It was the friday after christmas and it was cold, dry, and I was going hunting that afternoon, it was still rifle season, so I took out my sporterized .303, but I noticed that I shot up what ammo I had at the range two days before, so with no time to buy more, I took my longbow, and I am glad I did, it was my first time hunting with a bow, and having not seen a deer so far this season, I did not think I would see any deer, by the way, I have yet to kill my first deer, with gun or bow, so it would be so cool if I could take my first deer with a bow!, since my stand was built for gun hunters, I had to set up a natural ground blind on the ground where two game trails come together, I sat there for two hours not hearing anything but squirrels, then I tried rattling horns, suddenly a fork horn steps out at 20 yards and stops, giving me a perfect broad side shot, but I passed it up, thats just too far for me, he jerks his head back behind him, and runs off, something spooked him, then I look over my left shoulder and see a big fat doe feeding toward me, she stops at ten yards, I draw and as soon as I felt my finger touch the corner of my lip, I released, it looked to me like I hit her just behind the shoulder, I was jumping up out of the  chair, I was so excited, she ran off, I could hear  her crashing and tumbling, I thought I really got her, so me and the guy who owns the land spent three hours that night trying to find her, no blood, so we went back in the morning, and right where the deer was standing, there was a sapling about 3in in diameter with my arrow in it, it had no blood, perfectly clean, the deer's leg covered up the sapling, and with low light, and the adrenaline rush, I never saw it, I am hooked now for life, that was the fastest my heart has ever beat, I am glad to say that I am returning to the same spot tomorrow, with my recurve

Congratulations, sounds like a successful hunt to me.  

I did that same thing on my first shot with an arrow  at a deer.It was a doe too. it's easy not to see those saplings,and I give you credit for passing up the 20 yard shot at the buck.Lots of people would have tried it. I'm guessing you will be out earlier this season.  

Congrats and let us know how it all turns out.Sounds like you have already had a great year

I still have a few weekends of bow season left, after that, its time for squirrels

Way to go Ian!!! I've never shot one either, but seeing them that close is addicting isn't it?  Good hunting, archerman!

Congrats on a great hunt.  I'm with Dirty Bill, you proved yourself by knowing your limits.  That's the mark of a great hunter.  

Keep getting out there and enjoying the woods, you'll eventually connect.

Great Job!

-Matt

ttt

Great attitude, man!!  

I agree it sounds like yo had a great hunt! I can't wait for next season to try and kill a deer with my Longbow! Congrats on a great hunt!

I've got a mounted sapling on the wall next to the horns it gets as much att. as the rest of the stuff on the wall ans my story is a good one also.Enjoy it all Ian.Kip

Welcome to ground pounders Inc. I know just how you are feeling.  

sad to say that this afternoon will be my last hunt of the season, I'm sure it will be a great one!

Goes to show, it isn't always about the kill. Good luck!

Great shooting.