rookie mistakes

[Kowsrule30]

Got pinned down for 45 minutes last year by four does that came up behind my set up and didn't like seeing parts of me move... The first snort scared the hell outta me.... They were all doing along with the foot stomping.... Pretty common.... Are all BT does right footed when stomping???       

[DoubleJ]

I've been texting with akashasdaddy all morning.  Man, he is getting close.  He has kicked about half a dozen deer this morning.  Had a nice broadside shot on a doe but it was about 50 yards and his comfort zone is 25.  He's got it a bit tough trying to get that close but, as well as he's doing for his first archery hunt, he'll get one soon I think.

[bobcat]

Good to hear that he's showing some restraint. With all the talk of people arrowing animals at 50 and 60 yards, I think many people decide to take those shots, even though they haven't practiced for them and aren't confident at those distances. If I were to go bow hunting right now, my max range would be 30 yards.

[boneaddict]

It's so annoying when they do that! Happens to me all the time.

well if you didn't sound like a herd of elephants moving through the brush. 

[bobcat]

It's so annoying when they do that! Happens to me all the time.

well if you didn't sound like a herd of elephants moving through the brush. 

It's usually when I'm not even hunting, just walking in or out, and not trying to be quiet.

Plus have you ever tried to hunt over here? Try being quiet walking through all this brush.      

[DoubleJ]

Good to hear that he's showing some restraint. With all the talk of people arrowing animals at 50 and 60 yards, I think many people decide to take those shots, even though they haven't practiced for them and aren't confident at those distances. If I were to go bow hunting right now, my max range would be 30 yards.

Same thing I told him.  Wait until you're comfortable

[sebek556]

  pretty sure he will get one, after last year's theft and this years restraint. karmas gotta kick in soon or later 

[DoubleJ]

He certainly deserves one.

[akashasdaddy]

Update in the epic that s my hunting season so far.

I pull in to my spot at exactly 5am, following all the advice from Boyd Iverson cause I just read his book blacktail tactics 2; I get out of the truck as slowly and quietly as I can, spray myself down with odorless scent killer, and begin the short hike to the place I saw the doe yesterday. I cautiously watch every step, with a sporadic pace and lots of stops ; it takes me an hour to walk less than a quarter mile. I round the corner  and at about 100 yards in the fog I see two does leap into the brush. I immediately back up against the shrubs to disguise my silhouette. As I am listening to the does waiting for them to stop, out of the corner of my eye I see a third deer come trotting out of the brush. I can't see antlers but the thing has the biggest body I have ever seen and its walking right toward me. I slowly crouch down and get ready then it turns and follows the two does. I begin to stalk them. one of the does makes me and starts snorting. I know what it is now so I stop and she stops snorting but the other two bolt. I get sight of the snorting doe who has quieted down. So I resume my stalk. She makes me again but still doesn't take off. I wait and she quiets down again.  Now I only move when her head is down and I am closing on her. She makes me again but still doesn't run. Instead she starts bucking like a bronco; I stop moving and hide behind a small pine. She circles away a little but I keep following. I close to 50 yards and if I were a better archer presents me with a perfect broadside shot, but I am only comfortable out to 25-30 yards tops. I wont push my luck with the shot because I want to be as ethical a hunter as I can, don't want to just wound the animal, and at $15 per arrow they are far too expensive to loose on a risky shot. I play this game for about an hour until she ducks behind a wind fall tree and I loose sight of her.  That was the most fun I have ever had while hunting so far. The rest of the day is uneventful until about 730 pm when I spot two does that have no clue I am there. I start slowly stalking. I get to about 35-40 yards and I'm closing quickly. They still don't know I am there. I am about to fill my tag. Finally redemption after having my buck stolen from me last year during rifle season. I feel my heart start pounding, the adrenaline is starting to ht me hard. I talk to my grandpa to calm myself. Just as I am with in 30 yards a little girl on a quad comes racing up running the does off. Last I saw of them was their mocking white flags raised high in the air. My night is over.

All in all today was a great day and even though I didn't punch my tag  feel it was successful.   

[sebek556]

  it is shaping up to be a epic season, keep at it man you've stalked into you kill range now, the kill comes next 

[DoubleJ]

Like I told you, you are WAAAAAAY closer to getting your deer than you know.  Keep doing what you're doing and there's a good chance you'll connect tomorrow.  To be this close to deer on your 2nd day ever bow hunting is great.  I can't wait for your text telling me you hit a deer!  Just make sure you stay calm and don't move.  Shoot your deer, pull out your phone, text me, sit and wait for me to text you back!  Man, I am more excited for you to get your deer than I am for myself this year

[sirmissalot]

Sounds like an awesome day. That's what's so fun about archery hunting, you're able to put stocks on animals, even of they are does, it sure makes for an exciting hunt. I cannot tell you how many hunts I've had ruined by quads behind locked gates.

[akashasdaddy]

And the saga continues nothing too exciting. stalked a few does, stalked a shrub brush on hands and knees for 15 minutes before i realized it was a bush, scared off a doe that was behind another shrub when I whistled at her hoping she would show herself. worst of all while sitting in my truck eating a two point walks across the road right in front of me; I grab my bow and jump out of the truck hoping to catch him when a spike comes out right infront of me about 20 yards. Perfect right? Thats what I thought too. I was wrong, it was a big fat miss.

On the bright side I get to keep hunting.

[DoubleJ]

So you've progressed from finding deer to getting a shot opportunity but out of range to getting within range but can't get a shot because of outside interference to getting within your shooting distance and actually getting a shot off, all within 2 days of your first bow season.  Guess what's next?

I know there is some that exist but, I have never met a bow hunter who hasn't missed.

[akashasdaddy]

I know, I feel more confident every time I am out and I still have a lot of season left. I am taking it all in stride and see it for what it is a learning experience. My girlfriend gave me a good idea though. Since I update how my season is going everyday she suggested at the end of the season whenever that may be, that I take all my posts and put them in a journal and keep updating it every season to hand down to my daughter and/or grandchildren.