Pennsylvania Game News - December 2008 - 54

and at a momentary standstill. I released and heard what I felt sure was a solid hit. Although the buck showed no reaction of being hit I felt sure the excitement of the fight had him totally distracted. Because the arrow was completely camouflaged I never saw it in flight, nor did I see it actually strike the deer, but I was sure the shot had found its mark. In a heartbeat I took the remaining arrow from my quiver, drew back and fired a second shot, again hearing what sounded like a solid hit. Suddenly the bucks separated and looked in my direction. At first I thought they somehow had spotted me, but it seemed as if they were staring at the base of my tree. Glancing down I was shocked to see a HUGE buck standing less than five yards away. I now realize that he had been drawn in by the sounds of the fight. While the buck I had shot at twice showed no sign of being hit, it made no difference, because I was now out of arrows, with three bucks standing within easy bow range. The bucks remained frozen for a few seconds and then scattered as the big buck ran the first two out of sight. Climbing down from my tree I still couldn’t understand what happened until I found both of my arrows several inches apart, buried in the soft earth. The angle showed clearly that I had shot high on both shots. If I had seen the first shot go high I could have corrected on the second arrow. Needless to say, my arrows today always carry bright fletching so I can see the shot. Not all of the mistakes I have made while bowhunting are equipment or technique related; some are just plain stupid. My wife is also a dedicated bowhunter, which means the room in which we store our hunting gear looks like the inside of a sporting goods store. Bows, arrows, equipment, clothing and boots of all sizes and description fill every spare space, and because everything is camo, it all looks pretty 54 much alike. Both my wife and I carry all of our gear, insulated layers of clothing as well as outer camo clothing to our hunting site in backpacks to avoid getting overheated and generating excessive scent. One afternoon my wife had a doctor’s appointment and would not be home in time to hunt, so I would be going it alone. Running late from work I grabbed a pack and headed for the woods. Only when I got to my stand did I realize that I had picked up her pack by mistake. Needless to say, her clothes are several sizes too small for me. I could either give up on trying to hunt or make the best of it. I chose the latter. I pulled her pants on to just over my knees and draped her jacket over my shoulders, tying the sleeves around my neck. Her gloves didn’t fit and her hat with built in face mask sat on the top of my head like a college beanie. To say I felt stupid, sitting in my stand while shivering from the cold was an understatement. I guess it wouldn’t have been GAME NEWS

Pennsylvania Game News - December 2008

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