I've only been hunting for the last five years after being introduced to it by some guys I work with. I fell in love with my quiet time in the woods and seem to plan my work schedule around the next hunting trip these days. I took up bow hunting last year and really enjoyed the simplicity of the bow. I also love being able to practice year round right in my own backyard. Although I didn't take a deer with a bow last year, I fell in love with the closeness to the deer and the challenges it presented.
I hunt on my grandparents farm in Oklahoma on the border of Tulsa and Rogers county on the Caney River. Last week was the opener for rifle so I took my son up there to spend some quality time in the deer stand. We were lucky enough to have a nice tall 10 point chasing a doe 240 yards to the right of us in an open pasture. My son put a nice shot on him with his 6.8 SPC rifle that I built for him two years ago. I was thrilled that my son had a blast and got a nice deer. He's shot two bucks, one doe, and a coyote with that rifle and we've had a great time hunting together. I hope it's a tradition that continues and my favorite hunts have always been with him.
The next evening, I went out in hopes of bagging a doe with my bow. A front had just rolled through and the previous 24 hours had been very windy. It was now very calm and I had high hopes. Very early in my hunt I had a doe at the tree line to my right. I decided that when she presented a shot I would take it. I watched her milling around at the tree line for around 30 minutes but would not come into the clearing. I then noticed a young eight point that was shadowing her every move. I was able to glass the young buck through the brush and decided that I needed to let him walk so my attention remained on the doe. The doe and young buck then circled my ladder stand through the brush and entered the pasture to my left. The young buck stood directly in front of the doe at 20 yards and I couldn't help but laugh to myself as my line of sight was again blocked.
At this point, I'm focused on getting a clear shot at the doe when they both look up across the pasture. I look to see what has their attention and there is a 12 point wheezing and grunting as he runs across the pasture directly to where the doe and young buck are at. This was fast and furious and I had never seen this deer on camera and didn't have a chance to glass him as he came at a dead run to challenge the young buck. I quickly realized that he would pass in a direct line right in front of me if he didn't change his current course. Sure enough, he ran directly in front of me and I grunted at him once I reached full draw. He stopped at 30 yards and I sent my arrow. I watched the arrow drop in behind his shoulder and heard the thud as he kicked up and started to run. He ran about 40 yards in the open pasture and I watched him go down.
This was an exciting moment for me and one I will never forget. I truly love bow hunting and the challenges it presents. I can't wait to get back out there.
Bear Strike with Easton Storm Arrow and Rage Broad Head
I hunt on my grandparents farm in Oklahoma on the border of Tulsa and Rogers county on the Caney River. Last week was the opener for rifle so I took my son up there to spend some quality time in the deer stand. We were lucky enough to have a nice tall 10 point chasing a doe 240 yards to the right of us in an open pasture. My son put a nice shot on him with his 6.8 SPC rifle that I built for him two years ago. I was thrilled that my son had a blast and got a nice deer. He's shot two bucks, one doe, and a coyote with that rifle and we've had a great time hunting together. I hope it's a tradition that continues and my favorite hunts have always been with him.
The next evening, I went out in hopes of bagging a doe with my bow. A front had just rolled through and the previous 24 hours had been very windy. It was now very calm and I had high hopes. Very early in my hunt I had a doe at the tree line to my right. I decided that when she presented a shot I would take it. I watched her milling around at the tree line for around 30 minutes but would not come into the clearing. I then noticed a young eight point that was shadowing her every move. I was able to glass the young buck through the brush and decided that I needed to let him walk so my attention remained on the doe. The doe and young buck then circled my ladder stand through the brush and entered the pasture to my left. The young buck stood directly in front of the doe at 20 yards and I couldn't help but laugh to myself as my line of sight was again blocked.
At this point, I'm focused on getting a clear shot at the doe when they both look up across the pasture. I look to see what has their attention and there is a 12 point wheezing and grunting as he runs across the pasture directly to where the doe and young buck are at. This was fast and furious and I had never seen this deer on camera and didn't have a chance to glass him as he came at a dead run to challenge the young buck. I quickly realized that he would pass in a direct line right in front of me if he didn't change his current course. Sure enough, he ran directly in front of me and I grunted at him once I reached full draw. He stopped at 30 yards and I sent my arrow. I watched the arrow drop in behind his shoulder and heard the thud as he kicked up and started to run. He ran about 40 yards in the open pasture and I watched him go down.
This was an exciting moment for me and one I will never forget. I truly love bow hunting and the challenges it presents. I can't wait to get back out there.
Bear Strike with Easton Storm Arrow and Rage Broad Head
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