Day Three.
I was back in the same stand as day one. The temperature was still too nice, but it was pleasant out in the woods.

About 8:30 or so a doe came out of the brush heading by me at about twenty yards. And then it happened. I saw a little movement back in the brush, and here came a buck. A nice one. He half-heartedly jumped at the doe and she took off. He stopped and turned back and came by me at about twelve yards. I thought long and hard about shooting him, but in the end I thought there probably was a better one in the area so I let him pass. And that was it. I didn't see another buck that week.

I've been mentally kicking myself ever since. Without question it would have been my best buck with a bow.

I did that once before on my cousin's place about ten years ago. You would think I would have learned to take a buck early in the season, if you would have taken him on the last day.

Oh well, maybe next year if the Lord is willing.

I arrived at my destination in Kentucky two days later in early evening.

We were up at 4:30, got our gear together, and I took a couple shots with a judo tipped arrow. I had been shooting my bow with no side plate on my bow. It had seemed fine, but in the pre-dawn light I could hear a little something.

I mentioned it to Ken, and he pulled a self adhesive plate off one of his other bows and we stuck that on. It worked fine. After a cup of coffee, off we went.

We were going to hunt some stands up on a ridge up, probably a twenty minute walk. Stands already in place.

I was barely in the stand 15 minutes or so and I heard a buck wheeze back in the brush somewhere.

About 09:30 a doe came by me, and 45 minutes later I saw a doe moving along the ridge eating acorns. And that was it for the morning.

In the pm, we tried different stands in different locations. I saw one nice doe but she had moved by me until she was down wind of me. She must have gotten a whiff of me because she was doing the head bobbing thing trying to catch me moving, I guess. Gradually she moved off and that was day one.

Day two was more of the same, although I did see one small buck. We decided the weather was just too darn nice. I didn't wear gloves the whole week, some days didn't even need a jacket.

I've got a Mini cat quiver. Wish they still made them. I really like it

Quote from: BAbassangler on December 07, 2025, 09:58:49 AMAnother vote for the 125 grain Magnus.  My 125 head for light #'s is the smaller, solid Stinger Buzz Cut.  One of my YT'ers loves Simmons but like them better on 40+.  Pretty sure Jerry Hill has a narrower 3:1 2 blade as well.

All I saw on his website were 185 and 190 grain heads.  Simmons does make a 135 gr landshark.  I am fine with dropping weight of heads.  That's why I posted the question.  I was leaning toward a lighter head but wanted to see if anyone had a direct experience.  This is for my wife and son to shoot.  I'm not sure she will hunt, but I hope she will.  If nothing else go along with me. If she does, I want to maximize her effectiveness. Most of my bows are 40-45 lbs.  I'm using the 175 grain heads for my bows.

My boy started shooting a trad bow last summer. He shoots it with a fixed crawl and shoots it very well. He has killed 4 deer now with that style. I built his current bow and tillered it for shooting with a fixed crawl. I have recently dabbled into it myself and built a couple sets of limbs just for shooting that way. So far it seems to be working fine and something to play around with.we set are bows up at 15 yards and don't see an issue shooting to 20 yards

A 3 arrow Eagles Flight bow quiver is best for me and hunting, but for toting a lotta wood that'd be a Side Stalker quiver I made over a decade ago ...

Just a little update for the Byron Ferguson's "Become The Arrow" Classic.  The event I had for 20 years, the Howard Hill Classic, was a multi-round format with the highest score shot over the course of the weekend could place you in a Winner's category.   One could also pay to compete with different bows.

The Byron Ferguson's "Become The Arrow" Classic will be completely different.  You can only compete with one bow, MAKE IF YOUR FAVORITE folks.  Your first round only counts, so MAKE IT COUNT!  After your score card is turned in, you can then go out and shoot, and shoot, and shoot all you want for fun.   

Folks, this is a shoot to benefit Children's Hospital of Alabama, but that doesn't mean it's not a competition for outstanding archers.

The awards will be outstanding and to just give you a little teaser that will be given with the 1st Place Plaques for the adult archers, Randy Knight is providing something a little more special.  Shown here is the type of Belt Buckle and the artwork is what will be on the Buckle.  Those that have seen our Buckles in the past, no photos never do them justice.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO START PRACTICING!!! 

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply, it means a lot to a newbie like myself. Some great information for me to chew on as I continue the search for my first hunting setup. Cheers!

Quote from: Maclean on November 15, 2025, 09:09:56 AMI use bow quivers most of the time, but when I'm not I use the GFA style side quiver by Great Northern - the Sidekick. It's small, light, and versatile. I like my razor sharp broadheads to be secure, if you catch my drift.

I feel the exact same way.  I really like my two safari-tuff quivers for field points... but when it comes to broadheads... I like to have them secured (on both ends) in a great northern bow quiver or the great northern side quiver! 

GFA quiver is great too.  I should not have sold mine when I hurt my shoulder and stopped shooting for a while!!

The story began in Denver on Sunday, November 1st. After celebrating my son's 50th birthday I loaded up my car and headed...east.

Most of the time I have dreamt of hunting in our great Western states, but this time I was dreaming of hunting big whitetails in Kentucky. I had been invited by my best childhood friend Ken to hunt with him. Ken assured me we were going to have prime hunting with rutting bucks running around us.

I would be hunting with my 49@28 Northern Mist Sprague, Sitka Spruce arrows tipped with Zwickey Eskimos, Safari Tuff quiver, and a new sling pack.