First Kill With New Bow

[davisd9]

I will apologize in advance as this may turn into a rambling post and it is very similar to Boozer's post the other day.

Bought the new bow a few weeks back and have hunted with it a hand full of times. I would watch the cameras and the deer would be moving and then I would go sit and they would just not be there or would be later than the day before. Anyway, I found a spot on my Daddy and Momma's place that my sisters and I inherited when they passed. For some reason after I started driving I never really hunted it, I guess I thought there were greener pastures with bigger deer. I hunted it here and there throughout the years, but I honestly have never killed a deer on it.

My buddy Philip got me into bow hunting pretty hard back in 2020. I was blessed and killed a decent 8 point that first year with the bow. I hunted with it that year and had other opportunities but just shot the one. We moved back home in 2021 and I was jacked to get back down to the Sumter/Clarendon County line and start bow hunting my old stomping grounds. Got stands set up and hunted. Had some does and small bucks but nothing I ever picked the bow up for. Late September my momma was diagnosed with GBM and my dad unexpectedly passed early October. My focus had to change to helping my sisters care for my mom so I did not hunt much that year.

Momma passed away in May and I went into a funk. She was the one that always encouraged my outdoor pursuits and was either first or second with my wife to send photos to after successful hunts. I did not realize it right away, but I guess I went in a bit of a depression for a while. One day while turkey hunting, and not much going on I got to thinking and realized what was happening. I knew momma would not want that so it kind of got me out the funk and lit the fire again.

I hunted with the rifle and kill a few deer and enjoyed it, but after talking and texting with my buddies about their bow hunting success the bow hunting bug bit me again this fall. I shot my bow and then got the itch for a new one. Bought it and have shot it religiously when I had time. Have been comfortable with hunting with it but as stated, it just had not come together.

This week I had some does regularly coming into some corn that I had put out in our old horse pasture. With the weather yesterday I decided I would sit there this eve with the North East wind as it was perfect. Had church and served at a widow's luncheon, but got home around 2:00 pm. Thankfully I am very blessed with a patient and understanding wife, so I loaded up at 2:45 and headed to Daddy and Momma's. Parked by the house and walked the ditch to my stand. Got up and got settled.




Played with my phone for about a hour, and said I needed to start paying attention around 4:00pm. I am sitting watching a squirrel eat the last remnants of corn I had out when all of a sudden a doe stepped out to it. Of course there is a big branch that is in the way that keeps me from drawing and shooting that way, I realized this after I poured the corn there. Anyway, it was still nice to see the doe and I slowly got the bow ready just in case she decided to walk to my left and get where I could shoot. She stood eating for about 5-10 minutes and then starts walking the way I need her to.

She walks right below the stand and starts heading away from me, so I had no shot. She turned and headed for the second corn pile. Some branches covered her head so I drew back and waited. I see her head pop out so I get anchored and wait. Thankfully she took the last couple of steps I needed pretty quick. She is quartering away from my so I pick out the mid ribs, aiming for her shoulder on the other side and squeeze the release trigger. I hear the slap of the arrow and she high steps into the overgrown pasture. I hear her for a few yards and then silence.

I fought the urge to get down right away and gave her time. Pulled out the binos and found the arrow but could not tell anything. Fifteen minutes pass so I get down to check arrow and it is covered in good blood.



I go and climb back up to gather my stuff to bring it down. Climbed back down and started looking. Did not find blood but I went the way she went. Got inside the trees and kneeled down to scan. There she was, to my left not 30 yards from the hit site. I walked up to her and she was dead.

Quite a good evening to kill one finally on my family's place and to break in the new bow. Thankfully I did my part and it was quick for her. Thanks for letting me ramble a bit and I will be buck hunting the rest of the year, unless one of my boys is with me.