nockthru
New Member
This was my first hunting season ever. I didn't take a deer. I didn't even take a shot at a deer. I never even had a deer in range. I should be disapointed and frustrated, but all I can think about is next season.
Having never hunted before, I probably didn't choose the easiest of paths when I decided I wanted to harvest a whitetail with a bow. Especially since the first time I shot a bow was Jan. of 2012. I went to a local pro shop, shot a few arrows down the range and felt a connection. Then it started to take over more and more of my thoughts. I bought a bow. Started practicing. Learning all I could through youtube and websites like IW, midwestwhitetail.com, ikesoutdoors.com. Bordering on obsession.
I went into the season with high hopes of harvesting a mature buck, but my realistic expectation was to just gain experience. Spend time outdoors. Observe nature. Gather information. I set my only tree stand on the edge of a cut corn field with timber at my back and 25 yrds between my stand a fence line that surrounds the field, so I would be sure anything between me and the fence is in a range where I could take and ethical shot. I know this wasnt the best location, but it was a great spot for observing deer as the came into the feild on the other side about 200 yards away. There were multiple deer trails around me and a deer highway that ran 15 yards in front of my stand. Everytime I was in the stand does came in the feild but always way out of range. In fact the only thing that got shot from my stand was yote my little brother (also a first time bow hunter) dropped in his first sit after it ran all the does off the field and decided to walk over to our stand. But I found alot of peice sitting in that stand and watching nature go on around me like I wasnt even there.
I have until next fall to practice with my bow, gather more information, and equipment (I am starting from scratch and have 3 young boys and a wife at home so funds are limited). Thank you to all on this site. I feel honored and thankful you are willing to share your knowledge. Sorry this got so long but I need to tell someone and everyone around me is sick of hearing me talk about it.
Having never hunted before, I probably didn't choose the easiest of paths when I decided I wanted to harvest a whitetail with a bow. Especially since the first time I shot a bow was Jan. of 2012. I went to a local pro shop, shot a few arrows down the range and felt a connection. Then it started to take over more and more of my thoughts. I bought a bow. Started practicing. Learning all I could through youtube and websites like IW, midwestwhitetail.com, ikesoutdoors.com. Bordering on obsession.
I went into the season with high hopes of harvesting a mature buck, but my realistic expectation was to just gain experience. Spend time outdoors. Observe nature. Gather information. I set my only tree stand on the edge of a cut corn field with timber at my back and 25 yrds between my stand a fence line that surrounds the field, so I would be sure anything between me and the fence is in a range where I could take and ethical shot. I know this wasnt the best location, but it was a great spot for observing deer as the came into the feild on the other side about 200 yards away. There were multiple deer trails around me and a deer highway that ran 15 yards in front of my stand. Everytime I was in the stand does came in the feild but always way out of range. In fact the only thing that got shot from my stand was yote my little brother (also a first time bow hunter) dropped in his first sit after it ran all the does off the field and decided to walk over to our stand. But I found alot of peice sitting in that stand and watching nature go on around me like I wasnt even there.
I have until next fall to practice with my bow, gather more information, and equipment (I am starting from scratch and have 3 young boys and a wife at home so funds are limited). Thank you to all on this site. I feel honored and thankful you are willing to share your knowledge. Sorry this got so long but I need to tell someone and everyone around me is sick of hearing me talk about it.
