First Deer Ever
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:32 am
I'm brand new to bowhunting and took my first deer Saturday evening at about 6pm. What a rush! First shot ever at a deer and it was with a bow. I'm hooked and can't get enough! I went about 6 times and hunted different spots on the land each time. I've been learning all the way. Saturday, I found a good acorn patch with a lot of sign. I climbed 25 feet in a nice old oak with a good view to my left and a partial to my right. First doe came through and no shot. A few minutes later, same or different doe came out the opposite way to nibble on some acorns. She stopped to eat at about 15-20 yards. I drew down and shot. Hit her a little off to the left of the sweet spot at and angle. She was facing me and turned a little to the right. I was using muzzy broads with a brand new '07 model bear instinct with a 30 in draw and 63 pound pressure, whisker biscuit, pendulum sight. I knew I hit her, but was hard to tell exactly where. She jumped off into the woods. Not knowing any better, I excitedly climbed down and immediately pursued her into the woods. By this time, light was minimal. I decided to go get the jeep for more light as well as a couple of other hunters to help track. We found a pretty good blood trail, but it ended about 40 yards in with a couple of pools of blood. There was a ditch a little further in with a substantial amount of water. I was afraid she jumped it. I was also informed by the other hunters that if I had waited she would have probably bled out in the last spot where we saw blood. Oh well, live and learn. After searching and searching that night to no avail, me and the wife came back at first light being told that the deer would not spoil in the cool weather. I couldn't sleep and was up at 4:00 am. We got to the spot before light and when the sun rose, we searched. I searched out to the South and she the North. I found a swampy pond about 75 yards in. My wife came over to find me and when she was walking on the South end of the pond shouted, "I found her." Man, I was ecstatic! She was only 100 lbs, and probably about a year or so old, but man she looked good! I shot about 5 inches to the left of the sweet spot, but at an angle. The arrow went all the way through and punctured that hind quarter artery and she bled out. That exit hole was about 4 inches in diameter. I was just happy to have found her. I hated thinking she was out there suffering, but from the blood knew she had to be dead. Found her at about 100 yards from the stand. She skinned up nice and me and the wife will have backstrap on Friday. Plenty of meat and my wife's been wanting a nice deer rug, so it all turned out gravy. I will post a pic when I find my USB cord.
Rybo
Rybo
Congrats on the deer...