Pennsylvania Game News - November 2024 - 3

t was Nov. 2, a cold, still morning
with a light snow on the ground,
and I was looking to harvest a black
bear with a bow.
I
Stepping into the Forest County
woods just as daylight was breaking
in the east, I planned to still-hunt
into a hollow, follow that down into
a larger hollow, and ultimately end
up at a friend's place where I could
get a ride back to my vehicle.
It would be about a 3-mile trek.
About three-quarters of a mile in,
a deadfall blocked the old tram road
I was following. Pausing there and
taking in the surrounding beauty, I
placed my bow on the deadfall, took
a couple pictures with my phone and
sent one to a group of friends.
" Carpe diem, " I texted as a caption,
which translates, of course, to
" seize the day. "
I was feeling a sense of adventure
and looking forward to a challenging
hunt.
As I returned the phone to my
pack, I saw a chocolate brown rack
on a big-bodied buck about 75 yards
away. He was on the same tram road
I was standing on.
Immediately, I grabbed my bow,
knelt to the ground behind the deadfall
and nocked an arrow.
I knew if he continued straight to
me I might not get a shot, as I'd need
him to turn to expose his vitals.
But he didn't stay on course.
There was a bend in the road
ahead where a small spring seep
entered. And as I hid behind the
deadfall, peering over the log enough
to see the tips of the buck's antlers,
I could see he'd veered and was
now traveling parallel to me in the
spring seep.
NOVEMBER 2024
While coming to an upright
kneeling position, my daypack still
on, I maneuvered ever so slightly and
drew the bow as the buck presented
broadside. I grunted with my mouth
to stop him and released the arrow.
Swoosh. It flew low.
I'd judged the distance at 30
yards, but it was a touch farther.
The buck bolted about 20 yards in
the direction from which he'd come
and stood there, rock solid, trying to
assess what had happened.
Quietly nocking another arrow,
while still kneeling, I watched as he
started my way again on the same
trail he'd taken originally.
Spying an opening ahead of his
path, this time knowing distance, I
drew, holding my 30-yard pin a little
higher. I mouth-grunted again and
released the arrow.
Thunk. A good hit!
The buck ran to his right about
30 yards, looking like he was going
down, but disappeared behind a large
boulder.
Taking a few deep breaths and
waiting a few minutes, I quietly crept
over to the spot he'd stood, finding
hair and good blood.
Seeing this, I followed the trail to
a downed 8-point.
Wow, that happened fast! I didn't
even have time to get nervous!
I texted my friend and asked him
to come help.
" I thought you were looking for a
bear? " he said when he arrived.
" I was, but wasn't going to pass
on a buck like that, " I responded.
While hauling the buck out on
a game cart, I turned to look at my
friend.
" Carpe diem! " I said.
3
Pennsylvania Game News - November 2024

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