It was a cold and windy morning, and I could make out snow
still lying in the shady spots of the laurel as the reddish sun began to
illuminate the landscape. I picked a
chestnut oak tree on the edge of a laurel thicket and open area where the deer
like to travel. I figured I may get a
crack at a cruising buck this time of year.
Near 7:30am I catch movement of a buck to my rear. I get up and turn to face the tree and spot a
6 point nosing around about twenty couple yards away. It is heading slowly uphill and away and I
knew I would probably not have another opportunity to shoot before long. I had to lean out and shoot with the bow
completely vertical because of the tree and when I released I watched my white
arrow strike in the hind quarter. Oh NO!
The buck blasted downhill and by me on the right side. I watched as the protruding arrow with little
penetration struck brush and broke with a crack. I thought I had better try for another arrow
and quickly had another on the string.
Making the necessary lead I released. The buck just kept going as I missed high as
he was busting brush.
I watched him run a 180 degree arc around from my first shot
and stop at the edge of the laurel row quartering downhill and away. I had another arrow on the string at this
point, but I only had a small window to shoot and he was soooo far away. There were over handing branches that would
likely deflect the arrow as well. I
thought to myself that I owe it to try since I already had one poorly placed
arrow in it. I bore down and
concentrated hard. I can remember the
arrow leaving and almost no movement from me……just silence as I waited for that
arcing arrow to crack off deadfall. I
heard nothing and the buck immediately exploded. I knew I had to be close the way he lit out
of there, but I thought no way in hell I hit him.
I decided it best if I give it lots of time before I start
trailing.
Around 11am I decided to start slowly trailing the
buck. I found my broken white arrow and
followed kicked up leaves, tracks, and small sporadic blood until I found the spot
he was standing on the long shot. I
looked up to 40 yards short, and 40 yards over, but there was no sign of my
arrow. I slowly continued to follow very
sparse spoor, losing it and then regaining it several times. Eventually it led me to a bed with this big
bubbly clot and lots of blood.
Suddenly the trail took a turn uphill into some thick laurel
and we found him. That red arrow that made the lethal wound was shot from 83
steps away when I went back to collect my stand and paced it off. The arrow entered about the last rib and exited
under the right armpit. That initial hit
only struck into the ham and was a non-lethal flesh wound.
This is how we found him.
Practicing the long shot and my speed shooting and proficiency with the back quiver for that follow up shot, definitely helped collect this buck.......along with a good helping of lady luck and a good friend to share it all with.
