First Buck

[Saskabush]

It was a short and sweet 2008 whitetail season. I shot my first whitetail with a bow! First animal with a bow for that matter.

I set up in a good alfalfa field that holds lots of animals but gets hunted hard by the elk hunting masses in Sept. There's always good buck sign but the deer get spooky pretty quick once the bullets start flying.

The first night (tues): I watched from 100yds as 11 bucks all entered the field with about 2 hours of light left. A few were nice but only one was a definate shooter. On the walk out that night I spotted number 12. He was a hog, should be close to B&C.

Day two (wed): I took the afternoon off and set up a treestand (first time i've ever been in one). Spend a while doing that, then went back to the truck and changed clothes. I probably shouldn't have hunted it that night but I couldn't resist. Only saw a nice 120ish 4x4 that walked by at 30 yrds.

Day 3 (yesterday): got in at about 7:30, by 8: there were bucks coming out into the far east end of the field. By 8:15, a spike bull elk was feeding 100 yds up from me and shortly after, the second biggest of the bucks (not the hog) fed out near the bull. for about 20 minutes the two of them fed towards me and were joined by two little ratty bucks. One of the little turds worked his way past my stand and caught a whiff of my scent. As luck would have it, his antics actually drew the other deer towards my stand and pretty soon I had 3 bucks within 30 yrds. The little bugger with the good nose sniffed right up to the base of my stand then blew. When he did that, the big one turned and offered a nearly broaside shot (very slightly quartering too me). I picked a 1x1 foot gap in the branches (hadn't reached my lane yet) and let fly from 26yds. The release felt good but I learned the hard way to condsider the path of the arrow, not just the sight line. My arrow deflected off the tiniest of sticks and veered about 3 inches forward of where I was aiming. It hit him just at the base of the neck and broke the far shoulder, missing the vitals but severing the veins and arteries in his neck. he took off snowplowing through the alfalfa. Right then it started to rain. Hard. I barreled out of the stand and went to find blood before it washed away. I found the arrow and there was good blood right off the bat. I made it 50 yrds and found him bedded at the edge of the bush. He stood up and I zinged another arrow at him which put him down for good. I have no doubt that the first shot would have been fatal but with the rain I didn't want to risk losing the blood trail. Still I feel very lucky and quite relieved that the deflection wasn't worse. Lesson learned.

Anyway, i forgot the camera so when I got home I grabbed it and went to take a "field picture" at the edge of town. I got one taken and the camera battery died.

Here's a few from when i got home. Not sure of the score but I'm guessing mid 140's Sorry for the long story but it's the only one i'll be writing for a while (unless I get a mulie)

The "field pic"

[Tuc]

Hey Sask, that's one to be proud of...Congrats!

[Scott N]

Congrats, nice looking buck there! They look cool when they still have their velvet.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Awesome buck and great story. Congrats!

Stinky B.

[rhuntley12]

Congrats! Nice looking buck.

[rena0040]

nice buck, i would love the chance to take a shot at one like him. can't wait till the 3rd.

[Whitetail7]

good job on your first archery kill. A great buck, and velvet to boot!!!! Congrats

[pdfish]

Great deer, especially for the first one with the bow. The full velvet look is awesome too. You may have to hunt pretty hard for the next couple of years to get a bigger one.

[Rather Be Hunting]

Great job.
Super first deer ( or any deer) with a bow, for sure
RBH

[rae61]

VERY nice buck, and great story. Will make a great mount with the velvet, I agree mid 140's, easy, congrats.

Rick.

[Walleyes]

Rite on Saskabush what an animal a dandy by any means rilfle or string. Good job and thx for the report and pics...

[slopeshunter]

Way to go!

[shedcrazy]

Great deer and just awesome with the bow! Good job!

[BlueNorther]

Congrats on a great buck and you're first archery kill!!

[ForestDweller]

Congrats on your first bow whitey, nice looking trophy with the velvet for sure. Good story, hunting season is here!

[BigRackLover]

That is one nice buck you got for first timer. I guess that beginner luck will suck you in for good now. Congrats!

Get a supplemental tag.

[Saskabush]

Thanks guys! I am definately hooked now.

The game plan was to hold out for something really big during rifle season but I couldn't be happier with what I got. I bowhunted unsuccessfully for three years as a teenager so getting that first bow deer was a long time coming.

I've already picked out a spot on the wall for him.

Good luck guys and thanks again for all the comments.

BigRack, I'll be out there again with a doe tag as soon as my wife recovers from the shock of having a deer in the garage in August!

[hunt_and_fish]

Congrats Saskabush. That's a very nice looking buck, especially for the first one with the bow. Well done.

Thanks for the pictures and the story.

[Big Bull]

Congratulations, Saskabush! That is a beauty, especially for your first bow kill. Great story, too!

[gramps73]

Great first buck with the bow...
Gramps

[Rockymtnx]

Congrats!
That is a fine animal to have taken with a bow.

[BrownBear416]

Congrats on a great buck.

I think 152ish

[abrigger]

That is awesome. What a nice buck.

[Hunter Trav]

Damn good deer man, way to go!!!

[shooter]

Congrats on a great deer!!! Thanks for the read!

[FishBrain]

Great looking animal, congrats!!
now I am real excited about going out, even if it is just with a rifle.

[Mike Rae]

Congrats, fantastic animal.

[j m]

Attaboy Nathan!

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Awesome . hopefully I get my first Buck this year , well I guess even if its a doe so be it . A first animal is a first animal . Im very excited . Congrats agian and thanks for shareing the picture.

[redneck posse]

nice buck like the velvet looks cool.