Decided to go for it and went mulie hunting on a 3 day spot (Fri-Sun) and stalk backpack hunt in So. Calif. w/ a buddy. I took only my bow...he carried a winmag. Hiked and hunted until my legs, back and butt were frozen and locking up from fatigue. Had deer as close as 15 yards staring at me for minutes (thank you Optifade) but they were all does and spikes. Sunday morning shortly after 1st light I'm buried under a tree I'd carefully raked and trimmed to create shooting lanes. My bud is 1000 yards away in a similar set-up. I hear stuff moving behind me but can't see anything in the dense brush yet. Then BOOM! The .300 sent a shockwave thru the small canyon that made me jump in my seat. Mulie-blacktail hybrid down. We quarter and debone it and call it a hunt. My tag expires next Sunday. I'm feelin' kinda frustrated...second guessing not taking the rifle. sigh This is my 1st year hunting deer.
It's hunting. If everything worked out it wouldn't be challenging and fun. Although... sometimes easy would be nice for a change !! LOL Tim
Got my angst out yesterday. put on my salad suit (3d camos), sat very still by the door and came to life at the treat or treaters knocked on the door. Great fun! As they panicked and backed away from me I said, "Tell your friends you met George Bush tonight." Then they'd laugh and get their candy. I'd say, "Don't fall when you leave....get it?" That 3D mossy oak is great Halloween fun. So okay...maybe I won't get my very first deer with a bow. Maybe it's okay to hunt the last time with a rifle. But if that's the case...why have I taken the bow everytime out? Why can I still not bring myself to pack a rifle too? Maybe it's the budding bowhunter in me...or maybe I'm just obstinate and hate admitting defeat. Maybe I am expecting more of myself than I should. Maybe most new archers fail to get a buck w/ a bow in their first year. I've decided I have done okay for my first season now. I tried. I exhausted myself trying. I did everything I could do. I did manage to get 4 deer within 30 yards and two more other deer to 15 and 20 yards while on the ground. The one doe stared at me for a long time and never saw me so my camo, scent control and stalking were fine. That's gotta count for something I suppose. So I didn't see a legal shooter buck...that happens right? At least I stuck with the bow throughout bow and rifle season. Maybe there's hope for me...maybe it's the learning curve or just the luck of the draw. There was one moment that sticks in my head. I have deer coming into my area from three directions at once. Behind me, to my left and in front of me. Then I hear a guy chamber a round into his bolt action but have no idea where he is and i know he doesn't know I'm there. It is last light, I'm in a bush and praying this guy doesn't blast me. Yeah...that was an interesting twilight.
