Greetings everyone!!
Been reading the discussions for a while and figured it was time to sign up, introduce myself, and join in.
Born in Houston and grew up roaming the woods, fields, and creek bottoms of North Harris County. Sure looked a lot different back then…and I miss the way it was.
I’ve been bowhunting for about 40 years now, more if you count hunting squirrels, rabbits, and frogs with a cheap fiberglass recurve as a kid…lol. Missed a few seasons when family matters and being a single parent took priority.
I am very fortunate to have been introduced to the sport by a man who had been bowhunting all his life and had taken just about every North American big game animal with traditional equipment, except for maybe a Kodiak Brown Bear. Practically growing up in the woods and having killed a few deer with a gun I was not new to hunting, but his willingness to share his years of knowledge saved me much trial and error and was priceless to me. With his encouragement, I bought a Bear Whitetail bow when I was 15 and answered the challenge of bowhunting for deer.
My very first hunt with it is one I will always remember. I set up a wooden platform in a oak tree overlooking a small clearing and a scrape line, and the next afternoon after school found me perched there. Only had to wait about 30 minutes when the biggest non-typical I ever saw (and still is) came walking by at 15 yards, an old gray faced buck with way more points and kickers than I could count. I drew back, my Bear Razorhead tipped cedar arrow nervously bouncing on the rest, and let it fly straight for his heart. It never got there. That buck almost laid out flat as the arrow sailed well over his back. Disappointed, but instantly addicted to the adrenaline rush and obsessed with this buck, I hunted him all season. I never saw him again until 2 years later when his skull was found locked with that of another buck a few miles away. He scored 181.
Determined to be successful and realizing the limitations of my bow, the next season found me hunting with a faster Jennings compound, aluminum shafts, and modified Zwickey broadheads. History repeated itself, and the first rutting activity brought a beautiful wide 8 point strutting by at 10 yards. Again, this one ducked the arrow and ran off snorting unscathed. Heartbroken but with a greater determination, I kept at it and was rewarded with my first bow killed Whitetail the last day of bowseason…a 5 point that I shot while standing on a small board nailed 35 ft. up in the fork of a big pine tree. I knew I was stupid to be that high in a tree, but teenagers feel invincible. I was hooked on the stick and string for life!!
I moved up to a much faster Pearson Renegade not long after that, and consistently filled my tags with it every season. Like an old reliable friend, I still hunt with it. I’ve taken countless animals over the past decades, but am most proud to be able to say that while I have missed a couple, I have only lost one. Thankfully, that pretty 10 point survived and was killed by a neighbor chasing a doe 2 weeks later.
I owe a lot to that old bowhunter. He taught me a lifetime of knowledge at an early age. The importance of finely tuned equipment and shaving sharp broadheads, practicing until the bow is almost an extension of yourself, unlimited patience to wait for and take only the perfect shot, persistence in blood tracking, and a reverent respect for the animal…all keys to success.
Sorry for the long rambling intro…guess the obsession never dies.
Glad to be on the forum...I know ya’ll are a great bunch of guys and gals!!
Wishing everyone heavy blood trails!!
Been reading the discussions for a while and figured it was time to sign up, introduce myself, and join in.
Born in Houston and grew up roaming the woods, fields, and creek bottoms of North Harris County. Sure looked a lot different back then…and I miss the way it was.
I’ve been bowhunting for about 40 years now, more if you count hunting squirrels, rabbits, and frogs with a cheap fiberglass recurve as a kid…lol. Missed a few seasons when family matters and being a single parent took priority.
I am very fortunate to have been introduced to the sport by a man who had been bowhunting all his life and had taken just about every North American big game animal with traditional equipment, except for maybe a Kodiak Brown Bear. Practically growing up in the woods and having killed a few deer with a gun I was not new to hunting, but his willingness to share his years of knowledge saved me much trial and error and was priceless to me. With his encouragement, I bought a Bear Whitetail bow when I was 15 and answered the challenge of bowhunting for deer.
My very first hunt with it is one I will always remember. I set up a wooden platform in a oak tree overlooking a small clearing and a scrape line, and the next afternoon after school found me perched there. Only had to wait about 30 minutes when the biggest non-typical I ever saw (and still is) came walking by at 15 yards, an old gray faced buck with way more points and kickers than I could count. I drew back, my Bear Razorhead tipped cedar arrow nervously bouncing on the rest, and let it fly straight for his heart. It never got there. That buck almost laid out flat as the arrow sailed well over his back. Disappointed, but instantly addicted to the adrenaline rush and obsessed with this buck, I hunted him all season. I never saw him again until 2 years later when his skull was found locked with that of another buck a few miles away. He scored 181.
Determined to be successful and realizing the limitations of my bow, the next season found me hunting with a faster Jennings compound, aluminum shafts, and modified Zwickey broadheads. History repeated itself, and the first rutting activity brought a beautiful wide 8 point strutting by at 10 yards. Again, this one ducked the arrow and ran off snorting unscathed. Heartbroken but with a greater determination, I kept at it and was rewarded with my first bow killed Whitetail the last day of bowseason…a 5 point that I shot while standing on a small board nailed 35 ft. up in the fork of a big pine tree. I knew I was stupid to be that high in a tree, but teenagers feel invincible. I was hooked on the stick and string for life!!
I moved up to a much faster Pearson Renegade not long after that, and consistently filled my tags with it every season. Like an old reliable friend, I still hunt with it. I’ve taken countless animals over the past decades, but am most proud to be able to say that while I have missed a couple, I have only lost one. Thankfully, that pretty 10 point survived and was killed by a neighbor chasing a doe 2 weeks later.
I owe a lot to that old bowhunter. He taught me a lifetime of knowledge at an early age. The importance of finely tuned equipment and shaving sharp broadheads, practicing until the bow is almost an extension of yourself, unlimited patience to wait for and take only the perfect shot, persistence in blood tracking, and a reverent respect for the animal…all keys to success.
Sorry for the long rambling intro…guess the obsession never dies.
Glad to be on the forum...I know ya’ll are a great bunch of guys and gals!!
Wishing everyone heavy blood trails!!
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