dg Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Well, I'm back from a week long bowhunting trip near the place in West Va. where I was born and raised. The leaves were gorgeous with all the colors of fall. Me and my best buddy from Ga went up to Gilmer Co. and joined some guys in a club we've never met, but they invited us from a post I made on another website for an opening day hunt. We had wind, lightning, thunder, 3 hail storms, rain, blue sky all in one day! Saw some deer and turkeys, but never got a shot at the deer. One of the guys in the club shot his first bow-kill (a doe). They were really a great bunch of guys and we had an awesome time hunting, eating chilli dogs, watching hunting videos, shooting the bows and the "schtuff'. We shook hands and departed and had a lasting memory. We really appreciated their hospitality. On Sunday (no hunting), we went and scouted a WMA where we would hunt. Walked some miles, found some sign, and prepped our stand for Monday morning. The temp was 32 degrees (just right) and at 0920, an 8-point came under my buddy's stand. He let a Spitfire XP right into the bucks chest and the deer dropped 20 ft away. We met at 1100, and took the buck into the checking station and then took it home and quartered it up. A front came through and it started pouring the rain down, so we went and visited some of my family that evening. Next morning, it was somewhat warmer, but at 0930, this 4-point came within 25 yards and my XT 55/75 Muzzy zipped through both lungs. The buck ran maybe 60 yards and crashed. Back to the "room of death" to do some more quartering! Wed and Thurs A.M. wasn't productive. Between the rain and temps in the 60's and someone running there dogs nearby, we didn't have any luck. Thurs afternoon (our last day), my brother-in-law mentioned we should go on top of a neighbors hill meadow and see if we could get one there. With no pressure to get meat, we all split up and hunted on the ground. We had deer running all over the place! One doe flew by me at 10 ft. I was hunkered down in some brush thank goodness. Then I saw a young deer (BB) poke it's head over the ridge to see what was going on. It saw me and didn't come closer. It ended up going back the way it come. After 30 minutes, I decided, to stalk it. Walking up over the ridge, I noticed it grazing near the woodline. I was in an open field then and all the cover I had was a tree with some brush at the base. I circled around and got the tree between him and me and creeped closer and closer. I ranged the woodline at 35 yards. He kept grazing to my right and and gave me an open shot. I held my 30 yard pin a little high and the shot went off automatically. The arrow flew true and smacked him in the shoulder. He ran 10 yds and crashed and didn't move. When I got within 20 yards, he took off through some brush. I let him go for an hour and tracked him where I found him dead. He's a tender one and will be good eating. That was my first bow-kill deer taken on the ground. It was dark, we had a deer to cut up "again", and it was time to pack up and head home the next day. We had an awesome time and reflected on our success on a 10,000 acre WMA that we've never set foot on before. After minimal scouting, we chose a location that would put us both within bow range. The bucks may not be wall-hangers, but they are trophies to us none-the-less. It was a great time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherguy Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt congrats, sounds like a great hunt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt Congratulations on the deer. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt It sounds like you had a great time and met some great knew folks too. Too bad the weather wasn't a little more cooperative, but it doesn't sound like it hampered you guys too much. Congrats on your deer ....good eats for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt sounds like you guys had a great trip. congrats on the deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckshot Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt Sounds like you had a great time! Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem308 Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt Way to go! Sounds like a great time and some real good people up in Gilmer Co. Good luck w/ the rest of your season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg Posted October 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt Thanks y'all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt Congrats dg! I'm hoping to have some of your luck in Ohio, week after next! Take care Bud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanH Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt Sounds like a pretty good time! Congrats on the deer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Back From WV Bowhunt Glad someone had the luck in W Va. Our group of 7 only managed 3 deer in 6 days of hard hunting. The mast wasn't there so our usual spots weren't too great. We did get some great scouting in though and I learned where they go if the mast is gone.......good to know for next year. Wasn't that weather something? I don't ever remember it like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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