Decided to go huntin this mornin

Hermon · January 12, 2014, 09:23:00 PM

Come on, I'm anxiously waiting to hear "the rest of the story"

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 09:24:00 PM

2 does moving east to west, turned into 4, into 6, into 8. I crouched down and watched as all 8 grazed away.

Hermon · January 12, 2014, 09:27:00 PM

Come on, I'm anxiously waiting to hear "the rest of the story"

Gen273 · January 12, 2014, 09:31:00 PM

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 09:31:00 PM

I could feel the wind in my face and felt confident they wouldn't bust me, but a lot of ground needed to be covered. They fed closer, then farther, then closer, then farther, and farther. I decided to do some hands and knees work and try to follow.

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 09:35:00 PM

They were moving slow (luckily) so I could keep up and an eye on them as I crawled. It's amazing how much better you can see through the woods on your hands and knees vs. standing up.

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 09:37:00 PM

So I maybe covered 25-30 yards and thought I'd lost the group when a caught movement ahead. I only could count 6. But wasn't there 8?

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 09:49:00 PM

So I paused to try to locate the others when I saw them heading straight towards me. They angled toward the creek I was sneakin and I was able to get behind a small pine for cover. I listened as they drank, but I could not see them.

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 10:11:00 PM

I heard a slight splash and crunching footsteps getting close. She paused, took a step, paused, cleared some brush, and the Snuffer was on its way!

Hermon · January 12, 2014, 10:14:00 PM

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 10:15:00 PM

After a moment of wonderment I could feel the smile on my face. It was almost like it was in slow motion, auto pilot if you will. The arrow flew straight and true right behind the shoulder.

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 10:22:00 PM

15 yards on the ground. Not in a blind, not in a tree, just setting in the mud. What are the chances?
So I took up the trail about a half hour later and boy does a snuffer make it easy. I followed it about 75 yards and found a big pool of red. Think I may have bumped her so I sat down and took it all in and texted for some drag duty

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 10:24:00 PM

I took it up again and came to a fence where she'd jumped so I jumped it to

Hermon · January 12, 2014, 10:24:00 PM

Sorry I couldn't help drag her out and share in the moment.
Proud of you Dave.

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 10:27:00 PM

There was a solid line of red through the CRP where she went. Wish I had a picture of that, pretty cool. As I crept forward to the next patch of woods I see 4 tails waving at me.

Cyclic-Rivers · January 12, 2014, 10:27:00 PM

Sounding good so far!

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 10:33:00 PM

You got me there Glenn!!!
It had been almost 2.5 hours and the trail was deceiving. Thought for sure she had expired but I was wrong. So I sat some more and decided to push on. Another hundred yards and i found her.

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 10:37:00 PM

After a quick gut and hundred yard drag back to the piece we hunt here I am with my first trad deer!

January 12, 2014, 10:38:00 PM

Way to go!

Congrats!

Bisch

dhermon85 · January 12, 2014, 10:43:00 PM

I'm not gonna lie, it feels good. I'm pleased with myself. It's been challenging and probably my best trophy thus far. I'd like to thank my Uncle for introducing me to "traditional" archery and helping me along the way. And also this site as there is a wealth of knowledge runnin around here.

Hope you enjoyed.