I was finally able to fill my doe tag after 5 days of hard hunting. This season is supposed to be a gimmie, but I have never seen so few deer during a hunt. This was all for the best however, as I don't love to kill, but to hunt and I'd take alot of hunting with or without a kill over a kill with no hunting almost any day.
This morning I encountered the anterless deer that I'd seen from my homemade ground blind all season (since Tuesday). Doing what any fool would do, I shot at the first possible opening, even though it was not the best shot, and a better one would have surely presented itself. Needless to say, I missed. It was disappointing, and I had not missed a shot in several years. I remembered quickly why I stopped doing that. There was some time to shoot a few arrows after the morning hunt and I took advantage of it. After about 12 arrows later, I had my confidence back and was ready to head back out for an afternoon in the woods.
I hadn't quite made it to my stand when I saw big ears moving through the sage 200 yards off or so. I quickly ducked behind a large sage and waited. Deer started filtering into the small clearing I had inadvertently set up near. To my dismay, it was a doe with 2 fawns. I was sure this was my family of yard deer that I had been watching since the fawns were born. I nearly stood up and walked off to let the deer graze when more does came into the clearing. These were NOT my yard deer. I renocked my arrow and waited for nothing less than a perfect shot. A doe came by grazing. She stopped broadside, lifted her head and looked around. She put her head back down and my bow went off. I saw neon yellow fletching disappear behind her shoulder.
The shot turned out to be very good, but I knew it was a good shock from the time I started the draw. This shot was just over 30 yards and the recovery was made within 35. It was a double lung shot which also took out half of the heart. There was not much of a blood trail, but I watched her take off and heard the crash. I only needed to wait a while and follow the deep, hopping tracks in the soft dirt.
I took this great doe with my BW PCH (III riser V limbs). The arrow of choice was a CE Heritage 250 with a 200 grain Wensel Woodsman broadhead. I am fortunate to live where I do, blessed that I can shoot a bow and really lucky to have seen those deer before I got to my stand.
(http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag239/loader2008/103_1502_zpskycfwpnq.jpg) (http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/loader2008/media/103_1502_zpskycfwpnq.jpg.html)
**This picture was taken after I had tagged my deer. While I was hunting, however, I wore blaze hunters orange, as required by Colorado state law during a designated rifle season.**
Congratulations on your doe! A great late season hunt! :thumbsup:
Bernie
Way to get it done!
Congrats,
Bisch
Nice work, well done....
Congratulations. I grew up in that area, still have two brothers that live in Cortez.
Chris
Congrats, a fine deer indeed!
Nice bro!!!
Congrats on a good hunt.
Nice job...congrats!
Way to go Brent!!!
When I went to Colorado on an elk hunt I saw so many mule deer it was unreal. Every since then I have yearned for a mule deer hunt. I think the obsession started while driving thru Chama NM and seeing mule deer everywhere on our way to CO.
Congrats once again :thumbsup:
Good Deal!!! Congrats. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats, Looks like a big Doe Mulie!
Great Shot!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:archer:
Well Done :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Nice doe!
congrats
Congrats.... Nice deer
Randy
Thanks for the compliments. This really a great doe that I was fortunate to take. (One of ) The best part of the hunt is yet to come. I've got a fresh tenderloin marinading in mesquite/maple smokehouse seasoning+maple syrup, chili powder, a little chalula chipolte and some EEV olive oil. I'll be eating great for some time now.
QuoteOriginally posted by BWallace10327:
Thanks for the compliments. This really a great doe that I was fortunate to take. (One of ) The best part of the hunt is yet to come. I've got a fresh tenderloin marinading in mesquite/maple smokehouse seasoning+maple syrup, chili powder, a little chalula chipolte and some EEV olive oil. I'll be eating great for some time now.
OHHHHHH that sounds tasty!!!!!!
Congrats. I'd love to get a muley some day.
Awesome bro! Congrats!!!
Congrats. Visited your area a couple of Aprils ago and loved it.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: