I've been having a lot of problems so far this season with my arm/shoulder that has caused me to change where and how I hunt. I am back to shooting my youth bow and although I currently have it at 38 lbs, it is still slow compared to my Matthews which I still can not draw. I can not reach my left arm up enough to climb to most of my lock-ons, and although I could use my climber, I simply can't carry it right now, so I am religated to hunting from a blind or the one spot that I have a ladder stand. One of my spots has become over-run with bear, 4 and possibly 5 different ones, all but 1 of decent size too. So, needless to say, it's been a tough start for me this year and I have been frustrated to say the least.
Well, this afternoon, on my 18th sit, I finally got the monkey off my back and succeeded in harvesting my first bow doe this season. And even this afternoon's success did not come easy . . . she came in with a fawn and a bb and they were all very skittish and she really offered no shot. When she finally did, I drew back on her, but when I went to look down my site, in that moment, both the fawn and bb obstructed her and I sat in the blind at full draw for as long as I could until I had to let down and when I did, my arrow made a small clink noise which put her on high alert as she ran about 30 yards.
I sat there watching her and wondering if she would come back and offer another shot or if I had blown it. Well, she finally did come back and I wondered this time, with my arm, can I pull this bow back again . . . I gotta try if she offers a shot . . . well now only the bb stood in front of her and when he finally moved, I drew back, but as I was drawing, he took 2 steps backwards and his back-end was now in front of the front half of her. So, there I am again, at full draw, the voices in my head screaming . . . move, Move, MOVE !!! Finally he stepped forward and I let my arrow fly. As it hit I heard the THUMP but immediately thought . . . BAD SHOT as I could see my fletching mid body and right behind her rib cage. I watched her run about 70 yards then lay down.
Thinking gut shot or possibly liver shot, I waited until High Guy and another Deer Quest Team-Mate finished their hunt and they then joined me. We immediately went to where I last saw her, approached slowly, but caught her glassy, stone cold eyes, on the ground with our flashlights. She expired right where I saw her lay down. And although I was fairly certain that I did not get a pass through, we found my arrow only about 5 feet from where she was standing when I shot.
I certainlly hope the next one is easier . . .
![Image]()
Well, this afternoon, on my 18th sit, I finally got the monkey off my back and succeeded in harvesting my first bow doe this season. And even this afternoon's success did not come easy . . . she came in with a fawn and a bb and they were all very skittish and she really offered no shot. When she finally did, I drew back on her, but when I went to look down my site, in that moment, both the fawn and bb obstructed her and I sat in the blind at full draw for as long as I could until I had to let down and when I did, my arrow made a small clink noise which put her on high alert as she ran about 30 yards.
I sat there watching her and wondering if she would come back and offer another shot or if I had blown it. Well, she finally did come back and I wondered this time, with my arm, can I pull this bow back again . . . I gotta try if she offers a shot . . . well now only the bb stood in front of her and when he finally moved, I drew back, but as I was drawing, he took 2 steps backwards and his back-end was now in front of the front half of her. So, there I am again, at full draw, the voices in my head screaming . . . move, Move, MOVE !!! Finally he stepped forward and I let my arrow fly. As it hit I heard the THUMP but immediately thought . . . BAD SHOT as I could see my fletching mid body and right behind her rib cage. I watched her run about 70 yards then lay down.
Thinking gut shot or possibly liver shot, I waited until High Guy and another Deer Quest Team-Mate finished their hunt and they then joined me. We immediately went to where I last saw her, approached slowly, but caught her glassy, stone cold eyes, on the ground with our flashlights. She expired right where I saw her lay down. And although I was fairly certain that I did not get a pass through, we found my arrow only about 5 feet from where she was standing when I shot.
I certainlly hope the next one is easier . . .
