Got my first ever deer today! It was with a crossbow, no airguns allowed for deer here in Illinoyed.
I was just about to pack it in because I was getting cold and the rain was starting to seep through my layers, but out of the corner of my eye I saw movement 150yds away, out in the field next to my house. It was 3 deer heading my direction. I silently pleaded with them to keep coming my direction.
There's a bit of woods between the field and where they would end up popping out into my field of view. I realized they might not even show up.
Realizing that I just needed to get my first deer under my belt I waited patiently.
This was not the first deer I was going to take a shot at, in fact it was the third. The first two were misses. With the first two I was a hot mess when I took the shot. Both times before I was amped up on adrenaline and I missed.
well, I guess the third time is the charm after all.
This time I was crazy calm. I wasn't even trying to stay calm I just somehow managed to remain steady. I sat and waited for a couple of minutes hoping the deer would actually pop out of the woods into my range.
And then there was a head, then a shoulder, and then there was all of her, a perfect distance away.
I was about to kill Bambi!
I knew she was probably the fawn I watched grow all summer and fall but I didn't care! I love deer meat and was about to get my own for the first time!
I took a breath, let it half way out and pulled the trigger. I didn't see the bolt fly but I saw her mule kick and run off. I knew I hit the mark this time because I saw the hole in her side.
I got up off the ground and stretched after 3hrs of sitting mostly motionless. Then Bambi's mom stepped out and we had a staring contest for a few minutes. Finally I moved and she gave me the classic white tail and bounced off into the woods.
I knew it was time to wait just in case the shot wasn't perfect so I walked back to my house and went inside and let my wife know happened. We had our morning cup of tea and then I went out to look for a blood trail.
First I found the arrow thanks to the lighted nock twinkling away on the ground.
I knew she ran straight across my driveway into the woods so I headed across the driveway expecting to need to search a bit for a blood trail. Boy was I wrong.
I got my first indication that my shot was perfect on the edge of the driveway. A huge blood trail that got wider as it went just 12' from the spot I shot her. I headed into the woods and realized that no amount of rain would keep me from following the trail!
About 40' into the woods I saw a pile of brown fur. I had my crossbow ready in case somehow she wasn't dead but when I saw the cloudy eye I knew.
We were having deer for dinner!
Finally I could sleep in a bit!
More importantly I can get back to squirrel and rabbit hunting with my airguns!
I got a double lung shot, more importantly I severed an artery above the heart.
I was just about to pack it in because I was getting cold and the rain was starting to seep through my layers, but out of the corner of my eye I saw movement 150yds away, out in the field next to my house. It was 3 deer heading my direction. I silently pleaded with them to keep coming my direction.
There's a bit of woods between the field and where they would end up popping out into my field of view. I realized they might not even show up.
Realizing that I just needed to get my first deer under my belt I waited patiently.
This was not the first deer I was going to take a shot at, in fact it was the third. The first two were misses. With the first two I was a hot mess when I took the shot. Both times before I was amped up on adrenaline and I missed.
well, I guess the third time is the charm after all.
This time I was crazy calm. I wasn't even trying to stay calm I just somehow managed to remain steady. I sat and waited for a couple of minutes hoping the deer would actually pop out of the woods into my range.
And then there was a head, then a shoulder, and then there was all of her, a perfect distance away.
I was about to kill Bambi!
I knew she was probably the fawn I watched grow all summer and fall but I didn't care! I love deer meat and was about to get my own for the first time!
I took a breath, let it half way out and pulled the trigger. I didn't see the bolt fly but I saw her mule kick and run off. I knew I hit the mark this time because I saw the hole in her side.
I got up off the ground and stretched after 3hrs of sitting mostly motionless. Then Bambi's mom stepped out and we had a staring contest for a few minutes. Finally I moved and she gave me the classic white tail and bounced off into the woods.
I knew it was time to wait just in case the shot wasn't perfect so I walked back to my house and went inside and let my wife know happened. We had our morning cup of tea and then I went out to look for a blood trail.
First I found the arrow thanks to the lighted nock twinkling away on the ground.
I knew she ran straight across my driveway into the woods so I headed across the driveway expecting to need to search a bit for a blood trail. Boy was I wrong.
I got my first indication that my shot was perfect on the edge of the driveway. A huge blood trail that got wider as it went just 12' from the spot I shot her. I headed into the woods and realized that no amount of rain would keep me from following the trail!
About 40' into the woods I saw a pile of brown fur. I had my crossbow ready in case somehow she wasn't dead but when I saw the cloudy eye I knew.
We were having deer for dinner!
Finally I could sleep in a bit!
More importantly I can get back to squirrel and rabbit hunting with my airguns!
I got a double lung shot, more importantly I severed an artery above the heart.
