After being out the last few times and only hearing the deer in the bush - very close mind you, but not stepping out before legal time, I maintained my optimism. I got out today around 3:15 or so and strapped myself into my stand. Pretty quiet for the first hour or so. Shortly after 4 I hear the familiar "crunching" in the woods in front of the stand - doesn't sound far either, as usual. This probably went on for 20 minutes or so, and I'm thinkin, here we go again - they'll wait for the darkness and come to feed.(I have an apple pile close by).
Well finally out pops this little doe and my heart starts to pound. I shoulder my bow and take a peek. A minute later, out comes another one - a little larger. My guess is a doe and her fawn from the spring. As soon as I saw the larger one, my focus was on her. The little one heads right over to the apple pile through the long grass and shrubs. The grass is so long in spots - it's pretty much buried in it.
I do have a shot at the pile, however, they came out in a certain area where I could get a nice broadside shot on their way over.Instead of heading over to the bait with the little one, she's very hesitant. And for good reason. I've still got my bow up, waiting for my moment. She's still out at least 30 yards - facing my direction. And then she sees me - or sees something awkward up in this tree. She starts the test. You guys know the one - head bobbing -eyes on me the whole time. Foot stomp - I don't remember how many times she did that. These deer are certainly amazing. She's looking up at me, she turns her head for a split second, only to look back at me. It's as if she temps me to move when she looks away for a split second - and I mean split second. I couldn't help but smile at her through my facemask.
Clever girl. However, I still got my bow shouldered and I'm doing everything I can to stop from shaking - the bow's getting heavy.Anyways this goes on for what seemed like 7-8 minutes. All the while, my eyes are shifting back to the little one - who is also glancing up at me from time to time, but seems generally happy eating apples. During the staredown with the larger doe, she makes her way to within about 20 yards of me, little by little - all the while checkin me out. She still hasn't given me a decent broadside yet. I'm thinkin, she's gonna see me twitch or something and they're both gonna take off before I even get a shot. However she looked towards the little one and took a couple steps in that direction. Perfect - now broadside and twenty yards, it took me but a second to put the vitals in my crosshair and fire.
She let out a baaah and dropped like a ton of bricks. Oh man, I spined her. Once she dropped she was rolling around on the ground for 5 mins or so. I could barely make her out in the long grass and light starting to diminish. After 5 minutes, that was it movement stopped and I heard no breathing. I climbed down and went to get my stuff from the house.
She doesn't look that big, but made the other one with her look fairly little. Both of my does so far have seemed small. I don't really have any history with does to compare them to either(size-wise).
My bolt broke inside her.(carbon by the way)
When I field dressed her, I still couldn't see the rest. So I guess it's up in the spine and will get it when I process her. I understand that when a carbon breaks in a deer like that you should be very careful of splinters, etc. in the meat. Anything special I should do, aside from cut very carefully to find it all, if it is even splintered? I'm hoping that it just broke in 2. I guess when she was rolling on the ground, she busted it.
).