Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management First Deer Ever With a Bow!!!

Thanks Tony.

RC51, don't be fooled. I think the older wiser does are smarter than most bucks.

Does are often harder than young bucks because they usually traven in multiples - more eyes, ears, and noses. Most mature animals got that way by being skiddish.

Weekend Update,

Well it was kind of warm and windy so not to great hunting weather. I did see 2 smaller does on Sat. morning but passed on them. And about 9 fricken turkeys at my feeder! I guess I could have taken a Turkey but not to hip on Turkey meat! I wish it would have been a few hogs I would have smoked a nice hog in heartbeat! Oh well better luck next weekend!

Congrats on the doe, RC! I have not yet taken up bowhunting because I just don't have the time I feel I would need to become proficient enough to ensure a kill versus just maiming the deer. I won't do that. Bowhunting sounds like a real rush and I'd love to try it someday, but not until I have better flexibility with my time to practice a bunch. Good luck on the next one!

Ken, I didn't know you could hunt with a crossbow here unless you had a disability, permanent or temporary. I looked into it after my shoulder surgery a couple of years ago but didn't go through with it because I figured I'd only be able to use it for one season while I did my rehab. Are you saying it's legal in WV under some set of circumstances?

Not sure on WV but PA and VA have legalized crossbows in all archery seasons.

Due to shoulder problems I can't use a bow. And due to my cheapskate outlook, I can't use a 10 point crossbow. Those things are great but kinda pricey.

Oh! I may need to find a lawyer!

Texas legalized crossbows a year or two ago across-the-board. Fine by me.

Dave, I have a Barnette Revolution. e-bay IIRC $200 is what I paid.

Very crappy trigger, but if you concentrate on the trigger when you use it, it works pretty well. I have a Excalibur Lumi-Zone scope on it and that scope really completes the package. I filled the hollow stock with expanding foam to help with the noise, and you can get a crank cocking device to help cock it. I use a rope cocking device, but after 10 shots, even that gets tiring to use. I'm afraid to shoot at the same target dot twice at less than 40 Yds. Too aftaid of hitting the bolt that I just shot.

They're legal for turkeys in Indiana, and in late archery season for deer. Next year they'll be legal in all archery seasons for deer.

You know I'd hook you up!

Scott, is there any way to smooth down or adjust the trigger? What kind of accuracy are you getting with it?

I have a chance to hunt on a trophy ranch just South of San Antonio this year. It's a bow lease and one of the guys is going to loan me his 10 point. I'm pretty stoked about that.

Pretty accurate. I think that's why he said he was afraid of putting one bolt on another.

Congrats RC !!! I very well remember my first bow kill even tho it was just a yearling doe and almost 40 yrs ago. I still get that super adrenalin rush when one is within 25 yrds, especially if they're on high alert. One with the bow is as good as two with a gun, probably even better. The best post on this topic is by DogLoyaly, had ta snicker on that one. When you've reached the point that you can laugh at and with yourself, you've won.

Dave, I can't figure out how to fix the trigger on it. Heck, I can't even figure out how to get TO the trigger group! I even bought another bare stock off of e-bay and still can't figure it out. Accuracy? If it's calm, and I'm shooting from a rest, 4" at 50 Yds, and at 30 yds or less the possibility of sticking one bolt into another and ruining the first bolt is a real possibility.

Let me know how the trigger is on the 10 Point. I've never shot one.

I still remember my first one. I've got a number of deer over the years; but that one might be my most memorable. Kudos!

Scott, I've shot the 10 point at a target. At about 25 or so yards, it was extremely, almost rifle, accurate and has a smooth trigger pull. I would love to have one but not at the price. I almost bought one from an individual. However, when I did my research I found that they had toned some of them down for youth hunters. This one turned out to be one of the "weaker" ones.

Congrats RC. I am surprised to see how many of us are bow hunters - maybe I shouldn't be, but I'm pleasantly surprised!

This is my Ten Point.

Very smooth trigger and with custom arrows, it's scary accurate...

I do enjoy hunting with it far more than a rifle or muzzleloader. However, my baby is my Matthews bow.

Ken, I like the admonishments.

Hey thanks everyone. I am going back this weekend to give it one more try before ML opens up. I would be stoked if I got another doe or a nice buck still with my bow. That way i could pretty much hunt for antlers knowing I already have meat in the freezer! Plus the youth hunt is coming up too and my son is a pretty dang good shot with his 30:30.

Good hunting fellas and remember if your in a tree always put on your harness guys! You family depends on it!!

RC, you really know you're hooked on archery when ML or rifle is legal but you still take out the bow... I have some friends like that, me I still like lead at high velocities.

Well I blew it Thursday afternoon. Went out in the drizzle to a ladder stand near a small steam (mostly dry now). Not 15 minutes after settling in, I saw a buck that I watched quite a bit last year. He has a lame front leg and a single drop tine that is now about 5" long. He still needs at least 2 years to be a trophy. Well then I saw he was with another buck coming toward me in the stream bed also. I assumed that he was the same one that Gimpy ran with last year, but there seemed to be a lot of tines, but they did not look long, so I kept my bow laying across my lap. I am sure you know where this is going by now. Well when he popped out of the overhanging brush, he was way out from his ears and a nice typical 10 point. At least a 140 and possibly as big as mid 150s. He now knew something was not right but he proceeded up on my right side
10 yards away, but his eyes were right in my direction the entire time and the other buck was on my left, so I did not know where his eyes were at. The big guy looked straight up at me but did not bolt. He jogged out to about 25 yards strait in front of my stand but behing brush. He then proceeded away to the right, came back in front and then to the left, and then came back again and proceeded away into a weed field, all while behind a line of brush. Don't know if I'll see him again, but I had my chance and really blew it! I now wish that I had attemted the shot with his eyes in my direction. Maybe he was looking lower. woulda coulda shoulda

Ouch!

You did the right thing by not shooting. Any movement with him looking your way would have spooked him. As it stands now, nothing spooked him, so he might be coming back down the same trail later.

That's what I am hoping. I got last year's buck on the 3rd sighting, but saw one "over the hill" buck just once during the first week. Got both of the one's from last year on a trail cam, but have not seen one good buck on the camera this year. Knowing he is around makes it a bit more fun. Real windy here today.