Bow Hunting During the Late Season

The count down to the end of bow season wasoff course. Then she finally made her move into
upon us and I still had tags to fill. With snowthe woods. The other 2 doe were circling behind
already on the ground and the temperature at 8me so I slowly repositioned my bow and was
degrees it began to snow lightly. I had been sittingmoving with them. I saw an opening in the brush
in the house all day and decided it might be awhere I could shoot so I was following the doe
good idea to go bow hunting. So I opened ahoping she would get to that opening when bang,
package of hand and toe warmers and started tomy bow hit the tree my stand was on and off
get dressed, this will be a good time to try outthey ran.
my new winter hunting cloths I thought toTime to go back to the house once again empty
myself, after getting all bundled up I jumped onhanded. There is nothing I hate worse than to get
the 4 wheeler and headed out. I could see allsnorted out after sitting out in cold for so long.
kinds of tracks in the snow around the field nearHowever, the thrill of bow hunting was still there. I
the middle stand, 'Davy's stand', so I decided towas able to see the deer and almost had a shot.
go there.On Thursday, January 14 about an hour before
I hooked my crossbow onto the pull rope anddark, I decided to go back to my tree stand.
climbed up the stand. After pulling my bow up toAfter sitting in my stand for 15 minutes I heard
me I took off the quiver and hung it on the treemovement behind me. The snow was still on and
next to me. Birds were the only thing I saw forI could see 2 deer coming off the hill. I lost them
the first hour. I thought to myself, "I am gettingas they were coming up the hill and then there
down it is too cold for the deer to move, no I'llshe was. She walked towards the back of my
stay a few more minutes". Then I saw them, 5stand and stopped. Than the other doe came up,
deer just coming out of the woods across theshe was walking towards the lane directly beside
field. The first three went straight across the fieldmy stand. I leaned forward to hide behind the
and the other two went to the left and workedblind that is around my stand. She stood beside
their way around the field. They were headingme for about 5 minutes finally she went into the
towards 'my stand'. Please come this way Ilane. However, I was afraid to move because I
thought, not happening, darkness began to sit inknew the other doe was some where behind me.
and it was time to go to the house.The front doe finally made a move for the field
On Thursday night the weather was about theand the second doe started moving up. As the
same but the snow was coming down hard andfront doe was working her way down the tree
the wind was blowing. Once again I bundled up andline I was trying not to move so she wouldn't
headed out to bow hunt. This time I went to 'mywarn the second doe. Finally, the second doe
stand', it has a roof on it. However, on this day itcame our and started heading for the field. Turn a
didn't help the snow was blowing directly into mylittle, I thought, so I could get a shot, that's it, a
face. The view from this stand was perfect. Withlittle more, I have you. I pull the trigger on my
the snow on ground I could see both hill sides andcrossbow and heard a thug. She jumped and ran
down the lane. While scouting the area I saw 2into the field, with every step I could here a
deer at a distance, no wait 3, no 4, wow 5 deer.gushing sound, I said to myself "I hit her good"
They were hanging out next to a fallen tree. Iwhen down she went.
watched 2 deer, they were both does, head forI was finally able to get a late season bow hunting
the field but I lost the other 3. The 2 doe thatkill now it was time to field dress her. When I
went into the field were heading my way so I gotcame around the corner of the house my
my crossbow ready. I turned off the safety andhusband was just pulling in from work. I told him I
pointed it towards the opening in the trees. Slowlyfinally killed a deer for your friend at work that is
they made their way down the tree line whenin need of the meat. He said, "I could tell you got
out of the corner of my eye I saw another doeone, you are gleaming". No matter how many
in the lane. I was trying not to move, my bowtimes I kill a deer with a bow I feel the sport just
was in shooting position. One more step and shekeeps getting better and better for me. Bow
is mine when the deer in the lane snorted andhunting is far better than gun hunting if you have
they all jumped and ran. The doe I was gettingnever tried it you should give it a shot. To all you
ready to shoot only ran about 20 yards stoppedbow hunters out there, never give up, you will get
but she was standing in some brush so I couldn'tyour shot.
shoot because the brush would throw my arrow