Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Archery Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-25-2008, 02:39 PM
tth_12032's Avatar
tth_12032 tth_12032 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 82
Default My First - I am starting small!

I bought my first compound bow, a Martin Cheetah, in September and immediately became obsessed with bow hunting and target practice. I started off just below 40 lbs and worked my way up to the max for this bow - 50 lbs, and developed a pretty tight grouping.

For the past month I've been going out a few times a week in hopes that one of the many bucks I've been watching would come within 30 yards. I really enjoyed observing and even saw 2 bucks mock sparring one evening but I was also eager to get some meat!

Last week my blind arrived from Cabela's - the primos predator den. When my Dad stopped in on his way from Ontario to Yellowknife for the weekend I was excited to try out the blind with him because it comfortably fits 2 (just one shooter though). So we'd deer hunt in the morning, get ducks midday, and then back to the blind in the evening. It was our first night setting up the blind. We put it on the edge of the alfalfa field and almost the minute we got in and settled we noticed 2 deer about 60 yards upwind working their way down the field edge towards us. I thought that was pretty neat but I'd already told my Dad that my first deer was going to be one of the big bucks I'd been watching so I wasn't that excited about these 2 small deer.

As the deer got closer and closer I started to change my mind - wouldn't getting my first bow deer in front of my Dad be cooler than it being a big buck without him?!? Yeah, ok. So I waited until one of them moved into the right position, drew, decided it was 25 yards, choose my pin, and released. Well my Dad was pretty surprised because he didn't even hear my bow shoot so the jumping deer wasn't expected.

We watched the deer run 80 yards over the hill and sat and waited for a while. I worried about my arrow placement but my Dad assured me that it was a good sound, not a gut shot. We looked for the arrow but it didn't go cleanly through. So after waiting a little while longer we headed off the way the deer went. By flashlight we found the arrow 90 yards from where I'd shot him. Apparently the deer pulled it out himself. Once he pulled the arrow out the blood flowed profusely. I had a good blood trail to follow which was exciting and a first for me. It took about 20 mins to find him because he'd worked his way into a brushy area but he was only another 40 yards from where we'd found the arrow.

It was nice working with a small deer because I could actually drag him myself without needing a break every 30 seconds. I got to feed my Dad fresh tenderloin that night and the ravens, magpies, and coyotes feasted all night on the gut pile that was picked clean by morning.

I am pretty proud of my little deer and hope to get more this season so I can keep living off of wild meat and feeding my friends.

Cheers!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg P1060675_edit.JPG (174.5 KB, 567 views)
File Type: jpg P1060718_edit.JPG (169.4 KB, 381 views)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-25-2008, 02:54 PM
packhuntr's Avatar
packhuntr packhuntr is offline
Gone Hunting
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: rooster heaven
Posts: 4,066
Default

Well you sure cant beat that! Thats a beautiful antlerless, and the eating will be second to none. Congrats!
__________________
MULEY MULISHA

It's just Alberta boys... Take what you can while you can,, if ya cant beat em join em.

Keep a strain on er
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-25-2008, 03:40 PM
Alberta Bigbore's Avatar
Alberta Bigbore Alberta Bigbore is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 16,958
Default

Congrats on some great sausage!!!!
__________________
Alberta Bigbore
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-25-2008, 04:30 PM
BigRackLover's Avatar
BigRackLover BigRackLover is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Beaumont
Posts: 4,642
Default

That's a great story and success! Congratulations. Remember you can't eat bone.

All animals with a bow are memorable
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-25-2008, 04:32 PM
Ladygun
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Good Job Im jealous!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-25-2008, 04:42 PM
huntinggr81's Avatar
huntinggr81 huntinggr81 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 467
Default

Way to go! My first kill with a bow was a muley doe - since then I have never looked back & have been very successful with my bow. It is very addicting, so be prepared.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-25-2008, 05:29 PM
gramps73's Avatar
gramps73 gramps73 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 5,297
Default

Nothing wrong with a doe, great shooting..
Gramps
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-25-2008, 05:33 PM
Bushmaster Bushmaster is online now
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Provost
Posts: 5,006
Default

Congratulations on your first.....and nice story.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-25-2008, 05:42 PM
lilsundance's Avatar
lilsundance lilsundance is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,539
Default

Great story and a very nice doe.
Your hooked now.......... good luck for the rest of the season.
__________________
I hunt what I eat, I eat what I hunt
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-25-2008, 11:13 PM
Cowboy Al's Avatar
Cowboy Al Cowboy Al is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 635
Default

Congrats on the deer and great story. It's cool that your dad was there for it all. Nice looking hound in the pics too
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-25-2008, 11:56 PM
Trav Trav is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,150
Default

congrats way to go hope you have lots of time to spend at this addicting sport. the more you get under your belt the better it gets

good luck in the future
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-26-2008, 03:53 PM
Walleyes Walleyes is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: N/E Alberta.
Posts: 4,957
Default

Great looking animal and with out a doubt you have some of the best eating meat there is to be had,, with all do respect to alberta bigbore,,, do not sausage any of it but enjoy the tender cuts as meat...
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-26-2008, 03:57 PM
TC7 TC7 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 168
Default Deer???

Well I saw the squirrel but where is the deer?? Just kidding I've shot a couple like that myself and they are very tender.
__________________
you may not like me,but you will never forget me...
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-26-2008, 04:30 PM
savagewsm's Avatar
savagewsm savagewsm is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 468
Default

BTW that is a gorgeous dog. I'm getting into archery next year. Hope I can connect as well.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 10-26-2008, 06:25 PM
Albertabowhunter Albertabowhunter is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 1,258
Default

Congratulations! I think you made a great choice taking the doe first.... now you have an idea of what happens, and the emotions that one goes through when taking a deer with a bow. Now you will be a little more prepared for when that buck comes to you.... again, congrats!
__________________
Gone Hunting
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 10-26-2008, 08:00 PM
tth_12032's Avatar
tth_12032 tth_12032 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 82
Default

Thanks guys, I haven't really had anyone to share the story with yet. I will definitely enjoy every piece of meat on that deer and the hound will naw on the bones Can't wait to share the pics and story when I get a big'un!
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 10-26-2008, 09:46 PM
Zak 150's Avatar
Zak 150 Zak 150 is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: The Great White North
Posts: 58
Default

Good job tth, any animal taken with a bow is a trophy!!
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 10-26-2008, 10:02 PM
Map Maker Map Maker is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Red Deer
Posts: 1,527
Default

congrats, I'll bet your heart was going a mile a minute.
great looking doe.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 10-27-2008, 07:25 PM
Knownonscents's Avatar
Knownonscents Knownonscents is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cowtown
Posts: 806
Default

Great story and good job.An new archer and new writer for some bow hunting mags. no doubt. I cant wait for my first.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 10-29-2008, 11:39 AM
BrownBear416 BrownBear416 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Slave Lake
Posts: 5,639
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tth_12032 View Post
Thanks guys, I haven't really had anyone to share the story with yet. I will definitely enjoy every piece of meat on that deer and the hound will naw on the bones Can't wait to share the pics and story when I get a big'un!
Congrats on a fine doe and a great start to you bowhunting career.Not alot of people kill an animal there first year bowhunting so you are a step ahead.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 10-29-2008, 06:29 PM
Huntingonthebrain's Avatar
Huntingonthebrain Huntingonthebrain is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 412
Default

You will have room to get bigger...but it's about the hunt and compantionship as well. Enjoy the sport as it's addictive. Once your a pro teach others and share this feeling. Hunting is a drug.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 10-30-2008, 06:40 AM
russ russ is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Coronation
Posts: 2,529
Default

Congrats on the deer.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 10-30-2008, 12:04 PM
Rocks's Avatar
Rocks Rocks is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alberta
Posts: 2,260
Default

Great story, congrats on the deer, and very cool to get your first with your dad there. Good job!
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 10-30-2008, 12:36 PM
twilson_99 twilson_99 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Paradise Valley
Posts: 66
Default

good job!! It's great getting anything with the bow!! My first (and only) bow kill still was a fawn, don't worry about the size, makes it easier to get a bigger one next time!!
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 10-30-2008, 05:11 PM
hunt_and_fish's Avatar
hunt_and_fish hunt_and_fish is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Beaumont
Posts: 2,238
Default

Way to go. Great story and a great deer. Congrats.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 11-03-2008, 03:26 PM
winged1 winged1 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 2,008
Default

Hunting at it's finest. The satisfactions are congratulation enough in seeking out such a challenge.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 11-11-2008, 11:12 PM
Grizzlyman1980 Grizzlyman1980 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Lanark County,Ontario...
Posts: 386
Default Nice Doe

They all taste the same out of the Oven!!And im heading back to Ontario to try and shoot my first deer with the Bow in December!!!Good Shootin!!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:19 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.