I just got back from hunting....

[Stinky_Hooker]

I just got back. I have bow hunted on and off over the course of the last 8 years or so. I have shot bows since I was probably 14. *My last bowhunting experience involving deer (before today) was when I was 17 (9 years ago.) I say "involving deer" because it has been since I was 17 that I had a deer within range of a bow and had a bow in my hand. I have always been DEADLY with a bow when it comes to target shooting. We all know though that a live target is very different. On that hunt 9 years ago I made a bad shot and lost a nice doe. I have for obvious reasons chosen a gun to make my kills since that time. Only recently have I had the opportunity to hunt a place that I might have the chance to see a deer here and there. I have killed a few off of it the last 3 years of hunting it. Nothing special, but good meat for the freezer.

Well guys I just got back from hunting this evening. I had a nice doe at 30 yards when I was reaching for my bow. At that point she caught the "blow" from another deer DOWNWIND of me and ran. I am sick!! It has been so long since I sat with a stick and string in hand ready to kill a deer and my "stinkyness" BLEW IT!!!


All I know is at least I had the opportunity to bask in her presense for a few moments before she left me faster than she appeared. Maybe next time. ;)

[chumbucket]

Can't rush it Stinky. It'll come. You using a tree stand? I think it's one of the best methods. Scout an area for signs, pick a spot with a clear shot (maybe a little pruning), and stick with it if you're confident enough. Patients Grasshopper. 8)

[willy]

It will come Stink man, and let me tell you no matter what you wear, put on, bath in they will smell you if your up wind. I always felt that was always the key to any big game hunting. You shooting the compound right? You have good range then so it will come. You guys don't know but in one of my previous lifes I was the owner of a traditional archery shop here in NJ for ten years probably did at least mail order buisness with some of you fellows Renaissance Archery was the name. All the guys I knew would get frustrated over and over and then all of a sudden out of the blue it just came together. Unless you think about it too much. Then its like the watched pot ;)

[Blue_Runner]

Yep, similar experience for me....except that doe was a nice 6 - 8 pt buck...25 yards...get this....looking right at me and doin the head bob thang!

My knees were knockin together :o but I managed to pull back, take lousy aim (at horns) and let her rip!

I hit the deer, but he ran off like nothin happened. Found 2 drops of blood and hair and blood on my arrow.

That was my last bow hunting trip. Been rifling em ever since. ;D

Bows are for Indians! :P

[willy]

Well Blue last time I checked it is all german and italian blood in my veins ;D and at last rough count at least 30 deer have fallen to either my longbow or recurve, some decent bucks too. One beautiful Elk in Montana, dozens of squirells and rabbits and earlier when I was more active (pre-4kids) ducks. turkeys. In all those years I've lost 2 deer that I hit poorly and never recovered. One because of where it went, the other because of my inexperience. I gun hunt too and I can tell you I've seen rifle and shotgun hunters with a lot worse track record than that, I know because I was on a lot of blood trails over the years trying to recover them. ;)

[Blue_Runner]

I've gotten so soft in my old age. I guess my kids made me watch Bambi too freakin many times or somethin.

I won't take a shot at a buck unless he meets two requirements:

1) He has to have a decent rack - 6pt or better.
2) He has to stand broadside to me in good light at a decently close range <100yds.

I hate to make a bad shot, and have been doing my best to make sure they hit their graves quick and painlessly.

Now as for fish, do they actually feel pain....nah ;D Gaffem and scale em while they're alive! :P