Well my first sit of 2017 was an evening hunt on Friday, September 29th. I left school early to get my stuff together and drive the 40 minutes to the public I hunt. When I got into the stand I had about an 1hr and 45min to hunt. It was pretty uneventful except for the crazy squirrels and numerous wood ducks in the creek behind me. At about 6:30 pm a doe popped up on the edge of the field about 40 yards away and then another right behind her. I wasn't sure I wanted to shoot the doe because I couldn't tell how big it was or if it was a button buck due to the darker coat color than the second doe. I always second guess myself after not being in the stand since the previous season lol. After about 25 minutes and after the does calmed down from being spooked by something in the woods I decided to harvest the first deer. She was quartering away at about 25 yards and I put it on the bottom of her chest about 4 inches behind her elbow to make a heart shot or a clean miss if she dropped and turned. I didn't want to track a wounded deer being it was close to dark. The shot was a perfect heart shot and the doe ran 40 yards and died down in a dry creek bed. I had to drag the deer up the creek bank and 486 yards back to my truck in the dark. I was beat. This hunt was super emotional for me because on September 16th I lost my oldest brother (35 years old) in a very very tragic accident. He left behind 6 kids and a fiance. I am 1 of 8 siblings he has (3 on his dad's side and 5 on his mom's side-my side). Out of all of us I was the only one who hunted and got him into it about 3 years ago and he fell in love with archery. He always tried to one up me equipment wise but never connected with a deer. He liver shot one with me but we ended up bumping the deer and never finding it a couple years ago. In any case his fiance passed all his hunting gear to me because nobody else would use it. This doe I shot was taken with his equipment for him. With my help he finally harvested a deer. My tattoo I got as a tribute is his nickname with an arrowhead which represents our bond with bowhunting, his native american background, and of course his Kansas City Chiefs. Don't forget to tell your loved ones you love them and how much they mean to you because in the blink of an eye they can be gone. Thank you for the patience with the length of the post. God bless and shoot straight.
I'm so sorry for your loss! My prayers are with you and his family. Never easy losing someone but especially not suddenly! Sent from my Z831 using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Condolences for you & your families loss...maybe someone helped you out in one of the strong common bonds you both loved & shared? Sent from my SM-G935R4 using Tapatalk
Ah I see that was what I was thinking you were saying. I do believe he was with me and let those deer stay in the field rather than blow out of there like they usually do. I have a vial containing the dirt he laid on when he passed. It will be part of him I will always have with me.
Sorry for the loss of your brother. I'm glad you have good memories of him and was able to use his equipment in the harvest of your animal. His memory lives on with you. Blessings........Pastorjim
Very sorry to hear about your loss. This is an incredible way to honor your brother though I'm sure he is looking down from heaven happy as can be about your harvest! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My condolences and also my congratulations for honoring your brother. It is clear he is missed. And I'm certain he was in the stand with you.
I'm so glad you posted this wonderful spiritual thread about you and your brother. This is something I also share with my late younger brother. Although I'm the beginner, I would like to honor him in much the same way some day.
Thank you for sharing fellow hunter, he will be with you always in the woods. Kind Regards Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
So sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for sharing the story of honoring your brother with us. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
So sorry for your loss. Your bro was holding that string back with you.....and was smiling from above as you made that 486 yd drag. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Thank you all for your kind words. I know he will be with me from here on out just wish he could be here physically. @Shocker99 I bet he was smiling and laughing as I was making the drag with my frequent stops and having to worry about my flickering head lamp lol.
Flatstate - Condolences for you loss. Your tribute speaks volumes about you and your brother. He will be with you in all that you do... your flickering head lamp was his way of saying "nice job!"
Thank you @Smitty0220 I was thinking the same thing with my headlamp. It has never done this to me and runs on an 18650 battery that I have never had get low or die even while using it for camping for a week straight. It was charged a week before that hunt and used once while going through my shed in the dark. After the hunt I put the battery on the charger and it was done charging in 10 minutes. It usually will take 4-6 hours to charge after heavy use. I can't really explain it but it could have very well been him.
