Two Down

[Greenhead]

Got into the stand about fifteen minutes before daylight. Settled in and waited for some action. It was one of those still cold mornings where you could hear everything. It felt as if it was going to be one of those "perfect" mornings. Had a group of turkeys roosting near me so I was listening to them wake up and get going with a lot of yelping and the occasional "jake" gobble. When it finally started getting light enough in the swamp for an ethical shot I thought I heard a deer coming through. I go ahead, stand, an intensely start listening for the source and direction. I could hear something but could not quite make up my mind on what it was. A good five minutes passed when I heard that distinctive sound that we all love to hear. The methodical, heavy, dragging hoofs of a mature deer. I knew he should be a good one before I ever laid eyes on him. I went ahead and grabbed the bow and started slowly spinning to the right trying to jockey for position before he was on top of me. TOO LATE! He was walking through my shooting lane at ten yards. No problem, he will be walking through the second opening in a second so I start tightening the string. BAM! He bolted like I had shot at him with a rifle. I still am not sure what he heard or saw but he did not like it. Running straight away from me for about sixty yards he stopped and looked back. I figured it was over and already commenced to mentally kicking my own butt. I did manage to fumble for my grunt call and when he settled down and started easing off I hit him with a soft bleat. He stopped in his tracks for a minute or so and looked back for the source. I waited until he started his next step and then hit him with a low grunt. To my disbelief the joker turned and starts walking the opposite side of the ridge swinging back around to me. He buffed up and went into the stiff legged swagger obviously looking to whoop someone's tail. The path he was taking would have him at 35 yards straight in front of me. As soon as he got behind some cover I went ahead and drew. I had planned on bleating to stop him in the shooting lane but he stopped on his own looking for another deer. Schwack!!!!! Man he was gone in a flash! Swamp seemed to explode for a few seconds and then silence. Shot felt and sounded good but I could not see my arrow in flight. (Need some firenocks) Here come the shakes! Believe me when I say that I was already tore slam up from the earlier events but these where the shakes that all of us archery hunters live for. Figured I would make myself do the right thing and sit for another hour just to give him plenty of time. And to enjoy the "perfect" morning that had unfolded.

Forty five minutes later of fighting off the urge of getting down and those doubtful thoughts that try to creep into a bow hunters head, I caught some movement and tried to zero in on it. I could not make out anything through the thick cover and was about to chalk it up as a squirrel. But again catching movement, I realized it was a big dark bodied deer that was partially hidden behind the trees and undergrowth. As I could see the body well enough I felt that it had to belong to a mature buck. I decided right then I was going to shoot him if he gave me a chance. So I eased out another grunt and he snapped to attention. He then proceeded to make a beeline to me and closed at least seventy yards in matter of minutes. Schwack!!! Needless to say I was ready and drilled him at less than ten yards. Again the swamp exploded for a second time and then fell silent. I almost messed up by letting him get to close for a bad shot angle but it all worked out.
There is such a thing as being too close.

I have been taking my Lab (June) to let her work on a blood trail if the opportunity arose. I went ahead and gathered up my stuff and headed back to get her. The dog went fool when she smelt the blood on my arrow and ended up working the blood trails to both deer. The eight went about 80 yards and the seven went around 150 yards. Made for some long drags back! I am getting old my friend. Watching my lab work was some very sweet icing on the cake. I think she has figured out what was going on. Might have a track dog after all.

The eight point went 201 lbs and the seven 168 lbs. Not bad for some old acorn eating swamp deer.

So needless to say, I had a Great morning but it made for a Long Day and Even Longer Night due to having to work!

And To the gentleman I met at the truck. You were right!!! We taking that conversation to our grave I hope.

[stlhunr]

Thats an adrenalin overdose for sure, great hunt...

[minecreek]

Great hunt I bet your nerves were gone after a morning like that great job and 2 nice bucks.

[SnakeHuntress]

Congrats... that is an awesome morning hunt... especially with a bow...

[scruboak28]

Awesome-now that you are done with that horseshoe can I please borrow it for a Day---congrats

[sonofdsouth72]

sorry scrub he done promised it to me !! . again congrats my friend on 2 great deer and a great hunt .

[lattasoftball]

Greenhead,

Man I am proud for you. All that practice we have done paid off for you for sure. I am going to get one with the bow before this year is up...Those are two fine bucks my friend..

[ntyson]

Two great bucks. You wanna let me sit that stand a few times.

[bentrod]

Congrats on the great deer.

[Southern Pines]

Great article and enjoyed it along with the pictures.
Congrats on a great -BOW HUNT.

[Lowcountry1]

A double with the bow, now that does not happen to often. Congratulations!

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www.huntingthelowcountry.com

[mrsracing]

I got shook up just reading this. Congratulations on a successful bow hunt.

[flatcreek]

congrats on two great deer. NOTHING like like those good ol bow kills.

that is freakin awsome!!! greenhead you could write hunting novels lol!

[Tee2]

Is it hunting season yet??????? Dang that gave me cold chills reading it!!

Late congrats Greenhead.

[led0321]

I am glad Tee posted on this or I wouldn't have seen it. Nice Deer!!

[Greenhead]

Thanks for all the comments. I find that the older I get the worse the memory gets. So now I try and write the stuff down while it is still fresh. My Uncle would fuss at me for not taking the time to do so because I would have some good ones for him. I wish that I had taken his advice earlier and write down my hunts over the years. I have seen some great performances by mother nature and God's creatures and have a harder time remembering the details. Some of the stuff I have seen I have kept to myself just because I know no one else would believe me. (I am sure most hunters have seen the same) I guess the older I get the more sentimental I get. My advice to you younger guys, start a journal now! It will seem cheesy now but You will appreciate it later.