Well as many may know, this is my first ever season bowhunting... My friend, though, has been going most his life and has offered to take me hunting most weekends this year. Saturday we went out to the back side of his property looking for trails and tracks, found a decent amount and set up (but only for like 2 hours), and ended up seeing... nothing. So that leads us to Sunday. We got into the woods around 4-ish and split up. I found a couple trails I wanted to setup by so found a log and sat. I decided to try calling one in means it was an hour with nothing. After a few calls I heard something what sounded like a deer moving through the brush about 30 yards behind me but never actually figured out what it was.... About 20 mins later, I noticed a deer entering the edge of the woods at 40 yards off to my right... It really didn't feel real and hit me until after the encounter. At first I just thought it was a doe, then when he put his head down I noticed his 4 pt rack. I know, only 4 pointer, but none-the-less it was the craziest feeling ever, watching the buck come into the woods. I was anticipating that he would walk down the trail I setup right next too but he decided to take another one that led away from me. During the encounter, everything got really quiet and everything was blurred out but the buck. My heart was pumping to the point where it felt like I just ran about 20 miles. I think I'm addicted to this great sport. Cannot wait to be out again, next weekend.
Nothing like getting up on them, is there? I remember having to repeatedly tell myself to calm down during my hunt, just because I could hear a buck within 30 yards of me trying to find out where I was. I ended up backing off of him and came down the other side of the canyon, when if I had just sat there a little while, I'd probably have filled my tag. Now, I'm stuck reading everyone's story, practicing and trying not to over anticipate my chances for drawing a deer/antelope tags next year.
Ya bowhunting is awesome. I have seen a couple nice deer in my 4 years of bowhunting and still get the same feeling when I see a little deer compared to a big one.
The most important thing to do when that happens: BREATH: in 2 3, hold 2 3, out 2 3; repeat... I love that rush when they get close!
That's what it is all about. Got a smile on my face reading your story. Good luck in the future Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
