Saturday Evening

After a long nap and some great burgers cooked up by David, one of the other hunters in camp, Daniel and I headed back out to the same stand setup that we hunted this morning, confident that this evening's results would be better than this morning's.  

As we walked in, it appeared that nothing had touched the corn that remained from this morning.  

We were set up by 5:15 and waited patiently.  There was no action until the feeder went off, at which time we perked up waiting for something to come in.  

We heard a doe blowing in the distance.  She blew for several minutes, but seemed to get a little closer to us.  I'm not sure what it was that had her disturbed, but I don't think she had us winded, as the wind was predominantly from her direction.  Whatever it was, she didn't like it and never came in to view.

Daniel must have overdone it with that last hamburger before we left, and had to get down out of the stand to try to calm his upset stomach.  After a few minutes, he climbed slowly back into place and braved out the illness and continued to hunt.

One of the small bucks from this morning came in late, but didn't stay around very long.  Darkness settled in, and we reluctantly climbed down for the evening. 

While our evening was uneventful, Kavin had a different tale when we returned to camp.  I'll see if I can relay his story. 

Kavin was still getting situated in his stand, when he unsnapped the buckle on his pack, and suddenly heard a deer blow out from below him!  He looked up to see a fine buck running through the brush.  The buck stopped behind him and hung around for five or ten minutes.

Another ten minutes, and Kavin spotted a group of four does and a button buck approaching from the west of his stand.  He readied himself for a shot if it presented.  Every time he attempted to draw, the deer spooked.  Fifteen minutes and finally he managed to get drawn on a doe that was quartering away.  He loosed the arrow and watched as it sailed harmlessly to the right of the deer!  The deer scattered, and then reconvened at the backside of the feeder about ten minutes after Kavin's shot.  That sure speaks volumes for the quietness of his Sweptwing recurve. 

Suddenly, something caused the deer to spook, and all vacated the area except for one lone doe.  She was standing just on the other side of a nightlight that is setup near the feeder for nighttime hog hunting.  Kavin drew on the doe and drew a bead on the deer's vitals.  He loosed the arrow, and rather than a "thwap!" he heard instead a loud "KAR-RACK!"  Startled, Kavin quickly realized, as the doe fled, that the Goldtip arrow did not clear the night-light, but penetrated the plywood housing of the light! 

Although it was a perfect heart-shot on the light housing, I'm happy to report that the wound was not mortal, and Kavin was relieved when the light came on still in working order when it got dark!

Back at camp, Craig entered with a bit of blood on the leg of his pants, and reported that he had managed to arrow a doe. 

Daniel is feeling better, and his spirits are still high despite not seeing any does or hogs.  Ain't that the hunter's luck that when he can shoot anything except a buck, the only thing we've seen are bucks?!  Walking out of the woods, Daniel turned to me and said "We haven't seen much, but I'm having a great time!"  I'll tell you that I'm having a blast hunting with Daniel too. 

Things like I take for granted, like watching a small buck at 15 yards get startled and leave, he says into his radio "that was cool!"  You're right Daniel, this is cool!  And it's going to be even cooler tomorrow watching you arrow your first deer!

Mack suggested our strategy for tomorrow:  Ask Kavin where he's going to hunt and then make him let us hunt there!  That might work!