The archery season in Pennsylvania was in full swing, and the scouting done prior to the opener paid dividends as the season progressed. After passing up five fair “shooters,” I finally got a chance to send an arrow home on a respectable buck. I did it the old fashioned way without the use of modern technologies like trail cams or deer attractant. There is no substitute for hands-on, full-bore scouting, which consists of identifying travel corridors to and from feeding and bedding areas, along with calculating potential escape routes. Once those basics are established, it’s just a matter of patiently waiting for the right buck to enter the area during the rut when he just may let his guard down.
That was the case for the buck pictured that fell to a well-placed arrow from my Excalibur crossbow the first week of November 2008 in Susquehanna County.
It was a day like so many others on stand hunting with my brother-in-law, Jack; my two nephews, Donny and Phil; and my friend, Gary. Because he was the newest member of our hunting group, I placed Gary in one of my key stands, located at the intersection of several runways. At about 9 a.m. I heard the “twang” of his bow and then silence for a minute or two before my radio revealed his words of disappointment. “I missed a dandy 8-pointer,” he said. Upon hearing that, I immediately started rattling as loud as possible because of the breeze that was loosening the few remaining leaves from their respective summertime branches. I then proceeded to make short grunts and, to my surprise, was answered by two grunts from the very same buck that Gary had missed! I answered the buck with two deeper-toned grunts, hoping that I would be challenged, and I was.
The buck was sneaking through the briars like a cat on the prowl and when he finally stepped into view, he was a mere 70 yards away. I was partially exposed from the angle in which he approached, so I grabbed my bleat can beside my uphill leg and let out two soft bleats, and this started him in motion toward me. He hung up about 50 yards away behind a stand of trees with only his backside showing. This worked in my favor, as it allowed me time to get my rangefinder and define his exact range, 41 yards. I propped the bow on my knees and let out one very soft bleat, and he slowly stepped out from behind the trees allowing me to send the bolt on its mission. The shot was good and he exited in a timely fashion with his tail down, signaling a possible mortal arrow strike. He bounded out of sight at full stride but collapsed a short distance away with both lungs pierced, and I’m sure adrenaline was his only propellant that last 50 yards.
With the new ruling here in Pennsylvania for the 2009 archery season that will allow everyone the use of a crossbow, I’m certain the number of wounded deer will be reduced because of the extreme accuracy a crossbow provides.
Being a wounded combat veteran has allowed me the use of a crossbow for the last several seasons, and I welcome those who wish to try their hand with this new weapon of choice.
Spend more time in the woods, learn to read the signs and use whatever amount of technology you feel you need to assist with creating your game plan.
I hope this picture gets your blood boiling, as it does mine, in preparation for the upcoming “twang” season.
On a side note, Gary atoned for his archery miss and took a nice 8-pointer with an 18-inch spread on the opening day of Pennsylvania’s rifle season—from my stand no less.
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