So as stated in other posts my morning started with me having to sit and wait for 2 deer to get off the bait pile so i could get to my stand. well at 6:32 it was officially hunting season and at about 7:10 i hear a splach in the creek to my left (downwind, thought i was busted) I look over and a doe and her yearling twins have just come across the creek and were working their way around behind me. I had already been ranging easily recognized things for reference and could tell she was headed right for an area i knew was 20 yds, she graciously stops right next to the tree i had ranged and stands there broadside for me to put an arrow right through both lungs.
I watch as she runs deeper into the woods about 40 yards and hear her drop, I give it about 10 minutes and decide to go find and check my arrow. About the time my foot hits the leaf litter she jumps up and bolts even deeper.
I quickly get back up in the stand and call my brother to tell him give it 20 minutes then bring my truck down.
when it is about time for him i get down out of my stand and go voer to where i shot her and find my arrow, Now i know what they mean by red arrow, and start looking for blood. Well thanks to all the leaf litter i couldn't find but a couple drops. I leave the arrow there and go to the last place i saw her running and once again the heavy wet leaf litter is making it impssible to see the blood.
About this time i hear my truck pull up and my brother get out and drop my tailgate. then he yells for me to call Levi, Now let me tell you about Levi. He is what we call the pointer mutt, we can tell he has some english pointer in him but there is a lot of other in him too, and i honestly wonder about this dog's mental status at times. he has in no way shape or form ever had any training, and doesn't even sit on command. The only reason he comes when called is he expects food.
So my brother asks if i have the arrow and i tell him i do, he says let Levi smell it, at this point i probably spooked every deer within a mile laughing and saying "yeah right" Well he urges me again so i humor him, cover the broadhead with my hand and let the dog smell the shaft. Myh brother then says go find it!
as i watch the dog clopping and bouncing around for the next 5 minutes i am thinking great i am never going to find my deer this way, about that time levi stiffens up and takes off into the woods, HE'S FOLLOWING THE PATH THE DEER RAN. me and my brother take off after him and see him stop in the general area i had figured she dropped the first time, he waits for us and as we approach i realize he is standing right next to a puddle of blood, about the time we reach him he takes off again. Once again he stops waits for us and we find a puddle where he is waiting and he takes off. As if i still don't believe it i am looking for signs of direction and my brother gets ahead of me, i look ahead see Levi standing and as my brother reaches him he yells, "Here she is!!"
So sufficed to say I was amazed dumbfounded and looking for my brothers shotgun to shoot the crow i was going to be eating.
So there is my story of First deer of the season, first deer with archery equipment, and first succesful track thanks to Levi!
In case you didn't see it in other post here she is,
And yes i was tempted to take one of the tender twins rather than mom!
we hada big owl swoop down on him coupla years ago.
Gary