My first 34 days (Stories and pics)

rhine16

By rhine16
in Bowhunting

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rhine16 Monster Buck

rhine16

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Well folks, I haven't taken the time to post anything from my season so far, so I'll do it as a bulk post. I have definitely been a fortunate hunter so far this year. If you have 5 minutes please give it a read.

“You know, if I don’t kill a buck this season, I think I’m going to have to find a new hobby.” That was what I told my dad just a couple weeks prior to the opening of season. Nine seasons of bowhunting had left me without a single buck harvest. Though I had had countless opportunities, I’d always found a way to mess it up. What I said to my dad reflected my feelings well. To be honest, I don’t think I would ever give up bowhunting, but the failures were really getting old.

Fast forward to the opening weekend of bow season- Four hours into my third hunt of the season, I glimpsed a buck moving on the other side of my food plot. As he was moving quickly, I grabbed my bow and drew back. A combination of guessing my range to be 45 when it was actually 38, and a quick duck from the buck, sent my arrow sailing just over his back. So just 4 days into the season, and I’ve picked up right where I left off.

Now, moving on to October 18th and my fourteenth hunt of the season. While talking to my granddad after the morning hunt, he told me where he thought I should go that evening. I was sort of pessimistic at first, but in the end decided to give it a shot.

That evening I walked into the spot and found a good tree to climb in the area. Basically, I was hunting the lower end of a fingerling of oaks. A trail came off the neighboring property which serves as a bedding area. Right around six o’ clock, a doe crossed the fence and walked into my setup. At a mere 12 yards, she turned broadside and I touched off on my release. Thwack! She went down on the spot and expired quickly. I had her in the truck 30 minutes before dark!

My 10/18/08 doe

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Here is a map of where I shot her. The blue dot is my stand site. The red is her route.

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So a doe was in the freezer, now it was time for a buck. That would happen on 10/28/08, my 21st hunt of the young season.

The evening was particularly cool for a Mississippi October evening. It was 53 degrees when I left the truck two and a half hours before dark. I climbed up and got settled in my lock on at 4:45. Figuring I had plenty of time before deer would show up, I pulled out my Psychology notebook and began studying for my test the next morning. However, I didn’t get a page of notes read. The familiar walking sound of a deer interrupted. The deer ended up being a doe, but sensing something was wrong, she decided not to come into my food plot five yards from the opening.

Thirty minutes later I hear another deer. Watching him through the trees I spot horns and ready myself for a shot. He gave me a couple shots in the woods at 35 yards, but I passed figuring he would make his way into the plot. He got on the same trail as the doe, but backed out exactly where she did. So, I get to watch him back out and listen to him feed his way down the hill through the oaks.

Twenty minutes later, a doe and her two fawns made their way down the same trail. They decided to come into my food plot though. Upon hearing deer stepping out into my plot, the small buck made his way back. I watched as he checked everything out from the safety of the woods. Deciding it was okay, he made his way out. After what seemed like an eternity, he turned his head so I could draw. At 23 yards and slightly quartering to me, I took the shot. Thwack, he turns and runs with the arrow buried in him.

I gave him 45 minutes and went after him. 40 yards into the trail I found my buck piled up. Upon seeing him, I hit a knee and thanked the Lord a kazillion times. He’s just a small seven pointer, but I am more than happy with him. 9 seasons and 28 days were more than worth the wait!

My first bow buck

"]http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x216/rhine16/100_1547.jpg[/img]100_1548.jpg

Here’s the map for this hunt. I’ve filled in my foodplot with green. Stand site is blue, deer is the redfirstbuckmap.jpg

The weather turned warm the day after I killed my buck, so I decided to stay at school for the weekend, watch the football game, and relax. After all, I was coming home election day eve and election day to hunt and vote. So Monday afternoon I made my way home. Having to take a quiz after my last class of the day had me running late, but I got to the farm around four o’clock. I’d left my EZ hanger in a tree the Monday before, so I decided to hunt there mainly so I could get it.

I arrived at my tree around 4:20. My spot is a block of oak woods. The neighboring properties are much thicker and serve as bedding areas. This is not an area I frequent, but I usually check up on it once or twice in the early season. I climbed 30ish feet in a pine tree, put my mask and release on, and pulled my bow up. [/font]

Upon getting everything ready, I stopped and just surveyed the woods. The first thing I saw was a squirrel flickering his tail on a white oak tree in front of me. I looked at how the woods had changed in the 6 days I’d been away. Wow, it was beautiful. And then….. It hit me. Tears filled my eyes and everything got cloudy. To be honest, I’d been wondering since I’d shot my deer when it would set in. Nine whole seasons, hundreds and hundreds of hunts, and so many hours spent preparing, and it had finally happened. I thanked the Lord once again, basically telling him that my goal was met for the season and that if I didn’t harvest another deer all year that I’d be more than content.

Anyway, I finally got over the sappy stuff. At 6:00 I heard a deer jump the fence about 40 yards in front of me. I listened as it made its way toward. I finally glimpsed it at about 25 yards. He’s got a rack! And a pretty decent one! He fed his way in oh so slowly. Offering no shot all the way to the base of my tree, he caught my wind and trotted off a few yards. I drew and he stopped seven yards from the base of my tree. I put an arrow in him and he piled up 35 yards from my tree. Years and years of doing this, and all of a sudden I have killed a buck on consecutive hunts! Wow!

My 11/3/08 8 point

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Here is the map of where the hunt took place. The black is my property line.

8pointmap.jpg

So just 34 days into the season, I only have one more buck tag. I will try to hold out for one that will push pope and young. I will without a doubt get to play guide for my little brother the majority of the time this year. That will be a lot of fun! Hopefully, I’ll be able to put him on a good buck.

Thanks for taking the time to read this,

Rhine

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Rhino Monster Buck

Rhino

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Congrats Rhine...one...two...three deer in the bag...needless to say you were over due for a buck or two with your bow bud. Friends and family may be rubbing your head for luck now. :D

Glad to see you're having a great season so far this year. Lots of time left to top it off with a P&Y buck too. ;)

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Bowtech_archer07 Monster Buck

Bowtech_archer07

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Sounds like some awesome hunts and congrats to you!! I had the opportunity and was fortunate enough to harvest a buck the second year that I bowhunted, that was in 2001. Since then I have yet to harvest another buck, but have had countless chances, I've just flat-out missed. I definitely look back on that opportunity at the chance to get a buck that early on in my hunting career, I was definitely lucky.

Congrats again rhine and hope you get a crack at the P&Y!!!!:D

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