It was a cool damp morning in the dark forest. The kind hunters wait all summer for, knowing on mornings such as this the beasts of the forest search for food. A hunter must be very quiet and keep his movements slow and deliberate so as not to draw the attention of the beasts.

I knew this area well and felt confident that I had slipped into it without alerting the beasts. I stood silent listening for any movement or sounds of them feeding. The bow in my hands felt light as a feather but stout to pull. My quiver was full of deadly arrows, some of which had tasted the blood of the beasts before. I was sure of myself and my weapons.

Then out of nowhere came a growling bark! I had been discovered! Unsure of it's origin I scanned the forest around me only to catch a glimps of a beast slipping behind an oak trunk. I stood still waiting for more movement knowing there could be others around me. I turned my head slowly and just in time to see the beast move from one tree trunk to another. He was circling me!

I knew I had to move quickly but quietly. With arrow nocked, I moved to get in front of the beast. I  lost sight of him but "felt" his presents. The only chance I had now was to out right challenge the beast! I readied my bow and then let out a low growling bark of my own letting him believe I was another of his kind. He answered the challenge.

He was very close and I knew it was only a matter of seconds before he made his move. I raised my bow with fingers tight against the string and looked deep into the leaves and branches around me. Appearing like a ghost I saw him, his dark eyes were fixed on me, he was crouched and ready to pounce!

My bow was up and drawn to anchor, as soon as my fingers touched the corner of my mouth the arrow was gone. WHACK! The arrow had found it's mark! The beast tumbled to the forest floor. I quickly nocked another for I knew from experience that these beasts were often in pairs or sometimes packs when feeding. The dark forest became quiet again, there were no others here. I would have to move on.My osage selfbow and cane arrows had won this battle of man against beast.
 

Nice "tail"!

I was out this morning myself. Two shots and one squirrel hit. Not too bad... 50%.

With deer season almost upon me and my back still on the mend, I'll have to be content scouting the big stuff and hunting what I can carry.

It really doesn't get much better anyway.

Yea, you're lucky the 2nd one didn't charge you from your blind side Flatstick!

:~)

Nice shootin'!

Shoot straight, Shinken

Rich, you are so brave. Hunting alone and without a back-up weapon! LOL!! I think you had enough bow for your quarry! Thanks for sharing and good shooting buddy! Mike

oh dang I hate the dilemma ya have when a good shot comes by and your in the deer stand.  well me me it not too much delimma.  I ike squirrel better then deer meat anyday.

rusty

Look at the size of him. A booner and crawfish record it I ever seen one.

Squirrels open here on the 15th. I just showed your picture to my eleven yr old, and asked if he would rather use his bow on Tuesday evening.

"Now way dad...lets GET some first, then we will try the bow".

I guess that`s his way of saying congrats, and awesome job.  

Good stuff! Congratulations    

A fine bit of story tellin there Rich, "man against beast" I love it!!I think I've emptied a quiver in previous battles   :rolleyes:

I know what you mean Dano, the weekend before it took all the arrows I had in my quiver to take one down! But this one was a "one shot,one kill". So I boosted my average.  

Great story...congrats on the successful hunt.