This might be long so in short, my first archery buck yesterday...
So Sunday, @Squatch hooked me up big time. I was shooting an older Hoyt and he mentioned that he was getting a new bow. He asked if I wanted to buy his 1 month old Hoyt RX4. He gave me a hell of a deal for basically a new bow. Sold my bow to a new hunter that was shooting a bow from the 90’s. Good thing is that all of us have the same draw length and have shot each others bow before. I shoot the same exact arrow and BH set up as Squatch so no need to make the 1.5 hour trip to the shop for a tuning either. Sighted it in and set the sight tape and I was ready.
Sunday morning we scouted a different area of the property I’m on. Found a really fresh scrape and a tree to make it work. It was a big ole leaner but it was the right tree.
Wednesday morning, I got to the property at 4am when shooting light wasn’t until 739. I walked about a half mile to the spot carrying my camera gear, the assassin, the EWO single stick (thank goodness I changed from 4 full XOPs), the new Hoyt, and a full size pole saw to clip a few branches I needed to get before the climb.
I was at the base of the tree and ready to climb at 4:45. After a few “falls” on the wet leaner and one rappel swing ride, I finally made it to height. Got everything all set up with the camcorder and GoPro.
Only a few doe in the corn field and a giant cow until around 1030 when I was thinking about getting down. Got a text from Squatch letting me know his cell cameras just started going off on other properties. Right then saw a doe in the middle of the field. Then filmed a coyote about 60 yards away.
Then I heard a deer cross the creek behind me. Got super worried since that was straight downwind of me. It was an 8 pointer. I saw a big bodied deer and decided this was the one if he didn’t wind me. Things went perfect. I got the GoPro running and the camera on in the area of the scrape I thought he would walk to.
He walked straight to the scrape but was blocked out by the tree. Being new to filming, I figured out really quick you can’t move or zoom the camera with a bow in your left hand and your release already on the d-loop.
Had to unhook and hope the spring wasn’t too loud. Sounded like a cannon going off to me. Moved the camera and added some zoom. Buck started to move out to the field so it was go time. Drew back and only had to hold for a few seconds. He stopped over the scrape and I went full send.
PERFECT SHOT!!! Complete pass through. Deer back kicked and ran 15 yards and stopped. He then walked 35 more yards and stopped to cough up blood. Walked 10 more yards and fell over in the middle of the field. I got it all on film. Struggled a little trying to follow him as he walked away but I got him falling over.
Waited a bit to let the emotions set in and made some phone calls. Got my dad’s SxS there and climbed down. (Of course I had to climb again to get my rappel rope out of the fork of the tree)
Filmed the recovery of the arrow. The Grizzlystik 770 TAW with 200 grain Samurai was buried in the middle of the scrape and completely covered. No need to blood track through the grass field since I could see him.
Got to walk to the buck with my dad and got my hands on him. FIRST ARCHERY BUCK!!! Biggest body deer I have ever shot. (I’m 6’3 275 for reference)
Field dressing and learned it was a double lung and heart shot. Couldn’t be happier with a bow that I just got a few days before.
Took that guy to Squatch’s house and learned how to butcher my own deer.
It was a day of firsts:
1. First Saddle Deer
2. First archery buck
3. First hunt with the RX-4 and the Grizzlystik
4. First successfully filmed hunt
5. First time butchering and processing my own deer
Went back and watched the film last night and it was perfect to capture a true memory. Maybe I will have it edited to share since I got both angles and the recovery.
What a great day. I’ve always seen bucks while archery hunting but have never been mobile enough to make it happen. Lots of love to the guys on here that helped me get set up to make it happen!
Awesome day and thank you.
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