spracklin
Member
Let me set the stage, I'm a newer hunter, I've been gun hunting a few years - have come close a few times, but yet to harvest a deer.
If you've read my intro post, you'll know this is my first season saddle hunting - its also my first season bow hunting. And this year I was lucky enough to finally draw a doe tag for home WMU.
I went to a public tract close to home, its about 200 acres of amazing habitat, swamp, old pine plantation that's overgrown with hardwood. I've not hunted it before, and figured I'd just go walk it, bring my gear and if i found a likely spot - drop a GPS pin for future use etc.
I walked in around 2:30, met a turkey hunter who came in 5 min after me on the way in, touched base with him about where we were both planning on hunting so no conflict. Went to the area I wanted to check out, got setup in a perfect tree, 10" diameter sugar maple, nice limb about 25' off the ground, was able to put my throwline into it first try, get my DRT rope set, and ascend. took my sweet time, reminding myself that slow is smooth and smooth is fast. got to about 18', got set up, and then I spent the next hour or so wishing I had visited during the early small game season hunting squirrels with a vengeance...
At around 4:30 had a small flock of turkeys wander past, and maybe 30 min after that, 3 does come wandering by. I saw the first one at 50 yards, really thick brush with lots of foliage, and as you can all guess, the adrenaline started.
As she closed in to 20 yards, I had a few possible shots, but as a newer hunter who has yet to take my first deer (despite coming close a few times) and this my first bow season I had decided to keep things super conservative, 20 yards or less. She graciously obliged, and gave me a perfect broadside around 10-15 yards.
And I know this is going to be one of those moments that many years from now with more seasons under my belt, I will forever replay that moment in my mind. I had flipped the safety off, getting ready to take the shot, and I just took it all in. took a quiet deep breath, and what seemed like hours, but was maybe 10 seconds later I put the safety back on and let her walk because I wasnt comfortable with my ability(and experience). the crosshairs were bouncing all over the place because i was just too amped up.
I watched her and the other two does walk back and forth for another 20 minutes, they went about 100 yards to my right then circled back, If it was a gun season, I would have had about 10 other opportunities for a shot under 50 yards. As it was the closest she came back was about 35 yards.
Snapped the photo as she was walking away, and then just sat there in my saddle, taking it all in.
I sat there for about another hour, and decided to leave at sunset, the woods were aglow with a perfect orange sunset, it was pretty spectacular.
The good is that theres lots of season left, and plenty of more opportunities.
The bad is that despite being happy with not taking that shot, its going to bug the hell out of me.
I really appreciate how many of you have been willing to answer questions, and share knowledge so that I was able to have this experience, and I cant wait for the next hunt.
If you've read my intro post, you'll know this is my first season saddle hunting - its also my first season bow hunting. And this year I was lucky enough to finally draw a doe tag for home WMU.
I went to a public tract close to home, its about 200 acres of amazing habitat, swamp, old pine plantation that's overgrown with hardwood. I've not hunted it before, and figured I'd just go walk it, bring my gear and if i found a likely spot - drop a GPS pin for future use etc.
I walked in around 2:30, met a turkey hunter who came in 5 min after me on the way in, touched base with him about where we were both planning on hunting so no conflict. Went to the area I wanted to check out, got setup in a perfect tree, 10" diameter sugar maple, nice limb about 25' off the ground, was able to put my throwline into it first try, get my DRT rope set, and ascend. took my sweet time, reminding myself that slow is smooth and smooth is fast. got to about 18', got set up, and then I spent the next hour or so wishing I had visited during the early small game season hunting squirrels with a vengeance...
At around 4:30 had a small flock of turkeys wander past, and maybe 30 min after that, 3 does come wandering by. I saw the first one at 50 yards, really thick brush with lots of foliage, and as you can all guess, the adrenaline started.
As she closed in to 20 yards, I had a few possible shots, but as a newer hunter who has yet to take my first deer (despite coming close a few times) and this my first bow season I had decided to keep things super conservative, 20 yards or less. She graciously obliged, and gave me a perfect broadside around 10-15 yards.
And I know this is going to be one of those moments that many years from now with more seasons under my belt, I will forever replay that moment in my mind. I had flipped the safety off, getting ready to take the shot, and I just took it all in. took a quiet deep breath, and what seemed like hours, but was maybe 10 seconds later I put the safety back on and let her walk because I wasnt comfortable with my ability(and experience). the crosshairs were bouncing all over the place because i was just too amped up.
I watched her and the other two does walk back and forth for another 20 minutes, they went about 100 yards to my right then circled back, If it was a gun season, I would have had about 10 other opportunities for a shot under 50 yards. As it was the closest she came back was about 35 yards.
Snapped the photo as she was walking away, and then just sat there in my saddle, taking it all in.
I sat there for about another hour, and decided to leave at sunset, the woods were aglow with a perfect orange sunset, it was pretty spectacular.
The good is that theres lots of season left, and plenty of more opportunities.
The bad is that despite being happy with not taking that shot, its going to bug the hell out of me.
I really appreciate how many of you have been willing to answer questions, and share knowledge so that I was able to have this experience, and I cant wait for the next hunt.