Well, I got my first deer with my crossbow this morning!
To make it even sweeter, it was in one of my favorite ladder stands sites, the ‘Holly Stand‘.
It’s in a big oak surrounded by Fl holly trees (hence the name), with two ponds near by.
There are several fresh scrapes at this location this yr.
A nice 8 point walked right at me then turned off into brush to my right where I couldn’t get a shot.
I tried to call him back but to no avail.
About 45 minutes later a 6 point walked into one of the scrapes 20 yards from me, stood broadside and started raking the tree with his antlers.
I eased the safe off quietly like Jeff had told me how to do, put the 20 yd dot right behind his shoulder and squeezed the trigger of my Sub1 Lite, that I had propped on my shooting stick that I keep run down my tall snake boots when seated. I used one of the Black Eagle arrows that Scott had sent me, tipped with a Grim Reaper 100 gr broad head. I heard a ‘whack’ when the arrow hit him so I was pretty sure it was a good shot.
I trembled with buck fever after the shot and waited a looong 25 minutes to climb down.
The Glory lighted nock that Jim had recommended made it easy to find where the sparse blood trail started. After tracking tiny drops of blood about 90 yards I saw his white belly where he laid dead in the leaves. It was a double lung hit so I was surprised at the sparse blood trail.
He’s not huge (119#) and not the biggest deer I’ve ever shot but being my first xbow deer, he’s a trophy to me.
Thanks to everyone for tips, and encouragement as I learned about crossbow hunting.
Sunset
To make it even sweeter, it was in one of my favorite ladder stands sites, the ‘Holly Stand‘.
It’s in a big oak surrounded by Fl holly trees (hence the name), with two ponds near by.
There are several fresh scrapes at this location this yr.
A nice 8 point walked right at me then turned off into brush to my right where I couldn’t get a shot.
I tried to call him back but to no avail.
About 45 minutes later a 6 point walked into one of the scrapes 20 yards from me, stood broadside and started raking the tree with his antlers.
I eased the safe off quietly like Jeff had told me how to do, put the 20 yd dot right behind his shoulder and squeezed the trigger of my Sub1 Lite, that I had propped on my shooting stick that I keep run down my tall snake boots when seated. I used one of the Black Eagle arrows that Scott had sent me, tipped with a Grim Reaper 100 gr broad head. I heard a ‘whack’ when the arrow hit him so I was pretty sure it was a good shot.
I trembled with buck fever after the shot and waited a looong 25 minutes to climb down.
The Glory lighted nock that Jim had recommended made it easy to find where the sparse blood trail started. After tracking tiny drops of blood about 90 yards I saw his white belly where he laid dead in the leaves. It was a double lung hit so I was surprised at the sparse blood trail.
He’s not huge (119#) and not the biggest deer I’ve ever shot but being my first xbow deer, he’s a trophy to me.
Thanks to everyone for tips, and encouragement as I learned about crossbow hunting.
Sunset