Opening weekend i had a chance to take this buck 2 separate times, both from 25+ yards out. Thats definitely within my kill range but i figured i'd rather not risk it and try and nab him another time. The feeder is surrounded by pretty thick brush so, being a "rookie", i was worried about tracking and what not. Sat out in the same spot the next 2 days and he didn't show up again. Living 3 hours away from the ranch and knowing the ranch hand's grandkids are big bowhunters and knew about this particular deer i was eager to get back.
The next weekend, 2nd weekend of season, I had Austin City Limits tickets for Friday to see my first Phish show. Ended up selling them to go back and try my luck on this deer again. I didn't want to get beat to the kill.
The first morning back he came in around 6:50 in low light. A little more light came in, the feeder went off and it was go time. I was pretty nervous to say the least. Although he was now only 20 yards away it was still my first deer kill. Drew back, took aim, and let my slick trick fly. Although it was still fairly dark i thought i got lungs, maybe a little far back, but was fairly comfortable with the shot. I waited 2 hours to retrieve the arrow and let the other deer work their way away from the feeder. Found the arrow with a little blood on it, some hair, and some other "internal juices". Looked for where i thought the deer took off and couldn't track it. There was no blood on the ground where i shot him at or any the direction he ran. I then waited on my buddy to come back with the truck and we then looked around for 30-45 mins but couldn't find the deer. We then went and picked up his uncle who has been in the deer game since he could walk and "keep a look out for the game warden". ha ha. We all then went back and looked around for another hour maybe hour and a half. Nothing. I then found blood splattered on the feeder leg from the exit hole so i knew i hit him. But, still no blood trail. After that, I tried to convince a neighbor to bring his black mouth cur over to track him but he wouldn't because he was worried about the dogs feet. He also, after looking at my arrow didn't think i had killed the deer. Didn't quite help the situation or my attitude but i was determined to find the deer or keep looking.
Me and my other 2 friends I brought went back a 3rd time that day and looked around for another hour or two and didn't find anything. I was pretty down on things. Sat back in the same stand that evening and all the usual suspects came back but not the one i was after. The usuals confirmed my thoughts of a decent hit from the relation of their bodies to the blood on the feeder leg. Left the stand with a little light and search for another 30mins before picking up the other hunters and calling it a day.
Slept in this morning. My friend took a doe for his first bow kill and while they were dressing it i went back to the scene. This time I tried to use a little more common sense to track the deer from where i saw him take off after the shot. Sure enough i though right and not 100 yards from the stand i found him piled up in some thick brush. I was way excited. Loaded him up in the truck by myself and went back to camp a happy man.
Here he is. I've got him on a bunch of trail cam pics and on video from opening weekend when i passed him up twice. Needless to say i'm vey happy i found him. My shot was quite a bit off target and back. I attribute it to it being my 1st kill and nerves. I shoot 20's all day in my back yard and can get 3 in a 1 1/2 ring no problem. Now i just cant decide to euro or shoulder mount him. Had to discard the cape cause some hair was coming out and some had been taken off from dragging him. Let me know what you think. Sorry for the long write up, i just had to let you all know about my first kill experience. I am now officially addicted.
The next weekend, 2nd weekend of season, I had Austin City Limits tickets for Friday to see my first Phish show. Ended up selling them to go back and try my luck on this deer again. I didn't want to get beat to the kill.
The first morning back he came in around 6:50 in low light. A little more light came in, the feeder went off and it was go time. I was pretty nervous to say the least. Although he was now only 20 yards away it was still my first deer kill. Drew back, took aim, and let my slick trick fly. Although it was still fairly dark i thought i got lungs, maybe a little far back, but was fairly comfortable with the shot. I waited 2 hours to retrieve the arrow and let the other deer work their way away from the feeder. Found the arrow with a little blood on it, some hair, and some other "internal juices". Looked for where i thought the deer took off and couldn't track it. There was no blood on the ground where i shot him at or any the direction he ran. I then waited on my buddy to come back with the truck and we then looked around for 30-45 mins but couldn't find the deer. We then went and picked up his uncle who has been in the deer game since he could walk and "keep a look out for the game warden". ha ha. We all then went back and looked around for another hour maybe hour and a half. Nothing. I then found blood splattered on the feeder leg from the exit hole so i knew i hit him. But, still no blood trail. After that, I tried to convince a neighbor to bring his black mouth cur over to track him but he wouldn't because he was worried about the dogs feet. He also, after looking at my arrow didn't think i had killed the deer. Didn't quite help the situation or my attitude but i was determined to find the deer or keep looking.
Me and my other 2 friends I brought went back a 3rd time that day and looked around for another hour or two and didn't find anything. I was pretty down on things. Sat back in the same stand that evening and all the usual suspects came back but not the one i was after. The usuals confirmed my thoughts of a decent hit from the relation of their bodies to the blood on the feeder leg. Left the stand with a little light and search for another 30mins before picking up the other hunters and calling it a day.
Slept in this morning. My friend took a doe for his first bow kill and while they were dressing it i went back to the scene. This time I tried to use a little more common sense to track the deer from where i saw him take off after the shot. Sure enough i though right and not 100 yards from the stand i found him piled up in some thick brush. I was way excited. Loaded him up in the truck by myself and went back to camp a happy man.
Here he is. I've got him on a bunch of trail cam pics and on video from opening weekend when i passed him up twice. Needless to say i'm vey happy i found him. My shot was quite a bit off target and back. I attribute it to it being my 1st kill and nerves. I shoot 20's all day in my back yard and can get 3 in a 1 1/2 ring no problem. Now i just cant decide to euro or shoulder mount him. Had to discard the cape cause some hair was coming out and some had been taken off from dragging him. Let me know what you think. Sorry for the long write up, i just had to let you all know about my first kill experience. I am now officially addicted.
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