Finally, first bow kill!!! (Pics)
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ashburn, VA USA
Posts: 85
Finally, first bow kill!!! (Pics)
Friday was the last day of the Urban Archery Season in Virginia so this comes as a great end to my early season and a great beginning to the rest of the season. I was set up about 20 yards inside of an alfalfa field where I had seen 6 or 7 does grazing the night before. At about 6:45, I hear a car slam on brakes on a gravel road that runs along an edge of the woods to my left about 100 yards away. I knew that was where the deer would be coming from, so this gut my heart pumped. When I first caught a glimpse of the two does, my heart nearly beat out of my chest. I'd been close to many other deer throughout the past two weeks of the season, however, I was only able to produce two shots, one on which I connected but regrettably was unable to retrieve the animal. Some how, I knew this was the one! The two does were coming up the trail just inside of the woods where they would hang out until it was close to dark. When they were about 25 yards away, they turned off the trail that was headed for me and turned towards the field. I thought that if I were going to get a shot, it would have to be in a small opening and would require the animal facing broadside and stopping in the little gap that I had to shoot through! Well, everything worked out and the deer stopped to feed just where I hoped it would! I released the Gold Tip XT 7595 tipped with a Rocky Mountain Snyper from my Mathews Legacy and watched it disappear about 4-6" behind the shoulder. The deer bolted back towards the road where it had come from. I knew the shot wasn't perfect but hoped that I had hit vitals. After an hour of eager anticipation, I climbed down out of my stand to look for the arrow and evaluate the situation. When I found my arrow, to my dismay, it reeked of a gut shot. I didn't see any blood on the shaft or vanes. I was very disappointed and decided I should not take any chances bumping the deer and come back early the next morning to track. On my way out of the property, I decided to get my flashlight out and just light the side of the road to see if I could see anything just inside of the woods. As I was driving down the gravel road, (the same one I spoke of earlier) I caught a very small glimpse of something white underneath some dense bushes. I slammed on my brakes, threw it in reverse, and took a closer look. Could it be??? I jumped out of the car and as I took a few steps off the road, I realized that I had just found my deer! She had run almost 100 yards before she bed down under the bush about 10 yards from the road. The shot went through the liver, nearly slicing it in half, and before exiting caught some intestines which accounted for the smell and green color of my shaft. I definitely learned a couple of lessons from this experience. I should of looked harder for blood around the area where she was when I shot, and I should have paid better attention to exactly where the arrow hit instead of second guessing my original thoughts. All in all, I'm very proud and I'll remember this experience for the rest of my life.
Before you view the pic, I just thought I'd say that I was surprised at how small she was when I found her. She appeared much bigger when I shot! She was with another about the same size. I'm sure she'll be tasty nonetheless!
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/memb...rstBowKill.jpg
Before you view the pic, I just thought I'd say that I was surprised at how small she was when I found her. She appeared much bigger when I shot! She was with another about the same size. I'm sure she'll be tasty nonetheless!
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/memb...rstBowKill.jpg
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Vinton VA
Posts: 2,978
RE: Finally, first bow kill!!! (Pics)
Congrats on your deer, she looks like some good eating! Do you think maybe your "hooked" now.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS
TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: chiefland Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
RE: Finally, first bow kill!!! (Pics)
congrats. on the first. now the pressure is off.
You Done Did Good!!!!
I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest
remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.
You Done Did Good!!!!
I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest
remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.