First Primitive WT (AZ coues).The "Whisper" bow kills.

[RabidApache]

I had many opportunities to harvest a doe this year but I decided long ago it was a buck only for me with my own handcrafted Natural equipment.
First off, the equipment is a 62"ntn Mulberry selfie backed with elk sinew. The bow is a little light for me at 48# @27". The arrows are 32" cedars tipped with Ribteks and vintage Fred Bear RH. I chose cedar just because I needed a little more consistency with my shooting. I practice further than most primitive archers at ranges from 20-45yds. Seems 25-30yds is the magic stalking number for me.
Well anyway we hunted hard, 3 blown stalks and a couple bucks we just passed.
This day was a little windy, which I love. This adds a little edge on my side especially in dry conditions. Coues deer are also known as the "grey ghosts" for a reason. Wary X10, due to everything out in the SW trying to eat them.
So I'm glassing this old mining road (1920-30's trail). Its basically a game trail now but it funnels critters through this wooded area. After an hour I spot a nice shooter buck 3x3 (8pt) and a forkie working their way to the trail. I immediately grab my gear and quickly hurry over since they now are obscured by a little ridge. It takes me 20mins and I slowly scan ahead trying to locate any movement.
I slowly creep forward on the trail, I'm now in the immediate area when I spot the 8pt to my right slowly working its way down a steep drainage at ~45yds. Dang it too far! I was a little too late in my timing when trying to intercept them crossing the road. I am still standing there when I hear foot steps on my left. At 32yds the forkie is now standing straight on and staring at me. Probably looking for his buddy. I concentrate for the base of the neck and let her fly. The buck does a back flip and crashes thru the tangle and dies on the edge of the trail. All this in less then a minutes time. After the shot, I just knelt down and gave thanks while watching the buck expire. I knew it was a good hit but I would have never thought I would have pierced the heart. We found out later when we gutted, the BH entered just 1" left of brisket crest and through the heart. The arrow never exited.

[Peacebow_Coos]

Nice fork n' spoon, sounds like a good day congratulations, and nice shot!

[RabidApache]

Funny thing about the bow was I almost scrapped it . Basically I had a knot about mid limb on the back that lifted. So I chased about 2 rings to remove the splinter. Well that became 3 until finally by the fourth ring I had a solid back. My bow weight went from 58-60# to 48# after sinew backing for insurance. When comparing my 62# osage longbow, the mulberry bow is a dream to shoot and better accuracy.
At 48# the mulberry bow put a cedar arrow 26" into the buck through the brisket heart and partially through the diaphragm. Major damage.

[RyanR]

Congratulations. Nice deer. The light weight bows are easier to shoot consistently. 48#'s will get the job done every time with a well placed shot.

[osage outlaw]

Congratulations!  That looks like some rough country.  That must have been quite a challenge.  Well done sir.

[koan]

Congrats on a good hunt! I got 12-15 mullberry staves i cut in March just waitin for them to season some.. Lookin forword to workin some for the 1st time... Brian

[Badly Bent]

Nice buck and a good hunt, enjoyed reading about it.

[H Rhodes]

Congratulations on your success.  Sounds like a fine day of hunting.

[Dave 55]

Congratulations taking a coues deer while stalking,what you gonna do next!

[Pappy]

Congrats,enjoyed the story,thanks for sharing.Nice buck.
 Pappy

[JackCrafty]

Great story and very inspiring hunt!

[lowell]

Very nice... congrats!!!   Good story!!