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Team 5 - 2021

TexaninSconny said:
30yd heart shot! I’ll pass on details of the hunt tomorrow. Good luck out there, gents!

View attachment 57130
Click to expand...

This picture made me laugh - it occurred to me I have four seasons of bloody critter laminated on my tailgate. For some reason I never wash the bed because anytime I'm washing the truck the bedcover is on. I gotta scrub that off. Nice shootin'! That moves us up the board a spot. Let's go fellas.
 
So this is my third season as a hunter, first in the saddle. Also, my first season shooting a bow. I’m the 40yr old saddle/bow hunting virgin, if you will. I say all that to say…I pretty much don’t know what the heck I’m doing out there, LOL. I’m devouring books/videos/podcasts like crazy, but there is nothing like boots on the ground.
I have been hunting public land only, and haven't seen any deer. I have deer around my house, a really nice 9 point has been running around like crazy, but I wanted the challenge of going into another place, finding deer and putting one down. I've been making strides in locating sign, picking spots to set up and being more stealthy with entry/exit and climbing.
Yesterday...was not a good day in that regards. It was my second day on some new private land I got access to. So I basically did an observational sit the first day. Saw 4 or 5 does. So on my second sit, I pushed a little bit farther into the place. Saw a doe and fawn get up from a bed 85 yards in front of me after I'd been up in the tree an hour or so. Walked off away from me at an 11 o'clock angle. Sat in that tree another hour...it was probably 1pm by this time. Figured I should get a little more aggressive and push in further. This piece is probably 20 acres of woods and 20 acres of a corn field, so I only moved forward maybe 200 yards and set up just a little bit off the corner of the corn field. From the edge of the corn field it slopes off into mostly swampy woods and is bordered by a river. Wind is blowing across me and heading down at a 4 o'clock angle from where I'm facing. About 15 minutes after I'm set up in tree number two a doe walks out 30-35 yards at my 12 o'clock and stops at maybe my 1 o'clock. Doesn't blow, but she got the scent of something she liked. The wind was pretty consistent and not changing directions much so I'd be shocked if she winded me, but she either got me or the smell of a buck she didn't like. She took a 45 degree turn away from me and ran off. So since I'm up on the top of this slope and that happened it had me second guessing my spot, both for where most of the deer were going to walk and for wind conditions. So I decide to get down after a bit and move to a tree at the bottom of this slope.
When I get down from that tree I hear what I think is a deer taking a giant whiz on the other side of this slight ridge. If it was, the deer couldn't have been more than 30-40 yards away from me. But leaves were everywhere and I'd never be able to sneak up to peak over that ridge without the deer hearing me. So I decide to make my way down the slope and hope it comes my way. I pick a tree and for whatever reason I decide I'm going to try a slight variance to my climbing method. Idiot. It was one of the clumsiest climbs I've had all season. After my first move I see this flash of a giant white tail and I'm muttering some less than unpleasant things under my breath. By the time I get up to climbing height and set up it's 4:15pm and I have 30ish minutes of legal shooting light. I'm super annoyed, feeling like I just wasted a day. So I decide to just let'er rip and do some blind grunt calls and rattles. Did a short grunt, then a longer grunt. Then a couple minutes later rattled my antlers. Sat and waited 5 minutes or so. Not hearing anything. I have about 15 minutes of shooting light at this point. Wasn't going to get down until after shooting light, but I have to say I was pretty much mentally checked out at this point. Of course, right as my mind goes to that place I see this buck at my 1 o'clock. This is my first deer all season that I've had a legit chance to take a shot on. He's walking steadily off to my weak side at maybe 25 yards. I grab my bow and swing it up and over my bridge to take the shot. As he's walking he's moving just slightly away from me at an angle. I was just about to stop him with a grunt when he pauses at about my 4 o'clock. Probably was just catching my scent. Luckily for me it was in an open lane. Let the arrow fly. Instantly had flashbacks to shooting tracer rounds in basic training with the Army as I saw that lighted nock cut through the air and find it's target. Felt like slow motion, haha. I don't have the best eyes so I couldn't honestly say if it hit the spot I was aiming at, or I just missed under his belly. I shot lower third behind the leg, deer was slightly quartering away at 30 yards. But he didn't duck and did more of a hop after the shot. Then he didn't bolt like crazy, but ran for maybe 15 yards and then did a slow trot before walking some. Definitely didn't react like he'd been hit, which made me think possibly I went under his belly somehow, even though the shot felt good. But then he had a hitch in his step, then a drunken weave, and finally just flopped on his side about 30 yards from the shot! Pretty stinking awesome to get to see it all play out. I had a heart shot on a buck with a crossbow last season on my property, so this is a trend I'd like to see continue, haha.
Can't say I've done a ton of practicing weak side shots from the saddle, but it sure went smooth as butter in a real-live scenario. I still plan to rifle hunt, but I sure as heck love the challenge of bow hunting so much more. I'll probably give this property a rest for a bit and get back out on some public in the coming weeks. Good luck out there!
 
TexaninSconny said:
So this is my third season as a hunter, first in the saddle. Also, my first season shooting a bow. I’m the 40yr old saddle/bow hunting virgin, if you will. I say all that to say…I pretty much don’t know what the heck I’m doing out there, LOL. I’m devouring books/videos/podcasts like crazy, but there is nothing like boots on the ground.
I have been hunting public land only, and haven't seen any deer. I have deer around my house, a really nice 9 point has been running around like crazy, but I wanted the challenge of going into another place, finding deer and putting one down. I've been making strides in locating sign, picking spots to set up and being more stealthy with entry/exit and climbing.
Yesterday...was not a good day in that regards. It was my second day on some new private land I got access to. So I basically did an observational sit the first day. Saw 4 or 5 does. So on my second sit, I pushed a little bit farther into the place. Saw a doe and fawn get up from a bed 85 yards in front of me after I'd been up in the tree an hour or so. Walked off away from me at an 11 o'clock angle. Sat in that tree another hour...it was probably 1pm by this time. Figured I should get a little more aggressive and push in further. This piece is probably 20 acres of woods and 20 acres of a corn field, so I only moved forward maybe 200 yards and set up just a little bit off the corner of the corn field. From the edge of the corn field it slopes off into mostly swampy woods and is bordered by a river. Wind is blowing across me and heading down at a 4 o'clock angle from where I'm facing. About 15 minutes after I'm set up in tree number two a doe walks out 30-35 yards at my 12 o'clock and stops at maybe my 1 o'clock. Doesn't blow, but she got the scent of something she liked. The wind was pretty consistent and not changing directions much so I'd be shocked if she winded me, but she either got me or the smell of a buck she didn't like. She took a 45 degree turn away from me and ran off. So since I'm up on the top of this slope and that happened it had me second guessing my spot, both for where most of the deer were going to walk and for wind conditions. So I decide to get down after a bit and move to a tree at the bottom of this slope.
When I get down from that tree I hear what I think is a deer taking a giant whiz on the other side of this slight ridge. If it was, the deer couldn't have been more than 30-40 yards away from me. But leaves were everywhere and I'd never be able to sneak up to peak over that ridge without the deer hearing me. So I decide to make my way down the slope and hope it comes my way. I pick a tree and for whatever reason I decide I'm going to try a slight variance to my climbing method. Idiot. It was one of the clumsiest climbs I've had all season. After my first move I see this flash of a giant white tail and I'm muttering some less than unpleasant things under my breath. By the time I get up to climbing height and set up it's 4:15pm and I have 30ish minutes of legal shooting light. I'm super annoyed, feeling like I just wasted a day. So I decide to just let'er rip and do some blind grunt calls and rattles. Did a short grunt, then a longer grunt. Then a couple minutes later rattled my antlers. Sat and waited 5 minutes or so. Not hearing anything. I have about 15 minutes of shooting light at this point. Wasn't going to get down until after shooting light, but I have to say I was pretty much mentally checked out at this point. Of course, right as my mind goes to that place I see this buck at my 1 o'clock. This is my first deer all season that I've had a legit chance to take a shot on. He's walking steadily off to my weak side at maybe 25 yards. I grab my bow and swing it up and over my bridge to take the shot. As he's walking he's moving just slightly away from me at an angle. I was just about to stop him with a grunt when he pauses at about my 4 o'clock. Probably was just catching my scent. Luckily for me it was in an open lane. Let the arrow fly. Instantly had flashbacks to shooting tracer rounds in basic training with the Army as I saw that lighted nock cut through the air and find it's target. Felt like slow motion, haha. I don't have the best eyes so I couldn't honestly say if it hit the spot I was aiming at, or I just missed under his belly. I shot lower third behind the leg, deer was slightly quartering away at 30 yards. But he didn't duck and did more of a hop after the shot. Then he didn't bolt like crazy, but ran for maybe 15 yards and then did a slow trot before walking some. Definitely didn't react like he'd been hit, which made me think possibly I went under his belly somehow, even though the shot felt good. But then he had a hitch in his step, then a drunken weave, and finally just flopped on his side about 30 yards from the shot! Pretty stinking awesome to get to see it all play out. I had a heart shot on a buck with a crossbow last season on my property, so this is a trend I'd like to see continue, haha.
Can't say I've done a ton of practicing weak side shots from the saddle, but it sure went smooth as butter in a real-live scenario. I still plan to rifle hunt, but I sure as heck love the challenge of bow hunting so much more. I'll probably give this property a rest for a bit and get back out on some public in the coming weeks. Good luck out there!
Click to expand...

I try to tell people this all the time who obsess about how to take a weak side shot. Our bodies and minds do amazing things when adrenaline hits the veins and you’re forced to act, without time to analyze. I’ve had a couple weak side shots I’ve attempted to recreate after the fact in the yard and find them impossible. But in the moment got it done.

nice work brother!

couole pieces of unsolicited advice:

- don’t climb a tree in that scenario you heard a deer 50 yards away. Get in front of or behind a tree or other cover, and just wait.

be aggressive. Be. Be. Aggressive. Especially being new - across time it’s always better to be too aggressive, than too passive.

keep knocking them down - the team needs you!
 
TexaninSconny said:
So this is my third season as a hunter, first in the saddle. Also, my first season shooting a bow. I’m the 40yr old saddle/bow hunting virgin, if you will. I say all that to say…I pretty much don’t know what the heck I’m doing out there, LOL. I’m devouring books/videos/podcasts like crazy, but there is nothing like boots on the ground.
I have been hunting public land only, and haven't seen any deer. I have deer around my house, a really nice 9 point has been running around like crazy, but I wanted the challenge of going into another place, finding deer and putting one down. I've been making strides in locating sign, picking spots to set up and being more stealthy with entry/exit and climbing.
Yesterday...was not a good day in that regards. It was my second day on some new private land I got access to. So I basically did an observational sit the first day. Saw 4 or 5 does. So on my second sit, I pushed a little bit farther into the place. Saw a doe and fawn get up from a bed 85 yards in front of me after I'd been up in the tree an hour or so. Walked off away from me at an 11 o'clock angle. Sat in that tree another hour...it was probably 1pm by this time. Figured I should get a little more aggressive and push in further. This piece is probably 20 acres of woods and 20 acres of a corn field, so I only moved forward maybe 200 yards and set up just a little bit off the corner of the corn field. From the edge of the corn field it slopes off into mostly swampy woods and is bordered by a river. Wind is blowing across me and heading down at a 4 o'clock angle from where I'm facing. About 15 minutes after I'm set up in tree number two a doe walks out 30-35 yards at my 12 o'clock and stops at maybe my 1 o'clock. Doesn't blow, but she got the scent of something she liked. The wind was pretty consistent and not changing directions much so I'd be shocked if she winded me, but she either got me or the smell of a buck she didn't like. She took a 45 degree turn away from me and ran off. So since I'm up on the top of this slope and that happened it had me second guessing my spot, both for where most of the deer were going to walk and for wind conditions. So I decide to get down after a bit and move to a tree at the bottom of this slope.
When I get down from that tree I hear what I think is a deer taking a giant whiz on the other side of this slight ridge. If it was, the deer couldn't have been more than 30-40 yards away from me. But leaves were everywhere and I'd never be able to sneak up to peak over that ridge without the deer hearing me. So I decide to make my way down the slope and hope it comes my way. I pick a tree and for whatever reason I decide I'm going to try a slight variance to my climbing method. Idiot. It was one of the clumsiest climbs I've had all season. After my first move I see this flash of a giant white tail and I'm muttering some less than unpleasant things under my breath. By the time I get up to climbing height and set up it's 4:15pm and I have 30ish minutes of legal shooting light. I'm super annoyed, feeling like I just wasted a day. So I decide to just let'er rip and do some blind grunt calls and rattles. Did a short grunt, then a longer grunt. Then a couple minutes later rattled my antlers. Sat and waited 5 minutes or so. Not hearing anything. I have about 15 minutes of shooting light at this point. Wasn't going to get down until after shooting light, but I have to say I was pretty much mentally checked out at this point. Of course, right as my mind goes to that place I see this buck at my 1 o'clock. This is my first deer all season that I've had a legit chance to take a shot on. He's walking steadily off to my weak side at maybe 25 yards. I grab my bow and swing it up and over my bridge to take the shot. As he's walking he's moving just slightly away from me at an angle. I was just about to stop him with a grunt when he pauses at about my 4 o'clock. Probably was just catching my scent. Luckily for me it was in an open lane. Let the arrow fly. Instantly had flashbacks to shooting tracer rounds in basic training with the Army as I saw that lighted nock cut through the air and find it's target. Felt like slow motion, haha. I don't have the best eyes so I couldn't honestly say if it hit the spot I was aiming at, or I just missed under his belly. I shot lower third behind the leg, deer was slightly quartering away at 30 yards. But he didn't duck and did more of a hop after the shot. Then he didn't bolt like crazy, but ran for maybe 15 yards and then did a slow trot before walking some. Definitely didn't react like he'd been hit, which made me think possibly I went under his belly somehow, even though the shot felt good. But then he had a hitch in his step, then a drunken weave, and finally just flopped on his side about 30 yards from the shot! Pretty stinking awesome to get to see it all play out. I had a heart shot on a buck with a crossbow last season on my property, so this is a trend I'd like to see continue, haha.
Can't say I've done a ton of practicing weak side shots from the saddle, but it sure went smooth as butter in a real-live scenario. I still plan to rifle hunt, but I sure as heck love the challenge of bow hunting so much more. I'll probably give this property a rest for a bit and get back out on some public in the coming weeks. Good luck out there!
Click to expand...

Awesome job brother! Pictures?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
kyler1945 said:
I try to tell people this all the time who obsess about how to take a weak side shot. Our bodies and minds do amazing things when adrenaline hits the veins and you’re forced to act, without time to analyze. I’ve had a couple weak side shots I’ve attempted to recreate after the fact in the yard and find them impossible. But in the moment got it done.

nice work brother!

couole pieces of unsolicited advice:

- don’t climb a tree in that scenario you heard a deer 50 yards away. Get in front of or behind a tree or other cover, and just wait.

be aggressive. Be. Be. Aggressive. Especially being new - across time it’s always better to be too aggressive, than too passive.

keep knocking them down - the team needs you!
Click to expand...

I will take any and all good advise I can get. Keep it coming!
 
Let’s go team! I’ve killed four hoofed critters and thought it might cheer me up and make me more enjoyable to be around. Nope. Just made the crabby curmudgeonly beast want to find more lungs to pop!

anyone out this morning?! I’m sitting here drinking coffee itching like a fiend…
 
I've got to get a few things done then I'm going out! I'm itching too but I've got to keep everyone happy.
 
I’ve been hard at it , plenty of projects & side work that’s been keeping me out of the woods. I shot 2 does early & my kids shot ML deer each. But since then I’ve just been hunting Sunday mornings before church. We’ll today was the day. I had an 7am encounter with big 150s ten point. Not 15-20 minutes later I got this guy on a 35yd trail, he finally worked in quickly to 32yds I was shooting through a hole & had a deflection. It turned out to be a terrible shot & I backed out & went to church. (Was close to the property line & neighbor is PETA) came back at 330 & he was dead 55yds from my stand in his first bed.
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