LeTuB
Member
I know that you're all waiting for season opening, here in France Roe deer season starts June 1st, so here is a short story to keep you entertained
The stormy weather over the weekend having cooled the atmosphere, I decide to try my luck for an evening bowhunt this Monday, July 22nd. The Roe Deer rut is in full swing, and it's not the time to forget the Buttolo call (it’s a specific call that imitates the doe in oestrus call/ fawn in danger depending how you use it).
I have plenty of options for setting up (one major advantage of using a saddle), and I settle on a U-shaped meadow on the edge of the forest, an area unlikely to encounter other rifle hunters as the vegetation is still quite high. At 7:30 PM, I arrive at the spot. It's been a few years since I last hunted in this area. As I move through the woods to reach the northeast corner of the meadow, I spot a well-used wallow I didn't know about. It seems to be fed by a spring, making it a good spot to test during hot weather when water is scarce, but wild boar isn't today's target.
I find an oak tree near an exit trail, a bit small and with a few forks, but my choices are limited. I set up quietly at about 13 feet high, above the first branches which provide good camouflage. A few snips with a saw here, a cut with pruners there, and by 8:00 PM, I'm in position. I let the atmosphere take over; a few curious chickadees approach, intrigued by this big thing hanging in a tree. Everything calms down, and I enjoy the moment of tranquility.
Around 8:30 PM, I hear jays sounding an alarm on the opposite side of the meadow. Could it be time to send a few calls with the Buttolo? I've never had much success with this device, except for attracting does. Armed with tips from experts I met last May, I send out a few seductive doe calls. Fifteen minutes later, I send another round of calls; nothing moves... My doubts about my effectiveness and dexterity with the device seem confirmed. A third round of calls at 9:00 PM, and the effect is almost immediate. I hear rapid footsteps in the dry leaves behind me in the woods. My bow is still hanging on the tree, on the wrong side, of course, and without an arrow nocked... I take a deep breath, grab the bow, pass it over the bridge of the saddle, and nock an arrow without haste. In those few seconds, the buck has arrived right under my feet, having perfectly pinpointed the source of the calls. I see him searching and sniffing in all directions, but there’s no clear shot window yet. I might have a chance if he decides to move towards the meadow, but he turns to follow the edge of the forest, staying covered. There, I have a shooting window with the perfect saddle position (7 o'clock shot). The buck stops less than 10 yards away, sniffing the vegetation, offering me a full broadside shot. I draw slowly, take aim, feel the contact point on my face, and the release happens automatically. The arrow seems to hit exactly where I aimed, the sound indicating a hit without bone contact, more like it hit the thoracic cavity. The buck bolts towards the meadow, and I see him make three leaps before collapsing in the tall grass.
As calmly as the shooting sequence happened, emotions flood in afterward, and I start trembling all over. Even though the animal fell in sight, there's still doubt about my arrow placement. I take a deep breath and start packing up my gear. I'm still shaking and struggle to write a short message to inform my dear one. I listen carefully, thinking I hear an animal moving, contemplating a possible search. It's been 15 minutes since I shot, and the urge to go check is too strong. I tell myself if he fell so quickly, the arrow must have been good. I rappel down quietly and take my time packing everything up.
Free of the saddle, I head to the shot place. My arrow is stuck in the ground and covered in blood up to the fletching.
I nock another arrow and start following the trail: it’s plentiful of blood, and I’m reassured about what’s to come. After a few meters in the meadow, a loud, angry bark from a roe deer surprises me... it’s not the one I shot because I see him lying 12 yards ahead of me. So, the Buttolo works, and I imagine that if I had stayed in the tree and done another sequence of calls, I might have had another shot opportunity.
I reach the animal and gently caress its neck, thanking nature for this evening full of emotions.
It’s 9:30 PM. I tag the deer and take a few photos. The evening will continue late into the night for the venison preparation.
According to the autopsy, the blade passed vertically between the ribs on entry and exit, severely impacting the top of the heart with the 40mm cut from my Centaur. The lungs were not wounded.
Timberghost TGX 55#@29’’, micro diameter shaft black eagle instinct, SS 100 gr outsert , Centaur short mag SB left 220 gr BH (700 gr total)
The stormy weather over the weekend having cooled the atmosphere, I decide to try my luck for an evening bowhunt this Monday, July 22nd. The Roe Deer rut is in full swing, and it's not the time to forget the Buttolo call (it’s a specific call that imitates the doe in oestrus call/ fawn in danger depending how you use it).
I have plenty of options for setting up (one major advantage of using a saddle), and I settle on a U-shaped meadow on the edge of the forest, an area unlikely to encounter other rifle hunters as the vegetation is still quite high. At 7:30 PM, I arrive at the spot. It's been a few years since I last hunted in this area. As I move through the woods to reach the northeast corner of the meadow, I spot a well-used wallow I didn't know about. It seems to be fed by a spring, making it a good spot to test during hot weather when water is scarce, but wild boar isn't today's target.
I find an oak tree near an exit trail, a bit small and with a few forks, but my choices are limited. I set up quietly at about 13 feet high, above the first branches which provide good camouflage. A few snips with a saw here, a cut with pruners there, and by 8:00 PM, I'm in position. I let the atmosphere take over; a few curious chickadees approach, intrigued by this big thing hanging in a tree. Everything calms down, and I enjoy the moment of tranquility.
Around 8:30 PM, I hear jays sounding an alarm on the opposite side of the meadow. Could it be time to send a few calls with the Buttolo? I've never had much success with this device, except for attracting does. Armed with tips from experts I met last May, I send out a few seductive doe calls. Fifteen minutes later, I send another round of calls; nothing moves... My doubts about my effectiveness and dexterity with the device seem confirmed. A third round of calls at 9:00 PM, and the effect is almost immediate. I hear rapid footsteps in the dry leaves behind me in the woods. My bow is still hanging on the tree, on the wrong side, of course, and without an arrow nocked... I take a deep breath, grab the bow, pass it over the bridge of the saddle, and nock an arrow without haste. In those few seconds, the buck has arrived right under my feet, having perfectly pinpointed the source of the calls. I see him searching and sniffing in all directions, but there’s no clear shot window yet. I might have a chance if he decides to move towards the meadow, but he turns to follow the edge of the forest, staying covered. There, I have a shooting window with the perfect saddle position (7 o'clock shot). The buck stops less than 10 yards away, sniffing the vegetation, offering me a full broadside shot. I draw slowly, take aim, feel the contact point on my face, and the release happens automatically. The arrow seems to hit exactly where I aimed, the sound indicating a hit without bone contact, more like it hit the thoracic cavity. The buck bolts towards the meadow, and I see him make three leaps before collapsing in the tall grass.
As calmly as the shooting sequence happened, emotions flood in afterward, and I start trembling all over. Even though the animal fell in sight, there's still doubt about my arrow placement. I take a deep breath and start packing up my gear. I'm still shaking and struggle to write a short message to inform my dear one. I listen carefully, thinking I hear an animal moving, contemplating a possible search. It's been 15 minutes since I shot, and the urge to go check is too strong. I tell myself if he fell so quickly, the arrow must have been good. I rappel down quietly and take my time packing everything up.
Free of the saddle, I head to the shot place. My arrow is stuck in the ground and covered in blood up to the fletching.
I nock another arrow and start following the trail: it’s plentiful of blood, and I’m reassured about what’s to come. After a few meters in the meadow, a loud, angry bark from a roe deer surprises me... it’s not the one I shot because I see him lying 12 yards ahead of me. So, the Buttolo works, and I imagine that if I had stayed in the tree and done another sequence of calls, I might have had another shot opportunity.
I reach the animal and gently caress its neck, thanking nature for this evening full of emotions.
It’s 9:30 PM. I tag the deer and take a few photos. The evening will continue late into the night for the venison preparation.
According to the autopsy, the blade passed vertically between the ribs on entry and exit, severely impacting the top of the heart with the 40mm cut from my Centaur. The lungs were not wounded.
Timberghost TGX 55#@29’’, micro diameter shaft black eagle instinct, SS 100 gr outsert , Centaur short mag SB left 220 gr BH (700 gr total)
