Archery trip


Swamphunter

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Well, we are back and were not as successful as we had hoped. I did see quite a few deer including 1 nice buck, but never got a shot opportunity. We were hunting some private property that had management permits and we had to take antlerless only, although I still had my archery tag that would allow me to take an antlered deer. The first morning we got in just before sun-up and we were hunting from the ground. At 8:15am I saw movement and over a small knoll off my left shoulder I had 10 deer trotting right at me! They stopped at 6 yards when the lead doe spotted me. I had my bow almost into position at this point and she turned back to her left (facing away) she took off without ever giving me a shot opportunity.

The following morning I was setting up my Summit Climber a bit further up the hill, right as dawn. (We were late getting in). I heard a noise and looked up and saw an antlerless deer walking directly at me from they way I came in. I figured that since I had already attached my string to my bow for pulling up into the tree, and was still hooking up the second part of my climber, I would never have a chance, so I continued doing what I was doing. To my surprise, the deer stopped at 10 yards and watched me. After hooking the seat to the tree I decided what the heck, I have to fill an antlerless tag, if I can get a shot, I'll take it, then get in the tree. I picked my bow up slowly off the ground and unhooked the rope, took an arrow out of the quiver and the stood up. Realizing my release was still up my coat sleave, I monkeyed with that and then stood up, stepped out and the deer was now at about 16 yards. I released the arrow and he dropped where he stood. I had hit a bit high striking him in the spine. I went over and finished him with another second, well placed arrow. I dragged the button buck up behind the stand and climbed up into my tree. I sat for approximately 45 minutes and saw movement in front of me. I had a spike coming in and when he got to 20 yards gave me a very clear spine shot which I don't like to take intentionally, so I passed on the shot. He winded me or something, took a couple of hops and gave me a broadside shot. I released an arrow and struck a tree limb between him and I sending the arrow right into the ground. He ran out to 40 yards and gave me what appeared to be a beautiful 40 yard broadside shot. I released another arrow (4th of the day), and the arrow was headed right for the boiler room until it was deflected by what turned out to be a 1/2" twig (from a tree branch at about 25-30yards) that was not visible through my peep sight. Sent that arrow right into a sapling just in front of the deer! Man talk about bad luck. Since I carry only 4 arrows with broadheads into the field, I was now out of arrows about 1 1/2 hours into the hunt. The rest were back at camp. I tried to recover the two from the spike but the one was lodged in the tree and the other was broken on the ground. I then retrieved the one out of the button buck (lung shot) and saw it was still in excellent shape. I climbed back into the tree stand and with in another hour, I had a 6 or 8 point, couldn't tell for sure, but thought it was an 8, come up the hill off my right shoulder and although he was at 20 yards, he never gave me a real clear shot so I opted to pass. He turned and left the way he came in and that was it for the morning. Here is a picture of my antlerless management deer. Nice little button buck.

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