I went out to my local hunting spot yesterday afternoon. By 4pm I was in the Lone Wolf strap on watching a farm trail through some white oaks. I spent the first 2 hours watching squirrels eat acorns and chase each other. A few minutes after 6 I heard a noise behind me and saw a mature doe at about 25 yards moving towards me. I stood silently and waited. Suddenly the wind changed and she stopped. She changed course and eased away. No shot.
I was disappointed I didn't get a shot at her, but I was excited that the deer were moving an hour before dark. About a half hour later I heard a tractor. One of the gentlemen who keeps cattle on the farm drove a tractor up the path to deliver a round bail. He didn't see me, so I was happy with the stand placement. I figured that I had at most 35 minutes of shooting light left, so I made the decision to get down and still hunt rather than hope the deer would disregard the tractor.
I walked to the end of the path and decided to go to a nearby part of the farm that I had scouted in the spring. There is a string of cedars about 100 yards long with a good game trail on either side. I went to my left because the wind was coming from the right. I knew there are a few shooting lanes between the cedars to the other side and my plan was to try to pick off a deer moving on the opposite side.
I worked my way about 80 yards along the left side and found the window I was looking for. There are some bushes I stood in front of to break up my outline and two separate shooting lanes about 4" squared to the other trail. I hadn't been set up for a minute when I heard a deer walking down the other trail. I remembered reading here that holding your bow in vertically in front of your face sometimes helps to break up one's outline, so I did that.
A short time later, what I thought was a medium sized doe appeared in the window. Unfortunately, she was facing me head on. Her chest was centered in the left shooting window. There were maybe 5 minutes of shooting light left. The deer saw me, but didn't know what I was. I waited for about a minute hoping it would turn, but we were at an impasse. At 15 yards I knew I could hit her in the chest and I knew my set up would get the vitals even with a frontal shot. I drew slowly and the deer didn't move. I hit anchor, concentrated on my spot, and released.
I use green lumenoks and I saw a green laser hit the deer in the chest and disappear. She spun to my left and was gone. I walked to the spot where the deer had been standing and found blood. The blood was good, but not what I was expecting. I followed it with my flashlight for less than 35 yards and found my deer dead. My "doe" was a button buck that weighed about 75lbs. Not a huge deer, but the smaller ones are harder to hit. :cool:
My arrow entered in the front of the chest and exited right in front of the diaphragm. The lack of impressive blood was due to the heart being hit.
Bow: Bob Lee Signature 70lbs @ 28". I draw 29.5"
Arrow: GT Trad 7595 30.5", 100gr insert, 100gr of screw in weights, 125gr magnus Snuffer.
Pictures:
Entry wound:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/barutmt/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG959721_zpsyxefqvln.jpg)
I'm wearing orange because we're in muzzleloader season here in KY. I took off the hat so as no to obscure my rugged good looks. :rolleyes: For reference, I'm about 6'3" and 265lbs.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/barutmt/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3040_zpsbycy1lkj.jpg)
This is my second trad deer ever (only two archery deer) and first from the ground. My 8 year old daughter and 3 year old son spent the morning with me butchering. I'm doing my best to start them young.
Good for you, sometimes taking the initiative really can pay off.
I'm just up Russell Cave on the Scott County line. I forgot it was muzzle loader season until my neighbor cleared his off the other night. Scared the heck out of me, that suckers was loud! Congrats on a great deer!
Congrats sir....
,,Sam,,
Thanks. I'm not going to lie - I'm pretty proud of this one.
Congrats fellow wildcat...Go Big Blue ! Tradcat
Congrats to you! Great hunt!
:thumbsup: :archer:
Way to go!
Congrats,
Bisch
Congrats that is the way to do it.
Congrats!
With that poundage you could have used a Judo point....
I had used Snuffers in the past (15 years ago) but upon my return to traditional last year I went a different route, i.e. Zwickey. This year I picked up some SS Montec 3 blades but I just can't get them as sharp as the carbon steels heads such as the Snuffers.
I have been thinking of going back to Snuffers.
Congrat!
Congrats
Congrats! From the ground!
Snuffers are my favorite
Nicely done!
Congrats on your ground game as well.
congrats
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
good job!! Makes me want to dig out my old snuffers and get them on some arrows,,,,,,,I remember when every other harvest photo on here and in other forums was by the snuffer,, even had a few people with snuffer in their handles,,,,, very wicked broadhead!
Congrats, Nice Doe!
:archer:
Congrat's dude, Nice deer, Nice shot. Good eating ahead.
ChuckC