Captainkip
10-11-2005, 11:54 PM
Went out tonight to a location I thought might give me an opportunity. Due to the wind direction it was practically the only choice that I had. I felt was the best situation for the wind. It is an area where a line of bush about ten yards wide splits an alfalfa field and a barley field. Driving up to park I could see a couple deer feeding in the back of the one field. I put on my hunting clothes, sprayed up and made the trek down towards the end of the field. I used the bush line as my cover by walking on the opposite side. The deer that had been there earlier were not around and I was hoping that I did not spook them on my way in. 20 mins later I noticed a doe and a fawn feeding on the edge of the field about 100 yards away. They were joined by about 5 other deer and it was funny to watch as each time another deer emerged from the tree line they would spook each other as they rustled the leaves as they walked out. A few of the deer made it my direction but were steadily feeding away from me. I kept checking with my range finder to see that they were anywhere from 51 yards to 40 yards at any given time. I had a shooting lane through the grass and when one doe stepped into it I ranged her at 43 yards. This was not the distance I wanted to shoot a deer at but I have shot out to 50 yards lots so I decided to give it a try. As I drew back every deer in the county must have looked at me. My doe was still broad side but was looking right at me. I put my sights on her and I let it rip. She jumped the string and saw the arrow coming and was another 20 yards away before the arrow hit the ground pretty much where she had been standing. Before I knew it the field was empty and I was left to sit and ponder why I always take stupid shots. :****ed:
After walking out to pick up my arrow I got the idea that maybe I could call one of the does back with a fawn in distress call seeing as there was many fawns out earlier. About 2 mins after settling in to the bush line and calling a doe was running at me full speed only to stop about 25 yards away out in the field. She was slowly coming my way while looking right at me. I could not draw in fear that she might see me. She proceeded towards a bail of hay and it looked as though she may go behind it. That was my opportunity I thought as she would come out 10 yards away. When she was out of sight I drew my bow and turned. Remember the leaves???...well she was gone in an instant from hearing the leaves rustle. She was back in front at 25 yards looking directly at me. I could not shoot her as her chest was my only target and even if she did turn broadside she would see me shoot like the last one. I let down and she stood there feeding. Each time I tried to range her she would see me move and or hear me set the range finder on the leaves or pick it up. She did not stick around long and eventually had enough and took off.
My stomach was rumbling as I realized I was hungry. All I could think about was going home and cooking some of my last few deer steak. With about 10 mins left in time and while I was thinking about leaving, I decided to check the bush line with my binoculars. To my suprise there was a doe standing in the same spot the deer had come out earlier. Another 5 deer spilled out of the bush behind her and the same as before they were feeding while slowly making their way towards me. Again a doe was standing around 50 yards away.....tempting but out of my league. Another doe was feeding quite close to the bush line and seemed to be staying close where the other deer were moving away deeper into the field. I was surrounded (which only simplified my problem). I could have tried a shot at one of the other deer but risked being seen or heard. I figured that if the doe that was close to the bush kept up her direction as did the other deer then she would be my best chance. I was having troubles ranging the doe as the tall grass seemed to be obscuring my line of sight. I got a distance of 35 yards and thought that I would try if she walked into the shooting lane. I must have looked like a YoYo bobbing up and down trying to get a good look with the range finder. Finally I ranged her at 29 yards. As I reached for the bow string with my release a fawn that I had lost track of which now was only 15 yards away from me saw me move and pinned me. The doe was close to getting into the shooting lane and after what seemed an eternity the fawn began feeding again. It was now or never and I drew so very slowly. I put my 30 yard pin behind the does shoulder, holding steady I let the arrow fly and with a loud CRACK my Slick Trick 125's hit the doe square and hard. She stumbled and started to run, this way and that way. It ooked so crazy as the other deer were like what the *&@# is wrong with you as they were scrambling to get out of her way. She only went 50 yards and was down. She thrashed for a few seconds then stopped only to lay still.
I was in shock. I could not believe that I had connected with my first deer. I could not believe that I made such a good shot, I could not believe that the deer came back and after blowing my first chance and the second chance and that I actually got a third chance. I just sat there stunned. What an amazing site to see the arrow hit its mark and to hear it hit with such authority. What an awesome feeling. I think it was a perfect heart shot. The arrow went in behind the left shoulder and came out through the right shoulder. When I went to where she lay I found two pieces of the arrow but not the broadhead. The hole the broadhead made is amazing and the damage it did is worse then any rifle shot that I have put into an animal. I still cant believe that it happened. :lol:
After walking out to pick up my arrow I got the idea that maybe I could call one of the does back with a fawn in distress call seeing as there was many fawns out earlier. About 2 mins after settling in to the bush line and calling a doe was running at me full speed only to stop about 25 yards away out in the field. She was slowly coming my way while looking right at me. I could not draw in fear that she might see me. She proceeded towards a bail of hay and it looked as though she may go behind it. That was my opportunity I thought as she would come out 10 yards away. When she was out of sight I drew my bow and turned. Remember the leaves???...well she was gone in an instant from hearing the leaves rustle. She was back in front at 25 yards looking directly at me. I could not shoot her as her chest was my only target and even if she did turn broadside she would see me shoot like the last one. I let down and she stood there feeding. Each time I tried to range her she would see me move and or hear me set the range finder on the leaves or pick it up. She did not stick around long and eventually had enough and took off.
My stomach was rumbling as I realized I was hungry. All I could think about was going home and cooking some of my last few deer steak. With about 10 mins left in time and while I was thinking about leaving, I decided to check the bush line with my binoculars. To my suprise there was a doe standing in the same spot the deer had come out earlier. Another 5 deer spilled out of the bush behind her and the same as before they were feeding while slowly making their way towards me. Again a doe was standing around 50 yards away.....tempting but out of my league. Another doe was feeding quite close to the bush line and seemed to be staying close where the other deer were moving away deeper into the field. I was surrounded (which only simplified my problem). I could have tried a shot at one of the other deer but risked being seen or heard. I figured that if the doe that was close to the bush kept up her direction as did the other deer then she would be my best chance. I was having troubles ranging the doe as the tall grass seemed to be obscuring my line of sight. I got a distance of 35 yards and thought that I would try if she walked into the shooting lane. I must have looked like a YoYo bobbing up and down trying to get a good look with the range finder. Finally I ranged her at 29 yards. As I reached for the bow string with my release a fawn that I had lost track of which now was only 15 yards away from me saw me move and pinned me. The doe was close to getting into the shooting lane and after what seemed an eternity the fawn began feeding again. It was now or never and I drew so very slowly. I put my 30 yard pin behind the does shoulder, holding steady I let the arrow fly and with a loud CRACK my Slick Trick 125's hit the doe square and hard. She stumbled and started to run, this way and that way. It ooked so crazy as the other deer were like what the *&@# is wrong with you as they were scrambling to get out of her way. She only went 50 yards and was down. She thrashed for a few seconds then stopped only to lay still.
I was in shock. I could not believe that I had connected with my first deer. I could not believe that I made such a good shot, I could not believe that the deer came back and after blowing my first chance and the second chance and that I actually got a third chance. I just sat there stunned. What an amazing site to see the arrow hit its mark and to hear it hit with such authority. What an awesome feeling. I think it was a perfect heart shot. The arrow went in behind the left shoulder and came out through the right shoulder. When I went to where she lay I found two pieces of the arrow but not the broadhead. The hole the broadhead made is amazing and the damage it did is worse then any rifle shot that I have put into an animal. I still cant believe that it happened. :lol: