Both of my kids were up in separate stands on the next ridge up hill from the buck. If the deer went uphill, one of them was likely to see it. About five minutes after we all received the picture, a mature doe had slipped to within about 40 yards of me to my right side. I was seated in my stand on the next ridge uphill above my kids. When I saw the doe, it was looking at me and I thought I may have already been busted. Because of the thick leaves, the base of my stand is only about 6 feet off the ground which puts me very much in their view. I sat motionless for a few minutes and the doe became calm enough to begin feeding uphill. I needed to stand to shoot with my compound bow and was able to pull it off over the next five minutes. I had already picked a large oak in the path of the doe where I would be able to draw when she walked behind it. She kept looking back at me every couple steps so I had to remain motionless or move very slowly. As her head got behind the big oak, I drew my bow. Instead of coming directly out the other side, she angled away. When she cleared the tree I aimed for a 35y shot and sent the 100g TOTA on its way. The lighted nock lit the way to a perfect hit, though not a complete pass though. She bolted uphill and I lost view of her at about 60y out due to the thick canopy.
Literally a minute prior to me releasing my shot, my daughter text'd that the 7pt was coming up the trail directly to her stand. When it got to about 35 yards, it turned to the left as if it would head toward my son. My daughter thought she has missed her chance. After standing on the side of the trail for about a minute, the buck continued up the trail directly toward her stand. Although she didn't want to shoot it facing head on, it was inside of 20y and closing and she was only 12ft up directly in front of him. She took the safety off on her Micro 335 and sent the 100gr Hammerhead into him at 17 yards. It was a solid hit and the buck continued uphill past her stand heading in my direction. The buck made it about 60y, which was only about 50y downhill from me. Everyone in the woods heard the buck busting through the woods up until it went down. I saw it's last few moments as it was leaking very heavily. It dropped in sight of me.
As my son continued to hunt, my daughter and I decided to begin the recovery process. She climbed up to the top ridge and we began recovery on my doe. Before we even left my stand, she looked out the direction I told her it went and saw it laying about 70y from my stand. The canopy made it impossible for me to see her fall. I recovered most of my arrow from behind a tree just a few steps after the point of impact. The blood trail left by the TOTA was superb. Here's the photo of deer one.
I found the rest of my arrow and the TOTA broadhead just under the skin in the leg on the far side. The shot was easily the best I've ever fired with a compound bow.
Just as I was beginning to field dress my doe, my son text'd us that he had a buck come within 60y of him walking with a purpose and it left heading uphill in our direction. We waited for a few minutes but never saw anything crest the ridge.
Apologies in advance to anyone who has not seen the carnage that a 2" Hammerhead can put on a deer. My daughter's arrow entered the front on her buck and exited between the front legs. One blade cut through four ribs and cut enough muscle to make a mess of one shoulder.
This was her first buck with the Micro 335. It wasn't an optimal shot, but she's made a habit of making it work. Here's a photo of deer two.
We've spent the rest of the day processing only pausing to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Overall it was a great day. It marks the first time that my daughter and I have both harvested a deer in the same hunt. We've only got six days left in our archery season and I'll be carrying my Wolverine the rest of the way. I'm still waiting for something larger than a spike to come in range. I'm taking the day off on the last day of the archery season so maybe I'll get lucky again at the last minute.
