First Bowkill...Whitetail Doe

[OSCAR1987]

It took me a week of hard hunting the eastside last week to finally get my first archery deer. This was my first serious season with archery gear and my third year even hunting at all. I shoot a 2008 Martin Sabre set at 57#, 29" draw. QAD fall away and TruGlo release and quiver. My arrow is a Goldtip 7595 w/ Muzzy Phantom 100 Gr.
My buddies and I hunted a very popular public area in Methow that was hit hard the first few days of the season. I got up every day at 4AM and stayed every night til after dark. I put in the miles and the time. I found a less populated spot that had good deer sign and then stuck to it until my deer came in. I was several miles in past the trail head. I also hung my first tree stand and that was a big chore. Screw in steps worked pretty good and the bicycle with trailer was perfect to haul the gear and eventually the deer. This was still considerably easier than ANY of my Westside deer and the area was waaay less populated. I saw some awesome Muleys when I was driving out in those green fields and next year I am hunting my first Mule Deer.
The doe I harvested was quartered away, jumped sideways as I shot. She was spined and I had to shoot a second arrow. The impact noise from that first arrow was chilling to hear the bones breaking and the deer dropped like a rock. I quickly knocked another arrow and she expired less than 10 seconds of that second shot which actually punched the center of the heart. Sorry the picture was not too good...that first arrow should have been better placed. I am pretty sure that all deer are Kung-Fu Ninjas.

[bobcat]

Thanks for the story. That's going to make for some great steaks! How far was your first shot?

[OSCAR1987]

first shot was from my stand at 26 yards. She had her head down and was facing away, as soon as I released she lunged sideways and the arrow ended up shattering her pelvis/ hip bone and bedded in her spine. I was shocked at how devastating that arrow was. I could see that a second shot was needed and delivered a perfect laser strike within a few seconds. Ted Nugent inspired me to crank down my draw weight from 68# to 57# and I am sure that was a good decision.

[bobcat]

I archery hunted for a couple years, ten years ago, with a bow maxed out at 72 lbs. I'm just now starting to get back into it, and got a new bow, this time a 60 pound bow, and currently it is set at 53 pounds. I think it will do just fine. For now I'm going to limit my shots to about 35 yards or less. Oh, BTW, I'm also shooting a Martin- it is a 2010 Pantera.

[724wd]

it's a regular Martin love-fest in here!  '09 moab here!  Nice doe!  i would love to whack one, but 117 restricts you to 4 pt or better until December, when they allow you 5 days to kill a doe.  gonna try a different GMU this weekend so my 4 year old daughter and i have a shot at a doe!    

Congrats on your first bow kill!  the methow is pretty crazy with all the deer, huh?

[C-Money]

Congrats on your first bow kill! 

[quadrafire]

Oscar
Way to stay with it, congrats. My first was a doe almost the same shot (pelvis)--- yes they can jump cant they?. Bad feeling. Good you finished it quickly.

[GoldTip]

Congrats on a great first bowkill. Lots of good eating right there and now your a hooked archery hunter!


Purely a suggestion, but if you are having any trouble with arrow flight or tuning now that you've decreased your bow poundage, you could drop down to a 5575 Goldtip as your arrows may be a bit stiff of spine for 57lbs.

[OSCAR1987]

I made an adjustment to the 5575 all summer practice and then decided to go back to the 7595 for hunting.  I thought the 7595 was heavier and would hit harder. I had to make a slight adjustment because they dropped a bit faster but they were dead on after that. No issue at all for accuracy. Also from the evidence I found cleaning the deer they hit like a ton of bricks. That Phantom broad head devastated the ribcage and wasn't even dulled. I am a total novice so can you explain the difference?

[OSCAR1987]

thanks for the pm and explanation about the difference in 5575 to 7595 arrows.

[carpsniperg2]

congrats on you first bow harvest

[turkeyfeather]

Congrats, personally I would rather whack a doe(better to eat).

[TrailTreker85]

way to go now your hooked for life I got my first 2 years ago

[OSCAR1987]

I owe a lot to Gary at Riverside Archery for getting my Martin Sabre tuned in and my Draw length corrected. He spent about an hour fidgeting with my bow and watching me shoot. Added a cam module...
Total Cost...$11
Result = PRICELESS!