First time posting here. I Just wanted to share my story below...and hope to inspire someone. This is what happened to me on the last day of the year to finally get my buck after so many weekends and hours spent in the woods since opening day of Oct. 1st. Dec. 29, 2016 @ 10:36am I quietly and slowly walked on the crunchy snow…trying my best to mimick a Whitetail footstep. It was only a short 1K walk, but took me just over an hour. But as I descend down the other side of the ridge…I see about a dozen whitetails waving their goodbyes. My heart felt a complete loss as I spook the herd grazing in the snow. I don’t want to give up yet, so I setup the blind anyway and hoped for another opportunity. Not even a half hour passed, as I was getting setup in the blind. I couldn’t believe it, 3 huge does were playing and chasing each other. They caught me by surprise, I also caught them by surprise. They all paused 30 yards away from the blind, I’m sure they noticed that there was no blind there before. I couldn’t get a shot, I just wasn’t ready. I can say it’s a very disappointing day so far, but I still consider that lucky enough I supposed.. I packed up the camera and left the site at 4pm. Dec. 31, 2016 @ 8:00am I woke up early and restless, still picturing in my mind drawing my bow and landing my first deer of the year. Something’s gotta happen if you’re stubborn/persistence enough, so I thought. This time I beelined to the site not caring of the noise I make. I just wanted to try to catch them before they pass by my area this morning. As I descend to the the other side of the ridge, I heard heavy footsteps climbing quickly on the adjacent hill. I knew I spooked them again. All I can do now is sit patiently for 3 hours. I was only able to stay until 11am since it’s New Year’s eve and preparations must be done at home. 10:00 am. My vision of a successful hunt this year have begun to wane quickly. An hour left to hunt, but my mind have already left the woods. Then I noticed a very subtle movement in between the pine leaves. Suddenly I had an overwhelming feeling of uncontained excitement and nervousness. I just knew it was a deer, I raised my bow slowly and held my aim before it showed itself. Finally it emerged, a proud buck slowly pranced slowly about 40 yards...that’s 10 more yards than what I anticipated. Suddenly I see him climbing on the adjacent hill and is about to disappear into 2017. I just can’t wait another year. My whole body is shaking from all the adrenaline rush, but I remembered I practiced all summer for this moment. I just needed 1 second to calm down...then pulled the release trigger. It sounded like I hit the tree beside him. He did an about face and bolted like lightning. I doubted myself and almost cried that I missed. I waited just 1 minute to calm down then shakily walked over to try and retrieve the arrow...then I noticed some hair on the ground with specks of red in the snow. My aim was TRUE after all!!! I followed the very visible blood trail ...and followed. Then finally after zig zagging for about 50 yards through the snowy brush... Posing with my PSE Drive LT. The shot was legit from 40+ yards. He didn’t suffer much. The 1km, 1.5 hour long drag back to the truck. Dec. 31st. 4pm. Getting ready for the fun work to begin. He weighed 150lbs dressed, so about 200lbs in total. Jan. 1st. Half done butchering. Now that’s quality meat right there!!! 2016 turned out to be the longest and most exciting deerhunt I’ve had yet. I managed to finish off the year successfully on the very last day with only 3hrs to hunt. That day, I told my two boys at home that their daddy finally learned what being persistent means. To me, they both had a look that said “I’m proud of my dad ‘cause he’s a badass hunter!”. And that’s icing on the cake
Great story and write-up. Congrats on the buck. Blessings...........Pastorjim Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Great job on the hunt, the ones that are the most challenging are often the ones that are most rewarding.
Great job on the last minute deer. I enjoyed reading your post and felt like I was there with you. Happy New Years.
Good write up for a great hunt. Congrats on the buck! Sent from my VS500 using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Congrats. Good story and a great way to end your season. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
