NY opening day

[shawhill]

#2469

Well it was a nasty day in western NY high winds, heavy rain (in spurts) and in the low 40’s. All in all a perfect day to open the season :lol:. My morning spot did not work out so I came in for a 9am lunch and headed out to my other stand. It usually produces an abundance of bushy tails so I figured if things were slow I could at least walk away with some meat. Turns out I didn’t have to worry as a nice doe started feeding on the beach nuts, doing circles near my stand. She started to walk away at 60 yards, never giving me a shot, and I decided to say one of those “if it be thy will” sort of prayers. Just as I finished that thought she made a B line for my stand giving me the perfect set up at 8-10 yards. I took the shot and it passed through, but it looked a little far back (rookie mistake i didn’t pick a spot). I spent the next half an hour second guessing myself and praying that she died quickly. Then the rain started to come down and I was afraid that I would lose the blood trail. So I got down and started tracking. Thankfully the wind was in my face and the wet ground was ideal for stalking. The rushing wind did’t hurt either. I finally found her at 100 yards from the stand bedded down and looking disoriented. It was bitter sweet to be able to stalk up to 6 yards on a wary doe give her the shot she deserved in the beginning. She quickly expired, I gave thanks and the hunt was over.
It didn’t happen quite the way I imagined but on western NY’s opening day I find myself a traditional hunter for the first time!

[J.Alex]

#9783

Congrats on nice a doe, J.A.:D

[William Warren]

#9959

Good job finding and dispatching your deer in rainy conditions to boot. It was an honorable kill because you made the extra effort.

Duncan

[Stumpkiller]

#10154

Good on you!

Found an obliging doe myself today.

45 mph gusts and 20 mph in between and raining two days after a full moon. Not what I figured would be a good day.

[David Petersen]

#11045

Congratulations, Dan and Charlie! I’m currently hunting for a “doe” myself (cow elk) and hope I do as well in bringing home the “bacon” as you guys have, in lousy weather to boot.

Charlie — I’m curious about the arrow wound between her front legs. I’m guessing it’s an exit wound and you shot her at a steep angle down, from a tree? Dave

[bruc]

#11072

Congrats to both of you !!!
Two nice deer !!

[Stumpkiller]

#11106

David Petersen wrote:
Charlie — I’m curious about the arrow wound between her front legs. I’m guessing it’s an exit wound and you shot her at a steep angle down, from a tree? Dave

Thanky, and yes, it was from a tree stand.

Busted.

I’m about 15 feet up and this deer was perhaps 10 yards from the base of the tree. But there’s more to it. My first shot was lethal but high (High rib near the spine and one lung). It “zinged” her enough (to borrow from Darren McFadden) that she went down instantly (only the second time that has happened for me) but continued to struggle. 20 years ago I had a horrible experience of a similarly hit 8-point buck regaining it’s feet and disappearing into a swamp. I searched for three days in waist deep water and never recovered it. That was not going to happen again. (In fact, I sent another 15 years before I again hunted from a treestand). That bad memory and the fact that it was raining and I’m fair but certainly no uber tracker made the decision for a second shot in her the sensible thing. That is the one that exited low between the legs.

I believe the wet limb covers, wet wool puffs, string and fletching made my first shot a bit of a “blooper”. I dressing her out and found massive bleeding, but a high hit with no exit can be an iffy blood trail in the best of conditions. Second shot passed through and buried the broadhead 1-1/2″ in a tree at ground level – and that is the one that passed through the heart. I went back today and dug that out and it will fly again.

[Steve Sr.]

#11517

Good job, Guys!

I’d trade the sunshine and finicky wind for rain and a steady wind ANY day. lol

Weather is starting to get good here and should get some time free from work soon………….ONE WAY OR ANOTHER! 😆

God Bless
Steve Sr.

[shawhill]

#12313

Thanks for the compliments fellas. I just finished with three hours of butchering. Glad thats done, its my least favorite part. But my foodsaver has made life a little easier. A friend gave us one a few years ago and I love the thing. One of our favorite venison meals is fajitas, so what I’ll do is cut up the strips and weigh out 1 lb and package them with the foodsaver. That way my wife only has to pull out the package to thaw, cook and eat. it cuts down on dishes and prep work for her. Plus it ensures I get fajitas every two weeks 😉

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