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                                                                         October 21, 1997
                                                                         Walnut Hill, FL

 This was the fourth day of our hunt.  I was on the same stand that I got my two deer opening morning.  This was an afternoon hunt.  I got on the stand at 2:00.  About three o'clock I heard a fawn to my left.  It came out about 25 yards with its head low.  I was expecting to see momma come out behind him but I never saw her.  Then I saw movement off to the left in the brush.  Then I thought I saw antler's.  Yep!,  Tall antler's, my heart about jumped out of my chest.  The buck was a 9 1\2" cow horn.  For me this was a great deer.  I was trying hard not to be overcome with the fever but managed to hold it off.  The buck slowly worked his way out at about 25 yards.  I put my pin on him and let her rip.  I thought that I just barley shot under the buck.  But his reaction looked like I hit him in the heart.  He jump up on his front legs and kicked at his chest, then ran off.   The fletching looked low, but I wasn't sure.  Because I was thinking whether or  not I hit him I forgot to watch and listen for him to double up.  I got out of my stand and went to were I shot at him.  I could not find my arrow to save my life.  I figured if I could not find the arrow it must have been in him.  I kept looking in the immediate area and found very small drops of blood.  I was some what glad.
I figured that the arrow had to be in the deer, I mean he did kick at his chest.  Anyway I could not find a good blood trail,  I thought I saw the buck turn 90 degrees from me then run off to the right.  I looked all over the right side where I thought he ran off.  After about 45 minutes I gave up and went and got my friend that was hunting with me.  Fred came back with me and I showed him the spot were I hit him and the small spots of blood.  He said, " those spots are turning splatter spots, he ran straight back."  Sure enough not 8 feet straight back of were I shot him was a huge blood trail.  (Fred's nick name is Heavy).  Anyway, the deer ran straight back and to the left, not even close to where I was looking.  The deer ran only 20 yards.  When I heard Heavy say, "There he is!!", I was excited. Return to Hunting Adventures!! OR Return to Main Page!!