This page last updated: Jan. 02, 2007

Date/Subject

12/13/2005 Christmas Shoot

05/01/2006 "My Son's First Hunt"
 
10/08/2006 Li'l Ol' Man, Li' Ol' Deer

10/11/2006 Former Marine's 1st Deer

10/21/2006 Deer Two

12/10/2006 Young Ethan Funk's First Deer

01/02/2007 Former Marine's Second Deer
 

Entry, Dec 13, 2005

Christmas Shoot

Sunday, Dec 11th, our local (mixed archery) club, Hubert Archers, held it's annual Christmas Shoot to raise toys and monies for a local ecumenical outreach organization's "Tree of Angels" program, for less fortunate children. (Oh- let me say right off that it was a huge success for us and the kids, as a brand new format and idea.)

We decided rather than a regular 3D shoot, as we've done the past three years, we'd try a turkey shoot with bows. The empathis was to be: to have fun, give away some turkeys, and raise toys and/or money for the kids - with an additional side (of equal importance) to get more new kids interested in archery and the spirit of giving.

It was to be shot on the known distance bag range portion of Flatwoods Outfitters (where I used to work and we still hold our club shoots) A piece of paper with an X (or actually a cross) would be put up as a target for each relay of about five shooters (one at a time), shooting one arrow at the paper. Closest arrow to the intersection of the lines would be the winner, ties would shoot another arrow until the tie was broken. Winner to receive a turkey of above 10lbs or more. We raised toys and monies by charging a new toy of $10.00 value, or ten dollars cash per adult, $5.00 per child for shooters. For their entry fee shooters would get a string of ten double tickets and they would give up one ticket for each arrow shot. We also sold coffee, hot choclate and homemade brownies at 50cents each. We stated we would give Fifty turkeys away. The plan originally was that winners would get a turkey and loosers would get their ticket put in a "pot" for loosers drawings for excess turkeys. As hinted, the success of the shoot made it that the "loosers" drawings never came to pass and in fact we wished we had at least a few more turkeys. Due mostly to our President's (my "Twin Brother", Bernie Cleckner) church group and his contact of scouting organizations we had more new kids (to mix with our usual ones) than you could shake a stick at. Kids that had never and/or almost never had a chance to shoot a bow. We provided quite a few traditional bows and arrows, mostly fiberglass, for those without their own to shoot. Everyone had so much fun it was smiles from wall to wall in the great outdoors. Kids were winning turkeys they needed help carrying. The very best result (other than what was raised for kids) was the number of kids (and parents) who are now interested in learning to shoot bows - we (the club) will follow up with offered instructions and outings, as will the Presidents church group, mentioned above.

We set three main rules of conduct: No shooter could win more than two turkeys, any extra tickets could not be given to other shooters, and no shooter could shoot for another shooter. AND of course SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY! Our Club members and other volunteer shooters oversaw all, with winners of two turkeys becoming judges, ticket collectors, instructors, etc. as needed and willing.
We had a few glitches that required changes of "plans" in regards to classes of shooters (we had more traditional shooters than compounders and sometimes even had kids with borrowed trad bows shooting against adults with a compound - and even winning a turkey just the same - LOL, , etc.) I saw one tiny, physically challenged boy walking with his distinctive wobble to his folks car with a big ol' turkey in each hand while his proud parents beamed behind - yes I had to stop and get something out of my eye. We will set up more "on line" targets (not too many) for shooting relays next year. Soon after we got started, We had all componds (14yrs and up) shooting from 30 yds (remember we wanted to generate fun and the giving away of turkeys), all trad shooters (14 and up) shot from 20 yds, and all kids (below fourteen) from 10 down to 3 yards (at judges discretion depending on that relay's make up). We learned a lot, got some constructive ideas for next years shoot and we will be back then, bigger and better. A blast was had by all and we thank all - wish you were there. Thank you, Lord for this Christmas blessing and may it only grow in years to come.

Also John Dill , his brother, Joe, and John's pretty wife (and my special friend), Cindy came from up state. On top of that my big partner from ATAR (last year), Bill Pearce, (still a club member) and his super-kid son, Will, came all the way down from VA just to help out on the shoot (and win some turkeys for them, and even gave one to a busy check-in desk guy, (which my Daughter and her kids will enjoy - and they will save me the wing bones - LOL). Tom Anderson (Native Craft on tradgang.com, and my ATAR travel partner of the year before) came and brought a toy donation, though he couldn't stay to shoot, but I got to meet his proud Dad and one of his Brothers. Marty Gillette our clubs top compound shooter (who can beat about everybody most of the time) also came to just donate a toy and help out with the relays, etc. Just a few folks I think of right now. Bless and thank you all and everyone else
Before next year we are gonna have more loaner bows, to get kids started during the coming year, and at next year's "Christmas Turkey Bow Shoot" (I hope - with a little help from our friends), and more turkeys to give away!

Entry, May 01, 2006

"My Son's First Hunt"

The following is a message I received from my Cyber and Tradgang.com friend, David, From my Birth State of NH. Some of you may recall David sent me the wing bones of a Bearded Hen Turkey he shot with a traditional bow last spring. I had been soliciting bones to make wing bone Turkey calls with. As a surprise to him I made a call for both him and myself out of the two sets of bones and painted pictures of NH's famous Old Man In The Mountain on them (pics seen in my Gallery Pg10). I felt David's story epitomizes the desire of men who long to introduce their children to the mysterious pleasures of the hunt, and therefore belonged in these Journals. Remember, make it fun for the youngsters and they will make up their own mind. "Hunters Are People Too" - thank you for reasserting that fact, David, and sharing with us.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Hi all,   This weekend was the Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend here in New Hampshire, and I took my nine year old son Hunter out for his first ever hunt.  It was a shotgun hunt, which is why it isn't on Trad Gang, but I had to share it with you.  Hope you all don't mind, here it is...   For not killing or even seeing a bird it could not have been a lot better.
We were up at 3:30 and at our spot at five, with sunrise at 5:45.  I waited
for about ten minuets for it to lighten up just a little, I just didn't want
him walking through the woods in the dark for his first hunt.  We got out of
the truck, as we were getting dressed I heard a faint gobble.  I told Hunter
we had to hurry, he did and we got to the spot I wanted to be at with the
bird still going strong, and still on the roost.  Got the blind set and
after a couple of minutes  starting some calling, the bird went nuts.  He
came down off the roost and went away from us for a couple of mintes, and
then started towards us.  I wish you could have seen Hunter's eyes when the
bird cut loose about thirty yards away on the back of a little rise to our
right.  They were like saucers!  Unfortunately he went behind us and up a
hill, he must have gobbled for at least an hour.  We never saw him because I
only opened the front windows to the blind which restricted our vision.  We
stayed put until 8:30, with a couple of more distant gobbles but no more
real action.  The areas we hunt are all woods, so we have to find roosting
areas along with feed and travel areas, but we have them pretty well figured
out.  After a short break for a cup of coffee and hot chocolate at a friends
house, we went to another spot and were set up by 9:30.  We stayed in the
blind for about an hour listening to a tom going nuts on a ridge about 200
yards away.  We left the blind and got about 100 yards away, and spent the
next hour and a half trying to get him off the ridge.  He was still going
strong when we had to leave as spring turkey in NH shuts down at noontime.
Hunter did not want to leave, and has his stuff ready to go for tomorrow.
He has tomorrow planned, shoot a bird early, get it checked in and taken
care of and then he wants to be off to a traditional 3D shoot about an hour
away!

Whether he shoots one or not, as you know, will not make or break me.  What
I hope is that he catches the fire, and that this becomes a part of him.
All I can do is nuture him and give him the chance, then it's up to him, but
I have to tell you, today was a blast.  As  I was preparing some arrows this
afternnon for opening day later this week, my wife asked me what was going
to happen if we were both hunting and we had a chance at a turkey.  I would
give up my season to see him get a bird.
 Day two, wow!  Once again we were up at 3:30 and setting up the blind at daybreak.  It was kind of slow for the first half hour or so, so I told Hunter to take a nap if he wanted. Out like a light before the sentence was finished!  45 minutes later he wakes up and asks if anything was going on, and I told him there had been some distant gobbles but nothing close.  We were set up on private property with a pond about 100 yards in front of us loaded with geese, so they were making a racket.  In between the geese we could here a couple of birds on the other side of the pond, so I started calling.  Both birds cut loose, then cut loose at each other, and then a hen started yelping behind us.  I called a few times in the next hour, and thought that one of the birds was moving around the lake.  At just after seven I look out the window to my left and here comes a bird in full strut up the tote road, with two hens in front of him.  The hens get about 50 yards from us and I let out three soft yelps, the lead hen sees our hen decoy and comes running right to it!  She walks around it and pecks it, then just starts picking through the grass, with the second hen right behind her, both only ten yards away.  In the meantime the jake is still in full strut and coming in, but stops at 22 yards and just struts back and forth, with the hens between he and us.  Hunter is dead still, except for his breathing, which was exceptionall heavy, (so was mine), but he held it all together.  Then the first hen lays down ten yards in front of us and begins preening herself, with the second hen picking away at the grass.  The jake stays at 20-22 yards, on the other side of the hens, and a little to the right, strutting and gobbling the entire time.  I couldn't let Hunter shoot for fear of hitting one of the hens, and the shot was a little awkward being righthanded.  This went on for 45 minutes, Hunter was great the entire time.  The first hen finally got up, and the three of them walked away the way they had come, with the jake still going strong the entire time.  We broke down at 8:30 and called it a weekend as Hunter wanted to go to a 3D shoot about an hour away, so that is what we did. Hunter was pumped, and kept talking about how close they were, and the jakes blue head.  I got to show him drag marks from his wing feathers, and tell him how they were made.  I told him his heavy, fast breathing was buck fever, his response to me was, "but dad, those were turkeys, how can that be buck fever?"  All in all it was a great weekend, and for a 9 year old Hunter did a great job.  He wants to go with me next weekend during the regular season, so I'll take him at least one day.  I can't tell you how much fun this was for me this weekend, and how proud I am of how he handled himself.  He went so far as to tell me he wants to be able to hunt them with a bow, but knows he has to pull 40lbs before he can. All in all, I can't ask for much more from his first weekend of hunting, the only thing that could have made it better is if he had gotten a shot.  That will come. Thanks for listening and take care.  David

Entry, Oct 08, 2006 

Li'l Ol' Man, Li'l Ol Deer

Picture this. Here it is the last night of bow season, and it is the night before full moon - plus last time out I saw nothing. 'Course I hunt bow all year but still in NC Black powder starts tomorow AM and the only way you get to use bows during that next week is in "bow only" areas like the base (Camp Lejeune) has. That's where I had been for the last two years because, while I was seeing deer (like this year), no shot opportunities at legal shooters. So ---"Still" it was "last day of Bow Season" - ya know what I mean? Well, now turns up they are talking a front coming in with possible bad showers and cooler weather in the afternoon and evening. Even my wife said, "Did you hear that?" Yep! I decided I would take my after lunch nap, and when I got up, if it wasn't too sunny - or toooo rainy, I'd go and give it one last bloody go. Looking pretty good when I got up - meaning right overcast. Shortly, I was on the road to the base. About half way there it started raining and by the time I got to my parking area it was pouring cats and dogs and there was Poodles in the street, as they say. I struggled into my rain suit and called the wife to tell her the situation. I knew she'd be wondering about the heavy rain (and lightning - in a metal climber). I told her my "plan" was to sit right where I was until, and if, it slacked up - I couldn't hardly make out the greens on the Golf Course. If it slacked, I would just take my bow and leave my climber in the truck, so that I could get out in a hurry if it started up bad again. I lamented that I hadn't put my Dean Torges type tree seat in the truck (as I'd meant to a week ago) but I would stand with my back to the big pine and the understory for cover and hope for the best. After all, if it let up, and with the front approaching - the deer should walk. Yes!
It did slack up, and by the time I got to my tree it was only very light rain - and cow flap size spatters off the trees, of course. Within about 30 minutes I caught movement to my front left that I was sure wasn't Squirrels. Sure enough a decent deer that looked to be a doe was working its way through the heavy brush across my front. I quickly but carefully nocked an arrow. I was really traveling light, so had only stuck my flashlight in my pocket and left my fanny pack at the truck. That meant I'd forgot to grab my bleat can. Rats! I made a low attempt at a fawn bleat or two with my mouth. Directly the Deer worked it's way back from my right towards the road in front of me. Somehow I kept myself from fainting - mouth calls are not my forte. As the deer cleared the brush I immediatly saw it was one of the spike horns that I had been seeing in the area. This one's spikes sort of lay back along it's neck and explained why I thought he was a doe in the brush - it wasn't the first time he'd almost got me in trouble this season. Bucks gotta be five points in bow areas. I watched the nice sized fellow, not 12 yards from me, in my shooting lane, as usual giving me plenty of shot opportunities. He was pretty sure the base of that tree looked different and was doing a heap of head bobbing and keeping his eye on me the whole sequence of the evening but he never busted me. As my old friend, Eddie Mills, in Maine used to say, "I was standing so still dust was forming on my eyeballs." After about five minutes or so of this posturing and milling about, he suddenly looked towards where he had first appeared to my left. Now he was really offering it up - broadside and his attention fixed over there. I turned my head slowly (resisting the urge) in the direction he was staring.

Again I saw Deer moving through the thick brush and trees to my left front. About the same time the Spikehorn decided to go join them, I realized there appeared to be at least three additional Deer. Again, they started moving across my front at an angle towards the Golf Course as he had done earlier. However the Spike must have conveyed something to them somehow, as they all changed course towards my shooting area. He swung around behind them to follow. As they moved into the clear and near-clear areas directly in front of me, I could see there were actually six Deer, counting him. Yes, Sir, for the next 25 minutes I had six deer in front of me milling around. Twelve eyeballs, and that pretty Spikehorn acting like the biggest buck in the woods, watching over his herd of two medium sized doe and three fawns - one with only very faint spots now. That rascally Spikehorn was still doing his best to fake out whatever that was at the base of my tree, with all the maneuvers in his young book. The fawns were less skittish but also were staying pretty darned alert, what with him setting the mood. While those four gave me chance after chance, the two doe just plain never did give me a shot. they would come in from the perimeter and as soon as he, or a fawn, would move they'd dodge back out - first one and then the other. Finally, after the afore mentioned twenty five minutes of exquisite pain, I took stock. I'd enjoyed about as much of this as my poor ol' heart could stand. It couldn't last forever, no matter how much I had settled into enjoying the game. Again, it is last night of bow season, night before Full Moon, I am on the ground, scoreless, and being watched by all these deer without being busted yet. On top of that, I don't want to get busted, perhaps resulting in no shot and screaming deer running off in fright over this site. It didn't take me long to decide that I was going to take the next opportunity that wasn't on the Spike or the "Fading Spots Fawn". One of the fawns looked good for it, so I started working my bow, and nocked arrow, up and into place, a little at a time, while watching the Spike looking up at me, and then down at the ground. Once in position I split vision between the Spike and the Fawn while sneaking in a full draw. Thankfully I remembered to focus full attention at the last minute on the spot I'd already picked on the closest fawn. The arrow was away and almost immediately the Pumpkin-whop sound of a solid hit at 11 yards told its tale. Miraculously, all five of the other Deer bolted to the right front into the thick, and my prize went to the left. Not a vocal sound out of any of them - that's gotta be good for this site. I could see my slim 1913 arrow, tipped with the incredible Silver Flame broadhead, hardly having been put to any task, stuck in the dirt right in line with where I had pictured on the off side of the fawn. I heard a little thump to the left where the hit deer had run - but, even at that, there was still that one second when you say, "I couldn't have shot under her!" I moved away from the tree and out into the clear road, As I splashed across the puddle I could see the reassurance of the blood soaking the fletching and shaft. All was right in my world. I repeated my usual silent (most of the time), "Thank you, Lord." and retrieved my arrow. While putting the blood soaked arrow back in my bow quiver, I looked over where the hit Deer had run. At that moment it crossed my mind, "If that isn't a log there, that could very well be my Deer". I angled towards the suspect lighter hump but hadn't covered half of the scant 20 yards before it was apparent it was indeed not a log. "Thank you - again, Lord."

It was still daylight at 6:15 as I grabbed the small Deer's legs and dragged it out of there as quickly and with as little disturbance as possible. What a special hunt for this 71 year ol' hoss!

(See Pictures on Gallery Page 12)

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Entry, Oct.11, 2006

Former Marine's 1st Deer

The following story was sent to me by my large buddy, Former Marine and now Sea Captain  working for the insurance industry as a marine matters adjuster (after many years as a Salvage diver, etc.), Bill Pearce. With all that excitement in his life you can still feel the excitement and pride in his first successful hunting exploit. I started Bill in Archery (and he quickly passed me like a steam engine) and I now love shooting with him and his young son Will, so this story really makes my day - I think it will help yours too (No edits - LOL). (See Pic on Gallery, Pg7)

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Well, Bern, On the third day of hunting, here's the result. My first Trad harvest.  I didn't take a pic of the side with the hole, but the shot was 5in behind the front leg through the lung and heart, angled from the back to front, he was quartering away when I released. At 12'. Yes, 12 feet. I have been working on the hunting part and how close I can get. Mon I was in a thicket by a hedge row @ Crooked Creek WMA, and a young doe walked into the thicket, stood 18" from my right side, and never knew I was there until I put my hand on her side. Of course she took off , but stopped outside and looked back to where I was and the look on her face was What the hell was that? Then she trotted off.
I think my secret is the cover sent I'm using. It's just plain old corn meal from the grocery store. No additives. Just plain corn meal. Not only does it cover your sent well, it attracts them. It's hard not to move when they are that close. When that buck came in the first time, he looked at me three times and still didn't get it. The first time he was with three does, and one always seemed to be watching me. I tried to get a shot the first time , but one doe was behind me over my right shoulder, and I thought she had moved , and the tree I was next to would be blocking her seeing me. But when I started to move my bow, she barked and all four left back the way they had come. I stayed still, thinking they would come back in a while, because I was between them and the creek. Not 15 min later, one of the larger does came back, circling around to me right, about thirty yrds out. The buck came next, walked right at me, stopped 10' away, looked right at me , and then turned and walked to my left. He only took two steps when I drew, locked, and released. And I still haven't found my arrow yet. I'll look again today. That shot is now engrained in my brain. And that deer is bigger than he looks in the pics. I can't pick him up, and I should have arranged him better for the pic, but it's a learning process.
Give me your phone number again and I'll call. I had it on a piece of paper with other numbers, but I can not find it in the car. It's been a VERY BUSY time at work since I saw you last!. I've been in Denver, CO, Montana, Texas, MD, and as couple more places I can't remember. I hope you're getting out in the woods. Try the stalking or still hunting on the ground. It's a hoot.




Capt. Bill Pearce

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Entry, Oct. 21, 2006

Deer Two

After I got my "Li'l" Deer, I went on four hunts without any sightings except one Doe with a yearling that came in but offered no decent shot before taking leave. I'd also been on the ground for three of those hunts and was beginning to think maybe I'd spooked the area Deer worse than I'd thought. However at the same time it was bright moon times, and had turned warmer again, which didn't help. We had a couple of colder days when reports were good but I hadn't been able to get out during that period. I was planning to get out on Friday, exactly two weeks after my previous great night on the ground. It was supposed to turn cloudy in the afternoon, from an approaching cold front, but to my uneasiness it stayed sunny and warm that afternoon. With little confidence of seeing anything, I still decided two days of staying away had  to be enough. At least I would be out there, and I sure couldn't see any Deer in the living room. I also made up my mind to go back up the tree, in case they were watching the base of the tree without my realizing it. Besides, there was a pretty good breeze up above ground level so it would be a more pleasant sit up there, on this warm evening. As sundown neared and the seven or eight Squirrels that had been amusing me throughout the evening headed for bed, I was about to conclude it had been an uneventful sit as well. 

"Thank you, Lord, for the Squirrels anyway," had just ran through my head when I realized there was a dark Deer moving in the brush, straight towards my front. So dead-on to me that I hadn't noticed it at first . I recall figuring it was probably one of the Spikehorns or Cowhorns I had been seeing from its decent size. As it got close to the woods-road edge I could see there was nothing on it's head but ears - a nice Doe. I shifted my eyes around for a yearling to bust me, since she obviously was not aware of me. Seeing none, and with her head now down towards the road's edge, probably hoping to find an acorn,  I carefully got to my feet. She moved out onto the road. Only twelve yards away now, and still more or less at ease. Well, as much as a Doe ever is at ease, but still head-on. Suddenly both of us heard a pretty good noise right at the base, and behind, my tree. She stared, suddenly more alert - I didn't dare move my head now but thought another decent sized Deer was going to come out onto the roadway right below me. I cast my eyes downward as much as I dared and a pair of fat Raccoons appeared, one either side of my tree. The Doe turned to my left, her movement bringing my eyes back up. I thought, "Rats, she is going back in the bushes because of those fat rascals." However she, almost in the same stride, turned back my way. A sidelong glance at the coons showed me they had blissfully, and thankfully, angled across the road to my right. Apparently they were not aware, or concerned, with either the Deer or me, and had plans of their own. In turn, the Doe was no longer bothered by them. She turned from broadside, but at my left, about 14 or 15 yards now, back towards the bushes edging the road. Again I thought she probably would leave the roadway now, when it suddenly dawned on me - "Quartering away, you fool!" It had been so long since I'd been offered that most desirable of shots, by a legal, decent sized Deer, that I almost slept it. I drew, picking my spot for a shot from an elevated point and the arrow was away. I heard the tell-tale, "Thunk" and  actually saw the arrow disappear in her ribs. I saw her hunch a little as she swiftly swung to her, and my, left. I watched as she ran about 20 yards to the left on the roadway (turned out to be 22 yards) before turning between a couple of twin-sized trees. As she melted into the thick brush across from my side of the road, it looked like she lowered her head and slowed down. I wasn't sure but that was the last impression I had. I could see the arrow stuck in the roadside at the angle I would expect from a solid hit and pass through. Still standing, my legs shaky now, I listened intently. For about five minutes, I heard virtually nothing that I could discern. Then a deer barked to my right front and I heard it head back away, towards the Golf Course. Since I hadn't heard any movement across my front I assumed it was probably a different Deer all together. In another five minutes, as I sank into the welcome support of my  Ol' Man's hammock seat, I heard a sudden thump from the bushes where I'd last seen the Doe. At the same time as I was wondering if she had stood there that long before falling, I heard another snort, and movement away from that spot. I was beginning to become worried and confused. I decided it was time to check things out a little - carefully. After descending my tree and quietly packing my treestand and gear I moved across to retrieve my blood soaked arrow. With flashlight and bow in hand, I scanned the roadbed as I went to the two trees where my doe had turned in. I wasn't moving very slowly, since I knew where she had gone, but I was not pleased that I didn't pick up any blood sign along the way. I looked pretty good between the two trees but still nothing. With sinking heart I moved into the woods a couple steps, and then flashed the light ahead of me where I had last seen her, and heard the thump and snort later. There, not three paces further ahead, lay my beautiful Doe. "Thank you, Lord. Thank you, so very much, Lord - even for the little scare." I'm not sure if it came out aloud or not but I do know my rather strange little silent thank you was followed by a nervous laugh. Apparently a third Deer, coming from the left, had stumbled onto the dead doe, stomped, snorted, and ran off.

I grabbed the two back legs and pulled my prize the short distance to the roadway, retrieved my gear, returned to pick up her legs again and dragged her a few yards. I realized I was sweating and called myself an old fool. Once I came to my senses LOL, I dropped the legs of this heavier Deer and headed to the truck to stow my gear and come back with my old but blessed cart, and without my Bug Away suit on. Happy days are here again.

Entry, Dec.10, 2006

Young Ethan Funk's First Deer

Christopher Funk has sent me a couple of really nice pictures for my relatively new "Traditional Bows Drawn" section. Chris also got his first Traditional Bow Deer earlier this year - good on you, Chris. Today in a message, Chris said he had been working really hard to put his son, Ethan onto his first Deer. He then asked me if I would like to read his report on Ethan's first deer that he just got, with his .243. He said he wasn't sure which of them was the proudest over it. I told him that I most certainly would. I liked it so well, I am including it here. There are also a couple of pictures of the lad with his proud prize on Gallery, Pg 13. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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Thank you for sharing with us, Chris and Ethan, and well earned congratulations.

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Entry, Jan. 02, 2007

Former Marine's Second Deer

Friend Bill Pierce scores his second traditional gear Whitetail on New Year's Day, and "reports in" - LOL. Pictures are on Gallery, Pg 13.

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"Happy New Year! Sorry I didn't send this yesterday, but decided to hunt all day. Hunted in some thick stuff in the AM and was busted by 5 doe and 1 2 pt. Then about 3PM decided to hunt the tree stand. There's this one doe that I have been playing tag with and decided I'd give it one last shot. Moved my stand twenty ft. to another tree, and right at dark this deer walks in right under me. I went to lean forward to try the shot and it took off. About 5 min later, a deer I thought was the same one walks in about 15 yards out, and stops broadside to me, looking back up the hill towards the cabin.  I was loosing shooting light, and all I had was a silhouette, and could tell it was looking away. The background color was very light from the dry grass, and the Deer's form was real dark, so I took the shot. I heard the impact, the Deer grunted and dropped, and didn't move. I waited a few min. and then as I started down the tree, I heard it move. I had spined it, so I had to finish it. But that spine shot sure made tracking easy. And it wasn't the doe. It was a 5pt. The light background color had hidden the rack. Any way, good start for the year.  I did shoot an arrow Sun night (for New Year), but I didn't have Will there to take a pic. Maybe I'll have more time this year, and not have to work as much. Fat chance."


Capt. Bill Pearce

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