[paully]

in reply to: Hunting 2016 #14734

My season has been great so far. My first hunt was a week in the mountains of Va. with my brothers. Black bear topped the list, but deer and turkey seasons were open as well. We harass the same large area of public land every year. I saw ten bear that week but didn’t manage to fill my tag. I passed on several deer and two turkeys (at 15 yards) in order to stay focused on the bears. After a long week of hiking with weapons, I decided to take a shot at a young buck with only a few hours remaining in the hunt. On the last afternoon I had hiked back about four miles to a long flat ridge loaded with acorns and cherries. As I slipped through the timber I saw the deer feeding in my direction. He’d lower his head and I’d move. He’d raise up and move towards me. After about twenty minutes or so of inching toward each other; I drew from behind a tree, stepped to my left, and took the buck at a step or two over ten yards.

Two weeks later I found myself “inspecting” a two-man ladder stand in the deer woods at home. I set the stand to hunt with my children. My son took his second deer from that stand last fall, and my daughter has her mind set on her first deer this season. As I sat in the first light of day, I heard the faint sound of a familiar cadence. As I turned and got my bow up, I saw a big buck walking through the oaks. The buck passed behind me at about twenty-five yards but never offered a shot. I have high hopes, because it’s the largest buck I’ve seen in years…..but it is bow hunting.

This past Tuesday, one brother text me “I just saw the bear”. He has a camera out and has pictures of a very large boar during the day. While it is getting to be more common in this area, seeing bear is still a bit of a new treat for us. An hour later, another brother text me a picture of his sons first bow harvest from that same evening.

With another trip to the mountains for bear planned and almost two more months of deer season remaining…..I can’t wait to see what the Father has to show me next.

[paully]

in reply to: Broken Collar Bone #12560

Nick D;

I had the same injury years ago. I’ll not say how many…just really don’t want to admit it.
I broke my left/bow hand collar bone and cracked my shoulder blade playing fullback in high school. Of course it was two days before our first game of my senior year. Dr. told me I wouldn’t play for ten to twelve weeks, nor would I be able to draw my bow; but I was hard-headed and with some extra padding in the way of a large sponge taped under my shoulder pads, was playing outside linebacker in five weeks. Stupid yes, now I know that.
Even with the added abuse was still able to bow hunt come late October early November. (The brake occurred in late August early September.)
My advice to your friend; “don’t rush it”. Let it heal completely before trying to shot or tackle. My collar bone did not set straight, and though I move my shoulder/arm without limitations, I do have “uncle Arthur” reminding me of my impatient determination.
I would guess that your friend isn’t as youthful as he thought prior to the bike wreck and like most of us…well we just don’t heal as fast as we once did. I’m usually surprised, though I don’t know why, at how bending your body, or parts, in a manor not meant to be accomplished at a given level of maturity (again not admitting to getting older) will…enlighten you. 😉
I do hope you friend has a speedy recovery and heals well. I also hope he will learn from my mistake and give it time to heal. I hate it for him, but its a good call on missing at least the beginning of elk season.
I do…well, did feel his pain.

Paully

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