Hey fellas.
It has been a long time between drinks. It has been 15 years since i've been bowhunting. When I say it out loud I can't believe it, but it's true. I was right into bowhunting but then got into football, work, drinking, chasing girls and a hundred other excuses that weren't good enough. I've been using the rifle to provide food for the table, but have found myself reluctant to shoot anything latley and found myself taking more pictures and video than venison.
My regular hunting mate said before this trip, "Are you going to bring the bow along?" and I thought about it and thought, 'Yeah, I think I might'. When he picked me up late friday and saw me put in the longbow, he looked at me and said "Is that all you're taking?". I said 'Yep, it's all or nothing'. And with that we were off to the foothills of the Snowy Mountains in SE New South Wales, Australia for the chance of a Fallow, Sambar or maybe a wild goat.

Arrive late, set up the gear in the hay shed, and get the gear ready for the morning. Up early and quick bite to eat and we head our seperate ways in the morning fog and frost.
     

The small creek we usually cross was running about 2 feet higher due to the rain early in the week. So a shimmy across a frosty log across got the result, not too gracefully, but it worked.
A bit further along, I noticed the water in the wallows looked a bit strange. Closer inspection revealed that they had frozen overnight. Maybe not a shock to you guys in North America, but it seemed pretty cold to this little Aussie.
     

Creeping along now where I had missed a good Fallow buck in April with the rifle, I saw a rabbit crouched. Took the judo out of the bow quiver and had a shot. I released before I got to full draw and the arrow landed a few inches short, right on line. He ran around in an arc, and propped at the base of a blackberry bush at around the same distance. I told myself to get to full draw as I shot again, that was close! He ran for the sanctuary of his burrow and I realised that he was being stopped by the arrow in him. I got him! Ran over to grab him, but it was all over when I got there.
I was stoked! My first trad kill, and my first bowkill for 15 years. The monkey was off my back, and it had also given me a lot of confidence shooting the bow.
     

I quickly dressed him and put him away, and with a spring in my step, moved along searching for some bigger game.....

Welcome home! Fill your cup to the brim and have another sip! 2 years without a "drink" for me, which is a long dry spell it seems.

cheers !
     

nice shot

Very nice!

Good shot.

Thanks for the story and the nice pictures.

I didn't know water could even freeze over there!

Great story and pics..

I have a heat index of 39C here today.. Hot!


John III

Share some more stories and picts as you continue your success.  Congratulations!

Thank yo  for sharing.  The pics and story were excellent.  Welcome or welcome back and I hope to see more.

Welcome back to the addiction.... Fantastic story and shooting.  

Great story, super pictures, and welcome back!

         Atta boy.  Good shot.  Now that you're warmed up, go get 'em.  

Great shot!!    and some fine eating too.

       Thanks for taking us along.

Tracy

Welcome back!  What a great way to get back into it.  

sweet shootin,welcome back brother.

 Sweet  

I poked along the creekline, looking for more rabbits, and then crossed the swollen creek again. A much bigger log this time made for a more graceful crossing. There was a group of Fallow does feeding on the open paddock, but the fog rolled in and swallowed them up.
Another rabbit was seen, so i moved closer and let rip from about 25m. Just missed, another four unseen rabbits ran and propped. I proceeded to empty my bow quiver at them. No hits but I couldn't have got any closer if I tried.
 

I decided to work along the paddock, 50 metres inside the treeline, and try to peer into the fog with the binos, move ten metres and repeat the process.
 

After an hour or so without any luck, I decided for a change of tactics. The fog was giving way to beautiful winter sunshine. I headed straight uphill to a good height, and sidled along the hill glassing looking for deer bedded in the sun, chewing their cud.
No deer had been seen, but plenty of Kangaroos sunbaking.
 

I then heard a sound that stopped me in my tracks. It was the sound of antlers clashing. It went for about ten seconds, and sounded close. I thought that the sound came from in the same gully I was just entering. Moving slowly, two steps, stop glass, repeat. Every stick and shadow was scrutinised for the shape of an antler, or the flick of an ear. The senses were on full alert......

Awe man you are killing me.............