Bow Hunting Deer-realities

Hello fellow hunters

I love hearing stories told of the one that got away or the one that didn't. Your very first harvest, or the last one taken and what made it memorable. I also would like to read about archery equipment that works very well and why you would recommend it to others. Most of us go by trial and error. We read about how great a companies certain accessory is, written by the company, and we think we need it. We buy it, try it and the product simply does not work like it was supposed to.

These seemingly minor glitches in certain hunting products can cause a tremendous amount of anxiety and frustration when they happen at the worst possible time. Let me give you an example.

I have taken many trips to north central Washington state to bow hunt mule deer. At my last count, I have harvested 13 mule deer and 2 whitetails in the Okanagon county area. I am not telling you that so as to brag but to let you know that there are many animals in that area and with persistence even an average bow hunter like myself can fill a tag.

One day, I didn't get one. Not because I didn't have the chance but because of a certain piece of equipment. I had scouted this area several times and found tracks and droppings of some very large mule deer. I found a couple well used trails that converged at a shallow spot in the river. I had watched a line of deer cross the river in that spot, early morning the previous day. On the other side of the river, there is farm land with large well hydrated alfalfa fields and No Hunting signs all over the place. That morning, I hunted in a tree stand I had built and hadn't got a shot. I decided to hunt the river crossing for that evenings hunt. There was a problem though, it was a very good looking place but trying to find a spot fairly close to the crossing were I would be somewhat concealed and able to move a bow without being seen was quite vexing.

Stand hunting in the 1st two hours of daylight and the last two hours of daylight have always been my most productive means. That is why I purchased my special hunting stool. It was a metal and nylon folding stool that had a built in day pack. I wore it on my back comfortably and it held all my essentials. If you've ever posted yourself behind a tree on your knees for 2 hours, you know why a stool. I had done everything perfectly. The tree that I decided to use for my blind was approximately 20 yds from 2 heavily used trails.

I had my self situated by 4:45 pm as it got to dark to shoot at about 7:30pm. At 5:30 I heard a cracking noise which spiked my heart rate from 60 to 120 instantly. I was ready. Arrow knocked, breathing calmed and on full alert. The first buck had 5 points on both sides and stood on the edge of the trees about 15 yards on the other side of my tree. As it turned out, that was the smallest of the 3 large mule deer bucks that stepped out simultaneously. I knew I would only get one chance. They didn't see me when I peeked around the tree but I knew that if I had tried to pull my string back they would have. I decided to have my bow at full draw when I looked again. So with my back to the tree, I pulled back, they were still there. I slowly started to turn to my left and just as my bow and arrow were rounding the tree, my stool squeaked. I might as well have shot off a firecracker. I've never seen animals move so fast from standing still. I swear they had to turn themselves sideways to keep from flying.

The moral of the story, Always check your equipment for unwanted sounds before you use it in the field. I only use that stool for day hikes and camp, not hunting stands period.

Do you have a bow hunting deer story? If so, we would love to hear it.