First Trad Kills

[Howard S.]

Just came from a thread on everyone still looking for their first trad kill.  PSEMAN suggested starting a thread on First Trad Kills so here it is.  
I've been working for mine for 9 years now and finally broke the ice last week in Colorado.  I had a nice 5x5 follow a couple of cows to a water hole on an 80 degree afternoon.  He finally gave me a standing broadside at around 22 yards.  This was out of my 'comfort zone' but I figured it would be my only chance.  From the moment I made the decision to shoot the next thing I remember is the arrow splashing into the water behind him. I honestly can't remember coming to full draw or even the spot I was looking at when I shot. I thought I had missed low until I saw the blood on his right side.  He stood there like nothing happened just watching the cows walk away.  He finally walked about 30 yards, stopped, still watching his cows then buckled and fell within sight.  I was amazed.  
I was shooting a Caribow Featherhorn that I draw to 53# with a 660 grain laminated birch shaft tipped with a Zwicky Black Diamond head.  It blew through that elk like a hot knife through butter.  I'm still in awe of the entire encounter.

Howard

[Tim Fishell]

Congrats Howard!!  I am still looking for my first big game animal with a bow.  Hopefully this will be my year!!

[BobW]

           

[WTT03]

Great job!! Congrats!  

[vermonster13]

Well done

[Dan Worden]

Allright Howard!!!!!  

[pseman]

COOL!!!    Hopefully you will get the ball rolling for the rest of us. Still got two weeks to wait for season here in Bama. The rest of you guys from the other thread remember to post up your kills here.

Congrats Howard.

Mark

[madness522]

Excellent!

[Howard S.]

Hey Dan,
Thanks for your help and tutorial.  Guess it's like driving a stick.  Now that I know how, I'll never forget (or worry).  My confidence for the bow opener on Monday is at a previously unknown level.  Not cocky mind you, just that "I know I can do this now" feeling.

Howard

[Pinecone]

Congratulations!

Claudia

[Izzy]

Good for you man, congrats.Heckuva good first.

[amicus]

Nice job, its an awesome feeling.

[tradtusker]

after converting from compound to trad "easy choice!

this was my first trad kill a nice NT sow shot up in Arnhemland Australia,



 

[vermonster13]

Cool picture TT!

[Bill Carlsen]

You guys feel hooked?

[JC]

Way to stay with it man! Nicely done. Hope to kill one with a stickbow someday myself.

It still makes me shake my head sometimes when I see an animal so cleanly taken with such a simple device.

[Kip]

Very nice all you first timers.I am an old fart the internet wasn't invented yet on my first but sure is nice today to show them to us.Kip

[Joseph]

Congratulations to everyone!  The shots you don't remember doing are the best ones!   Joseph

[Kip]

JC your second sentence brought back memories.When I saw my first kill about 1975 with a K-Mag and after helping him blood trail it I was amazed at what a stick and string and sharp broadhead could do.I guess that is the reason and that the letoff threw me off, I never felt the need for a compound.Kip

[Howard S.]

JC
I was in an absolute panic about my broadheads before I left    (just ask Dan).  Shooting 53# I figured I was on the low end of effective poundage then with questionable sharpness I was hoping for 18# of penetration.  I'm still amazed at how that arrow blew through that elk.
Howard