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December 2, 2008 2008 Thanksgiving Holiday Update WOW... Where do I start??? Well I have either been hunting, cooking or eating the past week or so....
Have a head congestion thing going on that is making the brutally cold days miserable. As long as the fever stays down it is much easier to tolerate the cold temps. I did take time to go to the doctor and get a antibiotic and I guess if I actually took the time to get it filled and start taking it I would probably be better by now. I know.... You don't even have to say it! Anyways...lol
Let's see, I really should have been taking notes since I can't remember one day from the next. The most memorable highlights would be the 8PT buck that I have been stalking.
I first saw the 8PT buck on Tuesday morning, he came out of some thick stuff to my left at about 60 yards or so. I decided when I went in that morning to walk a additional ½ mile or so to avoid laying scent where I figured deer would approach from. He was alone and sniffing/feeding as he came out of some thick undergrowth to my left. As soon as I saw him I knew he would be a nice bow kill. He turned his head to feed and I drew hoping I could hold on until he presented himself for a shot. He was not really wide but carried a tall rack, I am not really good at guessing class but for this un-managed property he was a good buck!
I also need to mention that I am hunting on the ground, no blind and I am in a kneeling position. I have a large oak tree to my back to break my silhouette and laid some cedar limbs in front of me for a little break-up. As the buck moves toward my hopeful shooting lane, I am aiming and having to lean back and around the tree to get a good shot. He walks right up and OMG it’s perfect!!! 25 yards and he is sniffing the ground perfectly still!!! I line up on his ribs and CLICK!
http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/gagirlpics/Bow%20Hunting/?action=view¤t=2789633.jpg
Nothing happens, the buck is running away and I don’t see my arrow fly… WTH!!! Well just so happens one of the limbs I laid was perfectly in front of my arrow when I shot. What’s the chances! This limb is about 1” in diameter…just enough to catch my arrow as it flies from my bow not 20” in front of me! I was heart broke!!! I guess the best part is knowing I was in his freaking HOUSE with nothing but my bow and managed to get the opportunity to attempt a 25 yard shot! How cool is THAT!! I managed to see him again following a doe at about 60 yards but he was unresponsive to anything I tried. I have moved my climber around and have managed to remain unknown by the buck but I ran out of time, rain came in hard Friday evening and didn’t let up until Sunday morning. I did get out behind my house Sunday morning but didn’t manage anything but wet and cold. The last 10 days has been great!! I had some wonderful time with family and managed to spend a lot of time in the woods!
Well I got off work early to meet the vet for annual shots and a re-check on a horse that got hurt Wednesday. Figured if all went well I would be able to be in the stand by 5.  Ran all morning at work because I was leaving early so I didn't stop for food  this will come back to haunt me later.
Left work at 1 made the drive home in time to meet the vet by 3, and she was even on time! 
Everything went well with the horses and I was getting dressed for the stand by 4:15. I cheated and skipped the scent free shower because I was climbing in and really wanted to be sitting and ready by 5. It was cool and overcast the wind was calm and I was so excited to actually be home in time to get a good evening hunt in. This time I have everything, checked and re-checked...thermacell has a fresh refill and I am good to go.
I didn't think much about this until I got ready to leave the house and it hit me. Husband is outta town, brother is doing inventory and working late so the only people here with me is my daughter and Mom. I call my Mom to let her know where I am climbing in, kiss Chels and off I go.
I got to the stand and got settled about 4:45 and the wind is starting to pick up a little. I think it will be okay because of the direction I have been seeing movement in the evening. The oak tree I am in is on the edge of our dove field and behind me is a logging road and several bush hogged trails leading off of it to the hardwood bottom/creek.
I had been in the stand just a short time when I heard movement on the logging road. I look to my right and I see movement. Two yearlings enter the field from a trail on my right off the road. A young spike and doe, I pass on the little guys and watch them as they graze and move through the field.
I see movement across the field and watch as a 3x1 buck enters the field munching on the lil acorn trees. He is a nice bodied buck but has a seriously ugly cow horn. He moves from right to left eating till he disappears into the over grown field that adjoins our property.
I am beginning to think I will only get video tonight when I hear movement to my right behind me on the logging road. DOE...BIG....get ready! I lose sight in the small trees and use this opportunity to stand and get ready. I knew she was a good shooter and I will only have a small window of opportunity because of the small trees behind me. The camera is attached to the right side of the stand so I couldn't really see where it was pointed or if I would see anything so I just pointed hit record...clipped on...drew back... and took a deep breath.
The opening is about a 30 yard shot, I aimed and settled in waiting for her to take a few more steps. The only thing running thru my head is...ur alone, it's late ur alone, it's late She stepped perfectly into the opening and stopped to look into the field. All I saw was ribcage
CLICK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~THWACK! 
I heard the rustle and then all was silent, now the waiting. During this time I realize that I left my headlight  yeah I know, I THOUGHT I had everything. I call Mom and Chels and let them know I shot a doe and I am giving her time before I start down.
After about a hour I started down and Chels met me with a flashlight. When we got to the spot she was standing there was nothing except spin marks in the ground, my heart fell  All I could think was OMG I hit her shoulder. We walked down the trail about 30 feet and still nothing! Not a single drop of blood, I am really panicked now. We take about 5 more steps and I see the arrow, blood about 7 inches up shaft and saliva on fletching where she pulled it out. There is very little blood on the ground around the arrow.
I make a small circle around the arrow and finally find more blood about 5 feet away. A nice puddle I am soooooooooo relieved!
We follow the trail across the creek and into some really dense briers and vines. We are basically crawling when the coyotes start, and they are close. I had nothing on me but a flashlight and there I am with the reason I breathe beside me and no way to protect us. I shine my flashlight about 20 feet in front of us and I see the doe. When the flashlight hits her she tries to get up. I have no idea how she is still alive with as much blood as we are following. I look at my daughter and tell her to turn around and we back out. Back at the house I get my .22 and tell Chels she needs to stay there, I give the doe plenty of time because now I can't get the 4 wheeler to start! I check the gas and it's out, I put gas in it and try to crank it but now the battery is to dead, so I have to try to pull start it. Remember the food I forgot to eat today well that is starting to haunt me because I am SPENT and it's about 9ish by now. I was shaking all over when I finally got it pull started. I hop on and off I go! NOT, the tire is flat. Air the tires and off I go, I round the corner to the logging road and there sits a possum on the half shell. Those things break horse legs with the holes they dig not to mention chasing us, so I put a lil lead in him on my way. When I get to the trail I decide it will be easier to drag her if I go all the way down the trail and around to the back side of the stuff she climbed into.
Well if anything could finally go my way it was her. I am not sure if it was us or the coyotes that pushed her but she had moved another 20 feet or so and was laying right beside the trail!
I tried for 20 minutes to get her on the four wheeler but I was to shaky and nothing I was doing worked. My Mom had to help me get her on the 4 wheeler. Thank goodness for MOM, I swear I will never outgrow that woman!
We get back to the house and of course every knife we own is dull and the nice Grizzly set I bought Rich is no where to be found. I manage to dress her with a couple dull knives and finally I am DONE! It's only 11 or so by now 
I wash up a lil, and change into my RACK ATTACK get up for pics. 
My Official contest entry for www.wildcountryarchery.com See the reason for the funky tin foil hat there. ;)
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