Beautiful morning to be in the stand. Brisk for opening day here in NY.
A comedy of errors at first. I forgot my bow hanger. Ended up using a tree step below and behind me after my hands got a bit chilly. As i sat down, my treestand seat completely separated itself from the stand....RRRRIIIPP. I Managed to tie it back together so I could sit. Sort of.

Saw very interesting squirrel at 8:38am. Black belly, black face, but otherwise your typical gray squirrel. I decided I would try a shot. Slowly, I reach below and behind me for my bow. I have it nearly to my shooting hand when the arrow slips off the string and "ta tinks" its way to the forest floor. I didnt see that unique tree rat again. I sat there chastising myself for the racket I made trying to get a shot at, of all things on opening day, a squirrel.

Suddenly, out in front of me a hundred yards out, a deer materializes. I slowly produce an arrow to replace the one claimed by gravity. The deer is nibbling his way towards me...I slowly stand.

My first thought, what an ugly buck. LOL. I mean I have some nice deer running around but this guy has thick bases, and gnarly antlers-for a four pointer. He gets to twenty yards, head on, and has a choice. One trail will bring him past me broadside at ten yards, the other right beside and below me. He pauses as if to ponder the route, nibbling on black birch buds. To the right he goes, which will bring him past and below....now its an agonizing slow motion fast paced scramble to move my bow and nocked arrow around the tree between us. I get it moved, and he is below me. I could spit on him.

The green light flashes in my brain as he walks by...

Here is the stand I was in.
 

Be back later...gotta shower and spend time with the family. Sorry....not intentional at all.

You better hurry, i aint wating all night

Now I gotta wait till I get back from Hunter's football game........

David

This is already sounding like some of my days on the stand.  

I gotta go buy some mint jelly to go along with this Lamb.

Killdeer
(Jamie, I got a squirrel story too.)

You're killin me =D

QuoteOriginally posted by Killdeer:
I gotta go buy some mint jelly to go along with this Lamb.

I was thinking the same thing, let's have it Jamie      

I draw, hit anchor, while bending at the waist. The deer is quartering away and behind me. The arrow is on its way and hits home....
The deer bounds three times then stands there looking around. He wobbles, and I expect him to go down.
My arrow entered high and back, and exited(atleast the first 8 inches or so) tight behind the elbow.

He walks off. I decide to make the walk home and give him an hour, just to be safe.

Coffee'd up, full stomach I head out. The trail looks good at first. Bubbles mixed with white hair and lots of blood. It dwindles drastically and quickly. I end up covering the first 75 yards on my hands and knees. I decide to back out and give him more time, and call some friends and family for help.

Help arrives and it is off to the trail. Hands and knees...circles....grid searches. Nothing. we contemplate calling in a dog. We decide to walk in a line through the thickest part of the cedars that border the last sign.

"Blood" my buddy says. I race down to him and good blood. Follow it a scant 15 yards, and it is gone again. We repeat the process three times.

I find more. We line up, Im on the trail, my brother and buddy on either side of me by 15 yards.

"There he is", but not a yell of the excited. A whisper. I follow the pointing finger to 30 yards out and see my four pointer. Looking at me. I circle around and dispatch him with a quick paced shot. The resiliance of these animals is truly amazing. How or why he was still alive is a mystery to me.

I have my first traditional deer.

Harold, I apologize, but family is a bit testy because Im leaving at 1 am to go salmon fishing. LOL.
I also apologize, as I used my Griffin today due to the proximity of the trees. I opted for the shorter bow. Dont worry, I have 3 antlerless tags left and a bear tag.  

58" Griffin LB 56@28. CE Heritage 150s 175 up front with a hair poppin razorcap on the business end. Quiver and armguard set from the swap in August-Thanks David.

Total trail 400-500 yards. Persistance pays off.

Sorry for the quality of this pic. My brother is technology challenged.   :D

Thats the way to do it, don't matter what bow you use,just happy for you

         

Exemplary prudence in waiting as you did.  Also, a wise decision to enlist help.  This is a great story with a happy ending.  More could end this way if folks would follow your example.  Very happy for you - what a great day! Congratulations!

Way to go!  Congratulations!

Claudia

Sweet! Congratulations  

Congrats on your first trad deer!! and a nice one at that!!          

Jamie,
    Way to go. I hope you used a string that you made.

Rick

Nice! Congratulations!

Very Nice! congrats Jamie!!