| Billy Don Van Cleave was the first
one out of bed each day.
By the time "The Duck" had coffee on the table, Billy Don had all our stand assignments figured out. It's # 18 for me today, a ladder stand set about fourty yards into the woods with a pasture to the left. I was dropped off there before daylight and worked hard at getting settled in and ready for the new day. This is a favorite time of mine when I reflect on past hunts and all the wonderful memories that come to mind. |
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It didn't take long for the action to begin. Here I was on my first deer hunt in Texas, and at first light I see two deer coming out of the woods to my rear and into the field on my left. My preparations paid off and I was able to get my binoculars up easily without getting busted. The hard part was getting a good look at the deer. How they manage to seemingly always stand and walk behind an obstacle bewilders me, but a little patience paid off. Finally, I could see that the lead deer was a buck with a wide spread. There were still obstacles in the way and they were still out of range. Besides, I still didn't have a look at the second deer. I've been warned not to shoot the first buck I see. Taking that advise I strained to get a look at deer # 2. Moments that seemed like hours passed and I finally got my look. It too was a buck, but not the larger of the two. A six point maybe, and small basket rack at that. Then, to my horror, just as I got a good look at the lead buck and confirmed He was a shooter, the deer turned and walked back to the wooded area and started to circle down wind. The big boy presented a broadside shot opportunity just short of being down wind and I drew my bow, but a tree limb wouldn't allow me to aim the bow. I had to let down, even made a little noise, but the bowhunting gods were good to me and I didn't get busted, that Scent Killer Soap I showered with must have worked too ! The deer browsed to my left, this time staying in the woods and started circling around to the front of the stand. The big boy was mine, if I remember all the rules. He presented a broadside at about 20 yds. and as my pin lined up behind the front shoulder the near leg went forward. I released and I can see that arrow fly! Whack ! and then I saw sparks when the pass-through found a rock on the ground beyond the deer as He spun around and fled out to the field and off into the wooded area. After summoning Billy Don Van Cleave on the cellphone and a fifteen minute wait, I retrieved my arrow and confirmed the pass-through. After Billy Don arrived, we elected to give it an hour before starting the tracking job. An old hound dog couldn't have tracked that buck any better, Billy Don never even sputttered ! After less than 100 yds. it was, " there he is ! ", big Texas handshake, and shit eatin' grins !! What I believed to be an eight point turned out to be a ten !!!!!!!!
10 Point Buck - Burnet Texas - October 11, 2004 - 7:30 a.m. My day was not over, but I was sure off to a good start! After tending to the deer and a good lunch I was back out in a stand. This time it the " B & B " stand. I was hoping for a chance at a turkey and Billy Don has had reports of sightings there. This is a permanent stand built into an old oak tree. Took the video camera with me and had room to set it up in the tree with me. I had some visits with the local cattle population and on one of their visit they pushed some turkeys ahead of them. They took a another trail just before coming into my shooting lane. They made a second visit about an hour later and turned back from where they came again just before stepping into my shooting lane. I have some great video of an empty shooting lane ! Then, at last light, a noisy bunch of hogs came to feed. Some were mixed with black and white, but the obvious " boss hog " was jet black. 22 yards out in my shooting lane I decided that this would make a good video. I had to set the camera on the low light setting and then make the shot. I scored a bullseye on the hog, but goofed on the video, forgetting to hit the record button. I recovered my arrow and confirmed a pass-through, then located the beginning of the blood trail. While waiting for Billy Don, I packed my gear for the night and upon his arrival the tracking job began with Robert Hoague, myself, and Billy Don Van Cleave in the lead. It didn't take long for Billy Don to locate the downed hog. Man, what a day, a great deer in the morning and a hog in the afternoon !
I didn't know it until I got home to see all that had been written on the Bowhunting.net, but I became the main feature of Day # 4's hunt reports. Click here for day #4
Wild Boar - Burnet Texas - October 11, 2004 - at last light.
