This past summer I got the itch to get in touch with a friend of mine that I grew up with and cut my teeth in the hunting woods with. We were as close as two friends could be until life separated us in our early 20s. (we're now 30) He now lives a mere 3.5 hours away and his family's camp is 5 hours away. Long story short, I made it a priority to get there this fall as it's been at least 5 years since we have seen each other face to face. I applied for a 2A doe tag and planned a work trip for this past Friday that would put me within a few ours of his camp. After some traffic tie ups, we were able to get in the stand 2 hours prior to dark. He saw a decent buck in the distance and I jumped what I would bet a paycheck on to be a good buck on the way in and then saw nothing the remainder of the evening. Getting up the next morning after turning in rather late due to all the catching up was kinda rough, but we were both climbing trees before light the next morn. I've started putting "notches" on arrows that I've killed with. (red stripe) Here's the one that I had nocked that morning. It killed my first doe of 2009. (I was hoping it would kill my second doe of 2010) At 9:15 am, this is what it looked like. She came down the hill and stalled with me at full draw behind these trees. She was moving right to left and then once behind the trees, she stopped. I held, and held, and held, and thought about letting down. Then she stuck her head out the left side like she was gonna keep coming, then she went back behind the trees and turned around. When she came out the other side, I let the string on my Swat take that Victory for it's intended ride, right through both lungs. She ran back up the hill and we heard her crash. Dave was down the hill from me and had witnessed the whole thing. I never got the camera around to film her, but I didn't care. I nearly had to bear hug the tree after the shot as I was "pumped" over the whole encounter. Man, I love being a bowhunter! Sharing this hunt with my first hunting pal ever was truly awesome. The NAP Bloodrunner had it's chance to impress me with this deer and I have mixed feelings. It provided plenty of damage, just not as good of a bloodtrail as I had expected. I'll keep one in the quiver for another day, but my Slick Trick Mags will be nocked up until I see a buck worth sending an arrow at. Here's Dave and I, exactly where we said we'd be when we shared the PA woods as grade schoolers, still in the woods side by side. Saturday night's sit was unproductive as well. We spent the rest of the evening at a "roadhouse" just over the W. VA line. That was........interesting. Let's just say that everything you've heard or though about parts of W.VA is true. Got home today around 1. Picked up last week's doe and moved a stand to a better tree. Bring on the bucks, the freezer is taken care of.
Very memorable experience for you! I hope you took a lot of pictures. Why have you decided to hunt with the SWAT rather than the Destroyer?
Congrats on the doe, Ben! I "notch" my arrows per se, as well. I write what I kill and the date taken on the fletchings. Good luck buck huntin'!
Honestly, I got the Swat setup a month prior and was shooting it and kept shooting it. I shoot both very well, but I set the Swat up for hiking. (3 arrow Ultralight Quiver instead of Octane 1 pc, 7 inch octane instead of 11.5) and have been spoiled. My original premise was for the Swat to be a backup bow and maybe shoot some 3D with it, it's just Micheal Vick'ed it's way in this year. I planned on using it in wet weather as well and keeping the Destroyer nice, but it just hasn't given me a reason to put it down. That said, I do plan on breaking out the Destroyer some time this week, probably Thursday.
That's awesome, my buddy who got me into shooting bows, and bowhunting is in Afghanistan right now. I can't wait till he finish's up his duties and we can hit the woods together again. And Congrats on your doe!
Sounds like an awesome hunt man. The days I get to spend hunting with friends or family always stick out in my mind as the best of times. Can't wait to get back to it.
Kick ass story Ben!!! Congratulation's on your doe and good on you guys with meeting up again!! Lifes too short bud!!!
Sounds like a neat weekend reuinon with an old friend, Ben. Congrats on your second doe of the season. You'll be eatin good this winter!!
Thanks T, Started out much similar to last year. I just need to finish this thing right with a buck. I'll save my last doe tag for later, now it's time to grind.
Cool story Ben. I've done some hunting down in 2A from time to time. Are you originially from that area?
Nah, my buddy is originally from up here. It's........interesting down there. (outside of the hunting that is) The hunting is pretty cool. GPS is a must in those hills.
Interesting is a nice way to put it You can hear the banjos playing as soon as you cross the county line
