First Day, First hour, First kill!!

[minihoyt]

Today was the most amazing day ever!! I have been target shooting on and off for three years and I finally decided to get my hunter safety. My good friend Paul helped me out the whole way; from buying me my quiver, helping me site in and practicing on a foam bear getting ready for different scenarios. I got dialed into 40 yards, however wasn't expecting to actually get a shot that close my first day. We drove for a bit and hiked up a steep mountain for about 40 minutes. As we were walking we didn't see anything and very few deer trails. I was sure nothing was going to happen. We got to the top of the  mountain and Paul began calling with his doe call. All of a sudden here comes a doe. She was not just sauntering down the road. She we hauling ass down the road right towards us and she wasn't backing down. She was on a mission to find where the call was coming from. Paul told me to hide just to the side of the road and she went passed us and stopped. I drew back and she was off again. I was sure I had just lost my chance. But...she stopped again. It was a perfect shot. I was nervous and probably punched the trigger because the only thing I killed was a branch. Again...I thought I had missed my chance. But then she stopped again and circled behind us. She kept this up until she had done a complete circle around us. Paul called her back giving me just enough time to make a twenty yard shot. I took a deep breath and everything felt right. I shot and heard a thunk. I was pretty sure I had hit her but was worried I hadn't hit her in the right spot. Paul tackled me and said "You did it! You nailed her." I was in shock. I couldn't believe I had done it. I replied back "I did?" I was amazed and shaking pretty badly. Paul suggested we quietly go back down to the truck to get our cameras, rope and game kit. As I walked down the mountain...I was in shock and kept saying "I can't believe I got a deer." I was still worried I hadn't hit it good enough. Paul again assured me I did a great job. Once again we hiked up the mountain and began our search. When I saw my arrow drenched in blood I was more at ease. At that moment I realized I had smoked her and made a great shot. Paul taught me what to look for in the blood and how to track the deer. We began our hunt and this brush was very thick. It looked like an amazon forest. There were huge ferns as tall as me as me and branches and brush so thick it made it hard to see where the blood was. But we kept seeing a steady trail. It wasn't as much blood as I would have liked to see, for my comfort, but enough that after about 60 yards we saw her tucked under branches in a little clearing. I had hit her perfectly in the center right behind the shoulder...exactly where Paul had been teaching me to hit all day on the foam bear. When we turned her over the exit wound was just out through her liver. She must have been slightly quartering to me. My arrow took our both lungs and the liver. Now the real education began. I did my best to assist Paul with the field dressing. I could tell he had done this many, many times. After she was ready we had the task of getting her down the mountain. I looked at him and said "how are we going to do this?" I wasn't sure how I was going to help him get the deer down the mountain. He quickly surveyed the situation...looked around..found a branch and wrapped the deers legs with rope around the branch. He gave me one end of the branch to carry on my shoulder and he took the back. After struggling with the awkwardness of being in the front and carrying my bow, he took the lead and carried my bow along with his and his pack. My shoulder was getting so sore from the branch pressing and scraping on it, he gave me his hat for padding. It helped a bit. It was a VERY long walk down to the truck, painful too...as I have a large bruise and bump on my shoulder to prove it. The hard work, pain and effort was so worth it as I'll NEVER forget this day getting my first deer. I'm even glad that it took so much effort and that I worked so hard to get it as I felt it made this experience that much more special. Thank you to Paul for teaching me the ropes...that's what it's all about..passing down the education and excitement of hunting with a bow.

[bowhunterforever]

Congrats getting your first archery deer

[NWBREW]

Nice work there mini. Congrats on your first deer. Thanks for sharing the story too.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Good job Mini!  Makes you want to do it again!  Good write up too!

[ICEMAN]

Great story! Congratulations!

[wildmanoutdoors]

Great story and a perfect shot! Congrats!

[DOUBLELUNG]

Your first big game kill is extra special, as is your first archery kill.  Congrats on putting both of them together, and especially congratulations to Paul for mentoring another hunter into our sport.

[Amsdad]

Congratuations..Great story and nice first deer.

[piled-up]

nice job!

[let.it.fly]

i wish my frst deer was that memorable. congrats. love to see them lady hunters.

[markts]

Congrats to you- and a day to remember always

[Hunterman]

Congrats    Great story and great looking doe..

Hunterman(Tony)

[PolarBear]

Congtatulations! 

[turkey buster]

congrats to you on your first deer, and great story

[buckhorn2]

Great story and start that was a great shot your hooked on hunting now.