So my 3rd year bowhunting, today was the first time I’ve got to draw on an animal. I found a spot, small oaks with a 120-ish acre clear cut in the center, I have people on the trail cam I put up a week before season but still does cruising through so thought worth a Monday hunt. This was my 5th hunt of the season but it as warm up until this week (60-80 degrees in northern Wisconsin) and the leaves are now really dropping.
Walking in blew out a deer at dawn 50 yards from the tree I had planned, first deer I’ve seen this year in season. At 7:45 saw a spike moving away from me across a clear cut that I was on the downwind edge. Watched it meet up with two yearling does. Thought I saw the buck wander north. The does eventually trotted straight towards me from 200 yards, one stopped 11 yards from me broadside. I sailed it 6 inches over the back with the recurve. They hopped around wondering what happened, I was able to pull another arrow and cross over my bridge, sailed another at 16 yards 6 inches high.
Got down, retrieved my arrows and climbed up until 9:45 (told myself I was going to sit until 10 but my toes got numb). Rappelled down and packed up, left my pack and went and checked my game cam 50 yards away. Walked back and put on my pack, and there was the spike staring at me from 30 yards. Whoops.
Great learning experience, I know what I did. I concentrated on my breathing as the deer approached but when I drew rather than focus on a single hair I basically just let fly at the whole deer. I’m just glad I didn’t wound one. An exhilarating if disappointing morning. I left and went walking on a different property, but decided to pack it without climbing as there wasn’t much sign and my heart wasn’t in it this evening.
Tomorrow is a new morning, sorry I couldn’t get on the board today though.
