Deer Hunting, Part 2

[NevadaSTi]

Let me start out with, I've been shooting Archery since I was 8 or 9 years old. I've gotten cottontails and quail before with my bow, but never anything bigger. I was able to draw the archery unit for C4 about 8 years ago, but of course I didn't see anything. Three years ago my brother and I drew Area 101-103. We saw a lot of nice bucks, and we both missed the same buck.

This year, due to the gas prices we decided that we would only put in for the local area around Minden/Gardnerville. We each had 3 bonus points now, and our friend from California had zero points. Well, low and behold our group got Area 291 - the Pinenut Mts. We did some scouting around, practiced shooting our bows, and bought some equipement here and there. I practiced with my bow out to 50 yards, I could do it if need be, but I wasn't as effecient as I was at 40 yards.

So here goes my story. Last day of Archery season (Sept. 5th) was a Friday. I am at work during the morning and it is dead around here. I went to lunch and got back at 1pm, and it was still dead around here. At 2pm, I decide that this is enough work for me and I took off. Since it is the last day, I wanted to give it one last try. So, I run home and got into my camo, grab my bow, binos, my back pack with camel water system, and jump in my 4Runner. I stop and get gas and I am off to Smith Valley for one last go at the bucks we have been watching out there.

Out in Smith Valley there are three canyons that lead into SV, I decided I wanted to hunt the mouth of one of those canyons to see if I could catch the deer coming out of it. The deer hide in the canyons during the day, and in the afternoon they come down to the alfalfa fields to feed. Those fields are on the wrong side of the road, and in another zone.

Well, I am cruising up the dirt road that leads to the mouth of the canyon. The road is smooth and sandy offering no problems for a 2 wheel drive vehicle. Until you get to the mouth. There is a small hill or berm at the mouth of the canyon that the road goes around. At that point, it helps to have 4 wheel drive. So, I started to look down at my shift nobs to engage 4 wheel drive. As soon as I started to look down, my eyes caught movement on the small berm / hill. I instantly look up to see two bucks moving to the right. I threw the truck into park, and reach around to the back seat to grab my bow in one fluid motion. All while checking out the two bucks. The first one was a hard horned 4x4 with small forks. Nice buck that I hadn't seen before. Up to this point the biggest buck we had seen was a very wide 3x3. The second buck is a 2 point. I'll use the eastern way of calling out his points, as he had no horn on his left side, 0x2 and still in velvet.

As I swing to my left to open the door, I see another buck standing about 60 yards out. The 4x4 and 0x2 are heading for private property, so I immediately decide I am going for this buck. I couldn't tell what he was from where I was now standing. This third buck started to head off around the berm. So, I decide to head in a direction up the berm to try and cut him off. Wind was in my favor, kind of. I head up the berm and got above the location where he went around. And all of a sudden, him and another buck come trotting out from below me. I already had an arrow knocked, and my release attached. I drew back, and the first buck is a nice 4x4, much bigger then the first one. Then the second buck is a nice 2x2. They are circling below me so I start whistling at them. They both stopped, but the 4x4 stopped at what seamed like 60+ yards with his butt facing me. No shot. The 2x2 was what I guessed as roughly 45 yards, and broadside.

I centered my 50 yard pin low on his chest, and that put the 40 yard pin high on his back. I squeezed the trigger on my release and my arrow went on its way. As soon as the arrow let loose, I knew it was good. THWACK!!! Down goes the buck!! I hit him a little high and broke his back. He started to crawl off and made it maybe 50 yards before I caught up with him and put another arrow through his lungs.

19" wide 2x2, approximately 180lbs live weight.

[ScottyS]

Dinnertime - much better than eating a paper tag. Congrats!

Also, good move taking the ethical, sure-thing shot.

[sperry]

I'm not a big fan of hunting, but major props for getting the bow tag. It just seems more fair to use 20,000 year old technology for a 20,000 year old "sport". :thumbsup:

[100_Percent_Juice]

Nice work drawing a tag... bastard!

[NevadaSTi]

Thank you guys!

Sperry, correct you are, I could have filled my tag a dozen times with a rifle. At one point I was cursing myself for getting an archery tag. Your comment about old technology is correct. Opening weekend we were out at the same area, only a couple miles down the road. I was working along the hillside and I saw a 'different' kind of rock.

It was re-assuring to know that the Washoe / Paiutes were out here before me doing the same thing. It was fun sitting out there on that hillside speculating on what had happened. I would have to wager that the hunter was dissappointed, as the point was rather large and had been broken and possibly lost. I don't think the hunter would have thrown it away, as it seams like it could have been re-napped into a smaller game point.

As for next year, we are planning on putting in for the same zones, Archery style!!

[BOO]

Congrats on the "kill". Nice Runner