My 2013 Season with my JD Berry Vixen

[DaveT1963]

It's been a long time - almost a decade, since I bow hunted with traditional equipment.  In early spring I had James Berry make me a Vixen and I set out to finally take a whitetail with a longbow.  I have taken many with recurves, but have never managed to take a whitetail with the longbow.  I set three goals for 2013.  First I wanted to take a buck with my long bow, I also wanted to take one doe and I wanted to take one of those deer on the ground.

My first deer was this small buck on public land - taken over a scrape at 26 yards from my lone wolf tree stand.  

     

I was pretty high and he was angling away at a severe angle so I was forced to hit him high and back.  However, the gold tipped 35/55 and 165 grain Simmons land shark went right up into the boiler room and made pretty quick work of him.  There was no exit hole so I feared the blood trail would be scarce.... Wrong.  I was absolutely amazed at how much blood I was able to find considering how high the entrance wound was.  Because of the steep angle and severe quartering shot, the arrow was aimed high and just forward of the hip, upon release it flew where I wanted and traveled completely through the chest cavity lodging in the front of the chest in rib bones – I am now a firm believer in Simmons broad heads.  As to the bow, let me just say that James makes one of the very best American Style longbows that I have ever shot.  It is amazingly quick for 51#s (rivaling most recurves I have shot) and is extremely quiet and stable.  It just puts an arrow where I want it.

The second deer was this really old doe taken from the ground using a ghillie suit and completely exposed (sitting against a tree).  

     
I shot her at 23 yards, she ran about 45 yards before she piled up.  The shot was a little high buy managed to slice through her femoral artery just under the back bone.  The Simmons land shark made quick work of her.

So while the two deer I took were not my biggest or best by a long shot, they were trophies to me as I entered back into the world of traditional archery after a 9 year lay off and finally took my whitetails with a long bow.

Needless to say, I am looking forward to 2014!

[Dan bree]

Nice!  Vixen has good mojo.

[Joeabowhunter]

Congratulations on a very successful season.

[far rider]

Man, great story. Way to get back in the saddle, and with a double header checking off all the goals you set. Waiting patiently for my Berry to show up.......any day now.

Tim

[T-Bowhunter]

Congrats on the Deer! Thanks for sharing your stories.            

[Brianlocal3]

Outstanding Dave!! Way to break in the new bow!!!
And since the Vixen is treating you so well, maybe you'll let te serpentine go now right!!!! I know someone who would give it a great home.......... I know, I know, your not letting it go..  

[DaveT1963]

Yep sorry Brian - that bow is promised to my 3 year grandson one day         When I visit James in Jan I plan or ordering another bow - I am just torn as to which one to go with - my heart is set right now on a Tiapan but all your talk to the morning star is making me rethink.  Guess I'll just have to shoot everyone he has in stock and go from there      

I recently had a thunderhorn made (take down) and I am really loving that bow - shoots like a dream.  But there is just something about the romance of a well built D shaped bow like my Vixen

[JDBerry]

Congrats Dave, Enjoyed the story and pics. Looking forward to this Jan. when we meet in person...James

[Wiley Coyote]

Congratulations! That was a great challenge and you succeeded! I still have yet to shoot a whitetail from the ground........... maybe next year!      

[Tajue17]

awesome story!   the Vixen is best shooting American longbow that I have ever tried.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Great season!  Congrats!

[Elk77]

Congratulations, nice shooting.

[labdad67]

Congrats on your return to Traditional and two nice deer taken as intended.  Thanks for sharing