A Great 2015 Mule Doe (Thanks for Wishing)

BWallace10327 · December 06, 2015, 10:22:00 PM

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.

BWallace10327 · December 06, 2015, 10:24:00 PM

**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.**

Bernie B. · December 06, 2015, 10:30:00 PM

Congratulations on your doe! A great late season hunt!

Bernie

December 06, 2015, 10:31:00 PM

Way to get it done!

Congrats,

Bisch

KAZ · December 06, 2015, 10:46:00 PM

Nice work, well done....

akaboomer · December 06, 2015, 11:17:00 PM

Congratulations. I grew up in that area, still have two brothers that live in Cortez.

Chris

South MS Bowhunter · December 06, 2015, 11:22:00 PM

Congrats, a fine deer indeed!

John146 · December 07, 2015, 12:06:00 AM

Nice bro!!!

Izzy · December 07, 2015, 05:16:00 AM

Congrats on a good hunt.

KyStickbow · December 07, 2015, 05:52:00 AM

Nice job...congrats!

Caughtandhobble · December 07, 2015, 06:25:00 AM

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

limbolt · December 07, 2015, 07:07:00 AM

Good Deal!!! Congrats.

Cyclic-Rivers · December 07, 2015, 07:11:00 AM

Congrats, Looks like a big Doe Mulie!

Michael Arnette · December 07, 2015, 07:20:00 AM

Great Shot!

wooddamon1 · December 07, 2015, 07:25:00 AM

23feetupandhappy · December 07, 2015, 01:57:00 PM

Well Done

varmint101 · December 07, 2015, 05:14:00 PM

Nice doe!

drewsbow · December 07, 2015, 06:29:00 PM

congrats

rjackson · December 07, 2015, 08:16:00 PM

Congrats.... Nice deer

Randy

BWallace10327 · December 08, 2015, 12:06:00 AM

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.