one is always special! :thumbsup:
Congrats!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
Nothing like the first , Congrats sir...
,,,Sam,,,
Updated with pics and story on the first post.
Thanks to everyone for the congrats!
Great job Ken! Glad to see you stuck with it
Thanks Thad!
Do you recognize the hat I had on? LOL
Congrats on your first trad Buck!
Congrats Brother!
Man that is awesome! Great set up and way to get it done! Congrats!!!
Congrats Ken, that is fantastic!
Hey my friend!!! That is just too awesome!!! Congratulations , Wish I was there to cut the tail off your shirt (Grin).
God bless, Steve
Great job from the ground. Sounds like you did your homework on figuring out a plan.
Nice story with good pictures too! Congratulations on a job well done! :clapper:
Bernie
Glad you got one. Nice looking buck.
Heck Ya, that is a great looking hat! Haha....
Fine job my friend, way to get it done!
Nice Deer! Congrats!
Congrats on a great trophy
Great work! From the ground too!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: Well done, congrats!
Congrats! Great story and pics.
Ken, I believe you had put it all together very well. Congratulations.
Shick
Good Job! Congrats!
Congrats Ken!
Very nice and great pics too
Congrats on the spiker! Great job getting it done from the ground! :thumbsup:
Congrats on a very nice trophy. You will remember that buck as if was your first.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Awesome spike!