HuntNWOHIO
10-12-2009, 10:10 AM
Well after an almost 2 year slump, I finally got an arrow on a deer with my bow. in 2007 I was dead set on arrowing a big buck. I let all does pass and was waiting on a mature buck. After 175 hours in the stand in 2007, I had to eat my tags and move on.
Last year was a very frustrating year as I had well over 200 hours on stand and everything that could go wrong, DID! Misses, being winded, jumping deer going in, I tell you if it CAN happen it DID last year. At the end of the year I was tired and frustrated.
After a busy off season with not much time to scout/run cams/etc. I climbed into a ladder stand I've had up for about 7 years on opening morning. I had a doe come in to 23 yards and for reason I thought it was a good idea to shoot my 40 yard pin. Well over her back she blew and took off. I thought to myself "not another year of this". So as I was climbing down I get half way down the ladder and see that she is coming back in. I get her to 30 yards but no shot opportunity.
Saturday morning I decide to give it another shot in the ladder stand to see if I can arrow on one of the many mature does I've been seeing. about 8:45 I hear crunching coming through the woods. By I get turned around 3 does are right on me. I go to draw and the third doe sees me and they take off, NO SHOT!
I debated on even going on Saturday after the events of the morning, but my hunting partner/cousin talked me into going. So I smoked up real good (wind was completely wrong) and I climbed in a stand about 60 yards from where some acorns have been falling, between there and a bedding area. About 6:30 I see a mature doe feeding on acorns about 60 yards downwind. I figured I was busted when she started walking toward me. She never winded me at all and came right in to 18 yards.
She was quartering away slightly and I let a rage fly. Hit her perfectly and she jump kicked and went about 40 yards and went down. It was an easy recovery and she is on the way to the meat shop for summer sausage as we speak.
I tell you what it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. After 2 years that one felt REAL good! I definately needed that, with the rut slowly approaching, I feel alot better now that I got one under my belt.
Sorry for not having pictures, I will throw my digital cam in the pack from now on!
Last year was a very frustrating year as I had well over 200 hours on stand and everything that could go wrong, DID! Misses, being winded, jumping deer going in, I tell you if it CAN happen it DID last year. At the end of the year I was tired and frustrated.
After a busy off season with not much time to scout/run cams/etc. I climbed into a ladder stand I've had up for about 7 years on opening morning. I had a doe come in to 23 yards and for reason I thought it was a good idea to shoot my 40 yard pin. Well over her back she blew and took off. I thought to myself "not another year of this". So as I was climbing down I get half way down the ladder and see that she is coming back in. I get her to 30 yards but no shot opportunity.
Saturday morning I decide to give it another shot in the ladder stand to see if I can arrow on one of the many mature does I've been seeing. about 8:45 I hear crunching coming through the woods. By I get turned around 3 does are right on me. I go to draw and the third doe sees me and they take off, NO SHOT!
I debated on even going on Saturday after the events of the morning, but my hunting partner/cousin talked me into going. So I smoked up real good (wind was completely wrong) and I climbed in a stand about 60 yards from where some acorns have been falling, between there and a bedding area. About 6:30 I see a mature doe feeding on acorns about 60 yards downwind. I figured I was busted when she started walking toward me. She never winded me at all and came right in to 18 yards.
She was quartering away slightly and I let a rage fly. Hit her perfectly and she jump kicked and went about 40 yards and went down. It was an easy recovery and she is on the way to the meat shop for summer sausage as we speak.
I tell you what it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. After 2 years that one felt REAL good! I definately needed that, with the rut slowly approaching, I feel alot better now that I got one under my belt.
Sorry for not having pictures, I will throw my digital cam in the pack from now on!