- Details
- Category: Archery
- Published: Saturday, 06 September 2008 18:13
- Written by Greg
Equipment malfunction, still manage to bag buck!
This was to be the first year that I archery hunted with the aid of a release...
Since I started hunting with a bow and arrow back in the 70's, I've always shot using my fingers and had good success. This year I decided to shoot my bow using a release. Why mess with a good thing you ask? Good question.
As luck (bad luck) would have it, the trigger on my release came unscrewed and fell out unbeknownst to me. When did I notice it missing? Oh, it wasn't until opening morning as I prepared to still hunt through a stand of quaking aspens. As I prepared to venture into the forest ahead of me, I loaded up and arrow and thought I'd see how quickly I could attach my release to my string. To my horror, I looked down and noticed that I didn't have a trigger! I quickly considered my options...go home (not sure what good that would have done, but it was the first thing that popped into my mind), drive 2 - 2 1/2 hours to the closest town to see if they had a trigger, shoot with my fingers (not sighted in for finger shooting), or try to use the release by snagging my finger on the little piece of metal where the trigger was supposed to attach. Well, I chose the last option. It seemed doable since I was able to trigger the release mechanism when the release was attached to my string loop while applying a little pressure (how much harder could it be when at full draw? I would find out the hard way).
After about 1 1/2 hours of still hunting, I came upon a 2 point buck. I got to within 35 yards as he fed broadside to me. Now the week before the hunt, I had decided that I was going to hold out for a 3 point or better. But...as I stood there considering my release dilemma...I figured it might be a good idea to at least draw my bow to see how I was going to manage firing my bow without the trigger. Nope, better not try that, I just might accidentally fire off a shot. I let the deer walk away, a decision I would later regret. My next opportunity at a shot would be at the same 3 point that I would take three days later.
Friday late afternoon I pulled into the camping spot where my son and I had hunted the past 3 years. This year I'd be hunting alone, Dallas was busy with varsity football. As I pulled into camp, a nice 3 point jumped from his bed and bounded away. I ended up seeing this same deer right near my camp 4 different times ( I talked to another hunter who saw the deer opening day, that was the only day I didn't see him). Sunday morning I had just left camp and spotted the deer at 6:30 a.m. I got to within 40 yards and drew back on the broadside buck! Perfect, right in my sights! Shoot...shoot...shoot...I couldn't fire my release! I had held my bow back so long trying to fire my release that I finally had to let down. I looked down and felt for the little piece of metal where the trigger attached. Yep, there it was, I can do this. I drew back again, same result, I had to let down...again. Oh no, the deer looked directly at me. This time I located the tiny jutting piece of metal and actuated the mechanism. Ok, this time I have it figured out. I went to draw back my bow and couldn't. The deer took a couple of steps away, but didn't seem alarmed. Immediately I tried to draw my bow again...I was too fatigued from holding my bow at full draw for the past couple/few minutes, literally...I couldn't do it. After what seemed like forever, I tried again...success! The deer was still 40 yards...shoot...shoot...shoot...I couldn't make the release fire! My arms were giving out, I was starting to quiver...I was looking down at the trigger...willing the release to fire...digging my finger into the metal as hard as I possibly could...twang...my arrow went a flying. All I saw was the buck running for cover. Where did my arrow go? Straight up? 30 feet to the right or left? 30 feet in front of me? I had no idea, I never saw the arrow leave my bow.
I walked up to where the deer had been standing and there was my arrow, stuck in the ground. I must have been close, but I really had no idea since my arrow was just there in the general location of the buck. As you can imagine, I wasn't a happy hunter! I took the release off and vowed to shoot with my fingers, forget the stupid release! I went back to camp, got an old wood arrow (probably my first mistake) and took a shot into a clump of weeds...seemed to hit right where I was aiming...I must be good to go...???
Well, the next day after 1 1/2 hours of still hunting, I found the 3 point buck again. I stalked him (along with his 5 companion does) for just over 2 hours, but was never able to get a shot. The closest I got to the buck was 50 yards, but he never presented a shot. From then on, it was cat and mouse at 80 to 120 yards.
Ok, my decision to hold out for a 3 point or better was over. It was the third day of the hunt and I was feeling a bit desperate. The next buck I see, I'm shooting! Or trying to shoot...
The opportunity came when a really big 2 point stood across an open meadow from me. The shot was probably longer than what I should have taken, but I took the shot anyway. To my surprise, I hit way to the right of the deer! The buck, along with the doe that was with him, bounded into the trees. As I reached my off target arrow, I could see the deer through the trees moving to my left. I paralleled the edge of the timber for about 30 yards until I was staring face-to-face with the buck! I had a shooting lane...drew back and let an arrow fly...thwack! I nailed a quaky at 15 yards! What on earth??? I shot at least 8 inches to the right...??? The deer was gone.
I had finally smartened up. I got out my hunting arrows and shot at least 10 shots at 35 yards and I consistently was shooting 16 - 18 inches to the right. I figured out how to compensate and I was now hitting my target, dead on at 35 yards. Oh please...give me another chance mr. deer.
That chance came the next morning. I had just left my camp and was only 80 yards from my tent when I spotted the 3 point again! I estimated the distance at 45 yards...drew back my bow and let an arrow fly. It was barely getting light at 6:24 a.m. and I actually lost sight of my arrow as it zeroed in on the target. However, the buck gave a nice kick to let me know that the arrow had struck home. I left the area and came back an hour later. I snuck up to where I had hit the deer and much to my surprise, the buck stood up 80 yards away. Had I hit him? I couldn't see any blood. Guess not. Ok, I was going to take the rest of the day stocking this deer. Luckily for me, the deer's head was behind a tree. I got on my hands and knees and made my way less than 10 feet when I saw blood. I then looked up ahead another 10 feet and saw blood on a log the buck had crossed. I wasn't going to blow this opportunity...I backed out of the area and didn't return for several hours.
The good news or should I say, the great news, was that he was dead 60 yards from where I had last seen him! I had my buck and was very excited to say the least...!!!