 This
is the first deer I ever harvested. It's a Florida buck and a good one.
I was 19 and had been bowhunting for 5 years. Those were 5 years of sheer
wonder as my awareness of nature increased, my knowledge of deer grew,
and my hunting skills improved.
My family was the greatest in terms of support but they were lean on finances. So I had a part time job and took care of my own spending money. My passion for the bow and arrow was really put to the test once when it came time to buy a high school ring--a week before bow season. I had enough money for the ring or the bow season. Everybody was buying a ring and I wanted one too. But the solution was simple enough. I didn't get the ring. I loved bowhunting. I got my first buck in the Citrus Wildlife Management area near Inverness, Florida. I had seen him twice from my stand site, which was a scraggly acorn tree. The first limb was about 12 feet off the ground and it was my seat--remember I was 19 and still bullet proof. (Lately those limbs are pretty hard on my fanny and don't make such good stands no more.) A doe walked by first. When she stopped and looked back, my eyes followed her gaze. My hopes were high and I was not to be disappointed, the 8-point was following her. He walked into a little clear spot ten yards away and I made a perfect shot. I waited--as you should--and started down the tree. But I was excited and had difficulty getting footing to start my descent, I thought "the heck with this" and jumped to the ground. (See, I really I was bulletproof back them.) A good blood trail led me into a thicket of scrub oaks and right to the buck. Somehow, I got turned around pulling him through the thick brush--a fact that I didn't realize until I came to an unfamiliar forest road. Soon, a car came in view and a couple of bowhunters drove up and took me to my car. We unloaded the buck near my car and I told the bowhunters thanks. As they drove off my hunting partner, Tommy Denson, walked out in the road, about 80 yards off. I showed off by beating on my chest like Tarzan and Tommy ran down to me. We drove to the checking station. They weighed, measured and checked the buck in, etc.. The notes on my tag say: weight 105 pounds, age 6 years, good condition, tail 12" and ears 5 1/2". My bow was a Bear Kodiac (recurve) and I used cedar arrows and a bear razorhead. |