Connected on this doe yesterday afternoon. Sorry for the unnatural backyard photos but had no camera with me in the woods. This has been a season of good hunting and bad shooting for me. Bad news is this was my 7th shot before I connected, good news is I've been
within range of that many deer, all misses over the back except one under the chest so no deer were wounded. On all the shots not one
deer knew what had happened, my bow has been super silent.
This one came in from behind with mister big in tow at a fast trot. At 20 yards off my right shoulder she caught a faint whiff of me and
jumped sideways and stopped with her nose in the air. Mr. big continued until 18yds to my right and stops with just his head, neck and rump exposed from behind a tree. No shot possible at his vitals and they stood like statues for 10 intense minutes trying to figure out if there was any danger present. Finally she started to circle behind me nose in the air trying to locate the source of the smell.
Now I would have to make a decision soon or she was going to blow out of there with him in tow. I wanted this wide heavy racked 10 pointer real bad. I'd had a shot at him 6 days earlier as he passed thru alone and missed just under his chest. I saw him slip thru behind me three days later again! This was my third opportunity but it was looking good.
I look back at him to confirm that I can't reach his vitals with an arrow then lean around my tree and send one on its way to the doe.My shot buries to the fletch in her chest and she runs full speed away from me and piles up at 45 yds. away. Meanwhile Mr. big is still not moving. After a few more minutes he circles around behind me then starts trotting by on my left toward the doe. After 5 or 6 loud mouth grunts I stop him at 18 yds then send a stone tipped viburnum shaft just close enough to cut a few hairs off his back. He trots to the dead doe and stand there licking her for the next 20 minutes until dark. Tried to call him back with poorly imitated mouth grunts but he would not budge. Maybe I'll get another chance at him, we'll see.
Sorry for the long winded story but I know some guys like to here about others hunts I know I do.
Doe shot with my 57" - 57# lilly lake osage bow, shoot shaft arrow with selfnocks and wild turkey fletch and steel two blade head.
Thanks for looking gang,
Greg
