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First hunt saddle hunt, and It was a hell of an experience.

spracklin

Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2022
Messages
45
Location
Ontario Canada
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.
 
Thanks for sharing, You had a very memorable experience one on one with nature can be more gratifying then the harvest. I believe you are now hooked
 
I love 'catch and release'!
Great hunt and thanks for sharing with us.
There will probably be plenty more chances to fill your tag. Just soak it all in and enjoy!
 
I have much respect for you and your decision making brother. Good job! I can’t stand people with the mindset, “let me take whirl at this one”. Injuring and loosing deer is bound to happen but we must respect the animals and do our best to get it DONE every time. Good luck next hunt.
 
In my early years, I would rush and sometimes force the shot. Didnt always turn out well. Dad told me "if you will just let them come on in, normally you will get more than one good opportunity to shoot. So the next season I decided I was not going to shoot at a deer past 20 and would not take the first offered shot. As the season went on I started passing lots of shots and just didnt shoot at most deer. At the end of the season I had filled 4 tags and had watched 164 deer come and go 20 yards or less. I never really had bad nerves before a shot before that but that season really solidified my composure pre-shot. To this day I get Elvis leg as soon as the arrow is gone buck or doe. When that stops, I'm done.
 
To be able to get on deer that quickly in a spot you’ve never hunted is a huge win. Having the discipline to set reasonable limits for yourself and stick to them in the heat of the moment is even more impressive. Well done, and good luck the rest of the season!
 
Still rehabbing my post-surgery knee over here. Jealous, but also thankful you shared your story. Soaking in all of it is what it is all about! Enjoy all of your season.
 
That sounds like a heck of a hunt. It takes quite a lot of restraint to not pull the trigger. Good on you for passing it up rather than make a bad shot and wound your prey. I’ve been hunting a long time and still get the deer fever the first deer I see of the season. A little thing I do now is pass up the first deer I see. Instead I come to full draw(with my thumb off the release), let my pin settle on the deer and walk myself through my shot process and then let down and let the deer walk. I’ve found that over the years it’s helped frame my mental state when I draw and sight on a deer. Hope this helps.
 
Some of my most enjoyable moments are hanging in a tree seeing no deer but at least I'm not sitting in an office chair. To get in before sunrise and watch the sun come up or watch the sun set in the evenings is beautiful. An added bonus is to sit in the woods in the dark and just listen.

I've sat and watched little squirrels and chipmunks play and it's hilarious. This past Friday a doe with three fawns were just out of bow range. I'm not gonna shoot the fawns and go thru the trouble for a little meat. May or may not have let Mamma walk if they came in close enough. I would've probably watched to see how the fawns interacted with the doe before making the decision.

Fast forward two days on Sunday afternoon those three fawns without ever seeing Mamma played at the base of my tree from about an hour and a half before sunset to thirty minutes after. I sat there and watched them the whole time thoroughly entertained and next thing I know time to pack up and go home.

If nerves, adrenaline and pressure get the best of you when time to release the arrow, look into a local 3D archery club and shoot with other people. Especially people better than you. You'll experience some pressure and nerves trying to hit a 3D target farther than you'd normally take a shot at a live animal. Obviously if you miss a foam deer no harm no foul or hit it in a bad spot.

I found that playing the 3D game with a little on the line made hunting much easier and controlling the adrenaline dump. I'm 50 and hunted since I was 6, never taken a deer with anything other than a bow. I've never missed or not recovered a deer (knock on wood) BUT I've had a ton of shots that I did not take for one reason or another.

My Dad always said you can keep something to your self all your life and never say a word, but can choose to say it at anytime. If you ever say it you can never take it back. You can always fling an arrow anytime down the road but you can never take a bad arrow back.
 
If nerves, adrenaline and pressure get the best of you when time to release the arrow, look into a local 3D archery club and shoot with other people. Especially people better than you. You'll experience some pressure and nerves trying to hit a 3D target farther than you'd normally take a shot at a live animal. Obviously if you miss a foam deer no harm no foul or hit it in a bad spot.

I found that playing the 3D game with a little on the line made hunting much easier and controlling the adrenaline dump. I'm 50 and hunted since I was 6, never taken a deer with anything other than a bow. I've never missed or not recovered a deer (knock on wood) BUT I've had a ton of shots that I did not take for one reason or another.

Combo of adrenaline and fatigue - I shouldered my crossbow too early, so by the time she was perfectly broadside, the arms were feeling it, combine that with the adrenaline, and well I learned a valuable lesson. I'm using an older excalibur (exocet200) so while its reliable and simple - its big, and heavy and I have to be very mindful of positioning to clear the limbs. I feel confident that when I get another shot opportunity like that this year, I'll be more comfortable knowing what to expect, and will let fly if its a good shot.

Things I will do differently on the next hunt (am thinking of hunting the same tract tomorrow afternoon) is to spend more time thinking about the shooting lanes and approaches, and be patient, waiting till she's closer to the shooting lane before I shoulder the crossbow, use my body position and bridge more so I have better support for that longer hold if necessary.
 
Loved the write up! I can sympathize with your feelings about passing on that doe. I shot what would have been my first buck out of a saddle back in '20. I never recovered the deer because the shot was not fatal. He was about 30 yards broadside when I took the shot.

Part of me wishes I had waited longer to see if he would have come in closer. The other part of me understands that he gave me a good shot that I would have taken 9 out of 10 times.

At the end of they day I prepare as much as possible to make an ethical shot and set clear guidelines on what shots I will take. Once I fling the arrow I 100% accept whatever happens.
 
Every hunter has waited with great anticipation for that first deer, but taking that deer is only a small part of this great tradition. From your description, you have figured this out. Every part of hunting is an opportunity for a great experience and to learn. Sitting in your stand, watching the sun rise and hearing the woods awaken is incredible. It is a true blessing to be able to witness His great creation.

I have hunted for years in many different ways, and like you, are new to saddle hunting. I can remember my first deer, and yes, it is a great memory, but some of my best experiences have been just the quiet time, learning from watching deer, watching my daughter take her first deer or my buddy get his first deer with a muzzle loader.

At the end of the day, we all want to take the shot, but it is a great feeling to be able to take in all of the other experiences around us. You seem to understand this and your day will assuredly come.

Good luck to you and be safe.
 
Combo of adrenaline and fatigue - I shouldered my crossbow too early, so by the time she was perfectly broadside, the arms were feeling it, combine that with the adrenaline, and well I learned a valuable lesson. I'm using an older excalibur (exocet200) so while its reliable and simple - its big, and heavy and I have to be very mindful of positioning to clear the limbs. I feel confident that when I get another shot opportunity like that this year, I'll be more comfortable knowing what to expect, and will let fly if its a good shot.

Things I will do differently on the next hunt (am thinking of hunting the same tract tomorrow afternoon) is to spend more time thinking about the shooting lanes and approaches, and be patient, waiting till she's closer to the shooting lane before I shoulder the crossbow, use my body position and bridge more so I have better support for that longer hold if necessary.
I always hunt with a vertical bow, not against xbow or gun, I compete in archery tournaments so that’s just what I enjoy. I’m for anything legal and ethical but in 2004 I had double shoulder surgery and obviously couldn’t draw a bow nor could I climb a tree. I’d never really done any ground blind hunting before that and found that challenging for my area. But to your point I never found a way to carry a xbow comfortably.

I like to carry my bow in at the ready because I’ve shot a lot of my deer on the way in and out. Carrying a xbow cocked and ready, safely, is extremely fatiguing. Especially with a ground blind on your back. A sling wasn’t really the answer for me because you don’t want it cocked without a bolt and it dry fire but I didn’t wanted a cocked and loaded xbow slung and next to my head either.

I was grounded at the time so I didn’t really have this issue but back that season I was on fresh repaired shoulders and not a lot of xbows had cocking devices so I was using a rope and had one maybe two pulls in me. So I would’ve had to uncock it the manual hard way before climbing and really not sure i could’ve even done it that season. I had one junk bolt to shoot into the ground when time to go home, I don’t think I was able to let it down with the rope that year.

Im sure they have come a LONG way since my 2004 deer season though. I know they were HEAVY then.
 
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