I posted the story in Team 9's thread, but figured that I would post a little more detailed story here. Saturday morning I woke up a little after 5 a.m. to get ready and head out to stand for my first sit of the year. I grabbed my camo, my pack, and my bow and was out the door. I headed for my Muddy hang-on stand which is set on a woodline that seperates a hardwood flat from a x-mas tree patch. As I climbed into my stand I looked to my left which is a 30X60 yard clearing/golden rod field in the middle of the x-mas tree patch and see that the mock scrape I have set-up has been seeing some action. The weather was cool and it was overcast with rain headed my way along with wind but I was excited to be set-up. As the woods started waking up my anticipation kept growing, I knew that the wet ground was going to keep the footsteps of deer nearly impossible to hear. A little after 8 a.m. and I hadn't seen a thing, I was starting to wonder if the increasing winds were going to force the deer down into the valley to the east of me, but I knew that this was a major travel route between two bedding areas. Around 8:15 a.m. I heard something behind and to the left of me. I slowly turn my head to see a big doe standing in the golden rod field at less than 10 yards. I knew that I couldn't turn to make the shot without her spotting me, so I decided to wait for her to keep walking and head into the x-mas trees where she would give me a slight quartering away shot at 17 yards but she had other plans. Instead of heading into the pines on the major trail she decided to walk directly under my stand and into the woods in front of me where I would have no clearings to shoot into. I sat there as she stood 30 yards away and knew that my chance was gone. A few minutes later I heard something behind me to my right and as I slowly turned I saw another doe with two fawns at around 10 yards. This doe headed towards my shooting lane but I was going to let her pass not only because she had fawns, but also because the other doe was noticeably larger and thats the one I was set on. As the smaller doe moved into my shooting lane the big doe turned and headed right for my shooting lane. I started to draw back when the smaller doe and two fawns look up at me and bust me. They snorted and took off and I figured the big doe was going to follow, but much to my suprise she walked into my shooting lane and turned strongly quartering away at a little under 25 yards. I drew my bow back, put the pin in front of the back leg and made absoultely sure to slowly squeeze the release. The arrow flew and I watched as it hit her exactly where I was aiming and burried up to the fletchings. I watched her as she ran along the woodline to the north but I never heard her crash. After about 10 minutes I gathered up my gear and slowly worked my way to my south where I had my girlfriend set up. I told her what had happened and that even though the shot was good, we were gonna back out and wait for awhile. As she started climbing down the rain drops started falling and I quickly pulled out my phone and looked at the radar... not good. The rain was finally here and it was only going to get worse. I had to make the decision to either wait, knowing the blood would be washed away, or take up the trail and hope that my shot was as good as I hoped. I opted to take up the blood trail and there was blood at the spot of impact. The steady downpour was quickly washing the blood away but the trail was still visible along with the running tracks in the soft dirt... 80 yards or so later and I was knelling beside my 2011 archery doe. This was my first chance to use some of my new gear this year.. Cabelas Revolution Fleece Dry Plus in Vertigo Gray camo... this suit performed flawlessly and kept me dry through the driving rain. It was comfortable and quiet, and the Vertigo Gray camo pattern was awesome. N.A.P. Bloodrunner 3-blade broadheads... I was a huge Rage fan, but I decided to give these a try and I will never go back. These heads shoot great, are much sharper than the Rage's, and I believe that they give you much better blood trails. I hit right in front of the rear leg and the broadhead was just under the skin in the opposite front shoulder. Muddy Safeguard Safety Harness... Great harness with some awesome features. It was very comfortable to sit in, and the bino system is awesome. The only thing that I noticed was that the leg restraints seemed to creep up and give a slight "wedgie"
Nice job man! I always wore my Muddy harness under my jacket so never saw a use for the bino harness. In fact, I cut the elastic straps off mine so the clips were not getting caught on anything. Glad you like the Bloodrunners. They're great heads!
Nice job! Looks like a big healthy doe. I was hoping to do the same Saturday morning but the rain had other ideas.
Congrats on the doe! I just wore my Muddy harness for the first time as well this weekend. I'm not a big fan of the bino holders...need a bit more stretch for my liking.
Awesome deer man! I've been hunting Pa since the 17th an nothing yet. Sitting in the stand as I write this actually. Hope to have one soon, I want some meat.
Thanks guys, I went out this evening and saw "Fieldgoal", too bad I jumped him outta his bed bout 450 yards from where he was bedding earlier this year.
Tell the guy that shot it that he should take his bow from behind you next time so we cant accuse you of lying.. Just kidding man, nice, BIG doe! Congrats!!
