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First Saddle Kill

Hogwild2004

Active Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2019
Messages
156
Location
Northern Virginia
Did everything right for the first time in a very long time on Columbus Day 2021. Got my buck decoy and rapid deployment scent dispersal system set (ready to zipline down to my decoy) and got up in my tree (to include hoisting all my stuff up) before daybreak. Heard some movement behind me but didnt pay it any attention. Messed around with some camo netting in a duffle bag and ultimately decided to pack it back up. The head of deer #1 materialized out of the dark 12yds to my 7 o’clock but too dark to shoot. Then #2 and #3. At that point, I realized I didnt have my release on so I spent the next several minutes fishing my release out of my bag while keeping still and quiet. Ok, deer #1 is a yearling based on size and head shape. Deer #2 is a full grown doe based on long head. Both of them are fixated on my buck decoy 20 yds away but not spooking.



Deer 1 passes my likely shooting lane at 15yds and Deer 2 advances. Draw, adjust bow hand due to new sight, release. CRACK! Doe mule kicks and stumbles, then takes off down my new favorite deer trail. Duffle bag is still sitting on my lap. Both our hearts are racing for different reasons - mine, almost 7 years of heavy hunting have gone by since my last (doe) kill. Doubts enter my mind of tracking a wounded animal but the crack and mule kick is reassuring. Wait an hour, find the arrow now painted with arterial blood, and tracking begins. Good blood but not as much as I hoped for. Numerous body sized patches of disturbed earth. 100yds, deer down under a big oak, looking towards a meadow, scanning for threats. Pat her and thank God for blessing me with a successful hunt.



JX3

Hoyt Powermax

Peep Eliminator bow sight

Arrow: Victory Decimator 350s

B/H: 125gr QAD Exodus

Total weight: 485gr (includes B/H, added weights, and stainless footer from Ethics)

Hit: much farther forward than I hoped but nicked the elbow ball, lungs, and busted her femur on the far side before burying into the ground.



105lbs doe is a trophy in my book but looking forward to my buck!
 

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Nice,some meat for the freezer,congrats.
Thanks! A lot of work put in and plenty more to go. I figured out why I shot so far forward. And meat shots suck when you’ve got gobs of coagulated blood in every membrane imaginable. Incentive enough to make sure its a solid lung shot next go around!
 
Really? Nobody?

OK, I guess I'll be the one to point out the mylar balloon in the background of the pictures... :laughing:
 
Funny you mention that! I noticed a piece of trash but didn’t even occur to me what it was! Can you summarize the concept and/or provide online reference? (Low pressure = honey hole?) I watched a couple New York saddle hunter videos last year but mylar balloons was a casual mention at best. The best part is that I have exclusive access to the property (5 wooded acres on church property with a bunch of white oaks) and it’s 300 yards from my house :) Excellent buck movement last year but I screwed up a 10 yard chip shot on a huge buck (literally placed his nose on the rear end of my decoy) because of a twig in the way. Getting access to this property was the best thing that came out of last years Covid lockdown.
 
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