I'm 33 and just got into hunting the last couple of years. This year was the first that I was serious, and I finally got my first deer on Friday. I had been out on this small piece of public land a few times, and found a major trail. There was nowhere to use a tree-stand, so I set my ghostblind up on the downwind side of the travel corridor in the afternoon. What I didn't realize was that I set my blind up on top of smaller trail that I hadn't noticed. I was expecting a doe to come from the main trail about 20-30 yds to my 1 o'clock, but around 5 pm I saw a smaller doe coming down the trail that I was setup on. I sat as still as I could as eventually made her way towards me. Out of nowhere, she turned and bolted. She stopped, and then came back slowly. I think she got so close to the ghostblind that she saw herself, and it scared her. She eventually began to walk in front of me. I drew back and swung to the shooting hole to my left and let an FMJ go as soon as my pin was where it needed to be. I heard the arrow hit and she took off running. She had been maybe 7-10 feet away from me when I shot her. After the shot I could not find my arrow anywhere. When I couldn't find blood I was nervous that I gut shot her. I felt horrible, but then I saw some pink foamy blood and knew it was all good. I struggled to track her, but eventually picked up a small trail where I heard her crash through the brush. I was searching for more blood, and happened to look up and see that she was right there, a few feet away and dead. I could see a lot more blood here. She did not go far. I was happy to see that I hit her in the vitals, and she died quickly. For that I am happy. I now had to field dress an animal for the first time. I was solo and my adrenaline was pumping, but I actually got it done better than I thought I would. I got her home and brought her into the side yard where I skinned and quartered her. I wondered what my neighbors were thinking. I live on Long Island, NY where people are close enough to see your yard, and are not so used to seeing wild game being skinned and quartered. I now have the quarters being aged in a cooler of ice, but not touching the ice. I ate the tenderloins this morning and had a piece of backstrap for dinner. It was amazing. I wanted to complete the whole process from beginning to end on my own. I feel grateful for the experience and for the food she provided. I'm pumped that my fiancee liked the meat too. There is a buck over there that I want to get, but we have so many deer and they need us to kill the does. So in trying to get him, I will take does if they come by. Some guys on here gave me some great info, so thank you to them. Here is a terrible pic that I took of her. It was hot and I was only concerned with field dressing. I will be skinning and quartering from a pulley and gambrel that attaches to my trailer hitch once I get it. I think that will make life a lot easier.
Congrats! Sounds like you did a darn good job. Have any of your neighbors asked what you were doing with the deer in the back yard? I can see how interesting that could be if they haven't been exposed to hunting before!
Congrats man! It truly is an amazing feeling. Stick to hunting and youll find some success down there! Im in upstate ny myself and i happen to know that once they opened suffolk county for hunting some of the biggest bucks in the state have been taken from there in the past 5 years Sent from my SM-G930V using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
No, not as of yet. I was surprised that my fiancee and her parents came out in the yard to watch and be involved. It was there first time being exposed to it. They were pretty interested. Hopefully the neighbors see me with a few more deer and become interested. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Good shot and glad to hear your plan worked out! Congrats Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Congrats man!! I am still searching for my first deer with a bow. I grew up gun hunting but have made it a mission to bow hunt only.
