lakngulf
Veteran Member
I had always thought that bass fishermen had a good thing going with the concept of "catch and release". If you don't want to clean a bunch of fish, then just let them go. I think I may have come up with a deer version.
Yesterday, I took off work early, took a scent free bath, put on hunting gear washed in scent free soap (early in my bowhunting career I got scent-busted too many times). I got to the ladder stand about 4pm, about 2 1/2 hours before dark. I had a couple of limbs to trim for a shooting lane so I did not immediately pull up my bow. As I was about to pull it up I noticed these guys making their way to the field
I gave them a little time to graze and then began taking pictures, so they slowly moved away. I pulled my bow up and got ready for hopefully some deer action. About 6pm a nice doe came in from my left. There was no cover on that side so I had to just let her graze, as she made her way to the front, and then to the right of my stand. I waited until a perfect time to stand up, lift my bow over the railing of the ladder stand, and draw for a perfect shot.
I let the arrow fly and saw it sailed right over her back as she ducked. She darted away and ran safely into the woods. It was at that time that I thought about the "catch and release".
OK, so maybe I am stretching the "catch" part, but it was fun, and I did not have to clean a deer. And the doe handled the "release" part like a big bass just swimming away. Oh, and I had been practicing a lot at 20 yards. I checked the distance and she was only 11 yards from my tree. I have already asked for a range finder for Christmas.
Yesterday, I took off work early, took a scent free bath, put on hunting gear washed in scent free soap (early in my bowhunting career I got scent-busted too many times). I got to the ladder stand about 4pm, about 2 1/2 hours before dark. I had a couple of limbs to trim for a shooting lane so I did not immediately pull up my bow. As I was about to pull it up I noticed these guys making their way to the field
I gave them a little time to graze and then began taking pictures, so they slowly moved away. I pulled my bow up and got ready for hopefully some deer action. About 6pm a nice doe came in from my left. There was no cover on that side so I had to just let her graze, as she made her way to the front, and then to the right of my stand. I waited until a perfect time to stand up, lift my bow over the railing of the ladder stand, and draw for a perfect shot.
I let the arrow fly and saw it sailed right over her back as she ducked. She darted away and ran safely into the woods. It was at that time that I thought about the "catch and release".
OK, so maybe I am stretching the "catch" part, but it was fun, and I did not have to clean a deer. And the doe handled the "release" part like a big bass just swimming away. Oh, and I had been practicing a lot at 20 yards. I checked the distance and she was only 11 yards from my tree. I have already asked for a range finder for Christmas.