First Public Land Deer with a Bow

[jwzimmer]

I had my first taste of success down here in south Alabama last Thursday. After stumbling across this site earlier this year, I decided I would hunt this year like I have never hunted before. Instead of being a deer ambusher that only sits in a rut funnel or a food plot, I would subscribe the the beast philosophy and actually get out there and hunt. I am blessed to live within diving 30 minute distance to several bow only public hunting lands as well as a some shotgun access areas. So I thought what the heck I'll give my lease a break until the rut roles around and hunt public. I bought both Dan's hill country and swamp buck DVD's and started studying. Realizing that I was late in the game for scouting with only a week before our bow season opener, I decided cyber scouting during the season for likely bedding areas and hunting blind would be my strategy for this year. I have never killed a deer on public with a bow so I set that as my goal for the season. I also wanted to learn the land and determine where the big'uns are living as I hunt through the available areas. After doing some cyber scouting I have been in the woods a total of 4 times this year. 100% of these trips I have seen deer from the stands locations that I predetermined with Google Earth. I have found beds in about 30% of all locations that I thought there should be, and 80 percent of the military crest that I set out to walk in these areas have been deer trails. I attribute 100% of this success to the knowledge and skills that I have gained from the members on this site. It is rare to find such a library of actual useful information that can produce results.

Now to the hunt... It was the the first night that reached below 40F in south Alabama so I gave the boss a call and got a morning pass. I was hunting just off of a oak tree covered point that jutted out about 150 yards to my right into a swamp with a white oak flat to my left. Off the end of the point is an island that sets up perfect for a potential buck bed. It was a morning hunt and my scent was traveling directly parallel to the point in the direction just off of the potential bedding area. I have learned from an earlier hunt in a similar situation that you don't want the wind blowing directly towards you from the point due to wind coming over the taller oak trees on the point swirling making your scent carried towards the point. I got to the stand about an hour before shooting light and hoped to catch the deer moving from the oak flat to down the point to the suspected bedding area. Right at shooting light I had a small 6pt come perfectly down the point within about 20 yards of my position. I was looking for either a mature buck or a solid doe "Thanksgiving is right around the corner" so I let the small buck pass. About 20 minute later a couple of doe walk just off of the point directly towards my stand. There was no way to draw back with out getting busted so I waited. Finally the second doe stopped to munch on an acorn she was close enough that I could hear her munching. I've never had such an adrenaline rush from a doe before. The lead doe, now standing at 12 yards, threw her head back at the sound of her partner eating and looked at the second doe. This opened a small window of opportunity for me to pull my bow back. Apparently the lead doe wanted to get a bite as well and made two steps swinging her torso around presenting me with as excellent broadside shot. I let the arrow fly and it found its mark making a double lung shot. The doe fell within thirty yards of the shot! Sweet, sweet, success!

I have killed some decent deer by hunting funnels during the rut with a rifle and watching a food plot in late season as the deer were trying to replenish the energy burnt up in the rut, but it has always seemed to be just waiting watching the same stands year over year hoping to get lucky and see a deer come out. I have never had the since of satisfaction that I got from strategically studying a map, determining a location, hunt plan, executing said plan, and harvesting an animal. This in my opinion is real hunting.

[john1984]

Congrats

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[Motivated]

Awesome!

Great job doing something different and new. You're right. It makes the old way seem like buying a lottery ticket and waiting.

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[hunter_mike]

Congrats!

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[Jackson Marsh]

Congrats!

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[Chuck B]

Nice work!

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[Killemquietly]

Bravo! Now the fun begins. Can't wait for our temp to drop here in Louisiana.

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[Stanley]

[Dewey]

Congrats

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[Ack]

Congratulations!

[headgear]

Congrats!

[Joe68]

Congrats.

[stash59]

[Jlaneb]

Yes! Congrats, man. I'm in the same boat. First year hunting like a BEAST, and took a doe on public last week. Most satisfying feeling there is. My story is in my journal. The similarities in our hunts are really interesting. Again, congrats.

[Ol'DanBoone]

Awesome, congratulations brother.

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