Kip

Well, it finally happened. I was able to get my first deer using the trusty Chekmate Crusader. Here' s the story, and a pic for you. Chad, I have more pics for you, let me know where you want them sent.

My days off are today and tomorrow. I didnt get to hunt this morning, I had to go to my buddy' s dads funneral. The weather was cold, and spitting snow all day. At 4:30pm I loaded up the truck and made the whole 1 1/2 mile drive to my treestand. I havent hunted this stand yet this year, but had a good feeling about it. On the way in, I checked out the new rub that appeared in the last 2 days. A buck really worked over the wrist sized tree. It really gave me a boost.

I got set up in my stand, and all was quiet by 5:00pm. I had a few squirrels running around, and I could see a long ways in the hardwoods now that the leaves have fallen. At 6:30 I heard a twig snap to my left. I looked, fully expecting to see a squirrel. About 70 yards away stands a smaller buck. The heart kicks into high gear, and I begin planning my shot. The buck walked right towards me, and at 20 yards, ducks into the thick stuff and walks behind me. I sat there wondering where he was going, and I looked back at where I seen the first buck, and there' s another deer. I thought to myself, wow, what heavy spikes on that dude. When he took a few steps, there was a good background of yellow poplar leaves, and I could see he was no spike, he was a Hawg.[] He followed where the first buck walked, and ducked into the thick stuff. I could hear them walk past me, headed north. At 6:45 I hear another snap to the left. When I turned to look, I see the smaller buck decided to come give me another look. He walked right up to 3 yards from the base of my tree, and walked straight away from me.
He stopped at 8 yards, still facing away. He started to turn to the right, and I began to draw, expecting a shot. Thats when I hear a deer stomping its foot back to the left. I turn, and there stands the hawg, looking right at me. [:@] The hawg stomping got the other deer to looking around. The smaller buck turned 1/4ing away. I kept my eyes on the big buck, and came to full draw on the smaller one.
I slowly turned my head back in line for the shot, picked my spot, and released.
The sound of the string hitting my coat spooked him.[:@] He tried to duck and run, but he didnt move quite fast enough. The arrow hit him square in the neck, and dropped him on the spot.[] The big buck took a few leaps, and stopped, looking around. He slowly walked away. I look back at my buck, and thats when the adrenaline dump hit me, and I about feel out of the stinkin' tree. Sure he wasnt the big guy, but I dont care. I shot my first buck with my longbow, and life couldnt be better. Here' s a pic for you.

bobcat 10

nice deer.

go deep hunt hard.

Matt / PA

Kip,
Congrats! That' s makin meat the old fashioned way! I truly respect any of you traditional guys who take on that extra challenge.
I keep telling myself......." One of these days I' m gonna try that" . I used to be quite a good instinctive recurve shooter. Right now I don' t need any new hobbies though! It will come full circle though I' m sure.

Congrats again, that' s a trophy.[:-]

wear

Congrats

Kip

Thanks Matt. I bought a new Hoyt Havoc 2 years ago, and havent shot a deer with it yet. I have been kicking this around for a while now, and finally bought my longbow last fall from LBR. I' ve been building my own arrows, and really enjoying shooting. I' m walking about 3 feet above the ground right now.

justhunt

Nice deer, but where are the cams on your bow

cardeer

Looks like my first bow in 1960,congrates

Rickmur

Way to go Kip, now go get that big one. A real accomplishment with that is it a bow? . Congrats.

BOWFANATIC

Thats cool! Congrats!
I still haven' t broken the ice with my new recurve yet.

JeramyK

Congrats ! What an awesome experience that must have been.