Deer Vacation

I took last week off and stayed local to archery hunt a few public land spots and just get out in the woods, enjoy nature, and relax for the week. The first morning at 8:10 am I hear squirrels going crazy behind me barking, at least 5 of them. Moments later I hear that telltale sound of deer walking in water, getting closer, closer...I peak over my shoulder and see a deer about 5 yards behind my tree. A buck! Small 6 point but definitely legal, and a good size body for FL so if i can get a good comfortable shot I'll take it. He stepped out broadside at 10 yards but I had no cover and remained still as I figured he'd spot me and spook. I let him get past me to 15 yards and stopped him with a grunt, settled the pin back on the vitals for the quartering away shot and let it rip. The arrow hit perfect, heard that sound of vitals thump (no better sound in the world imo) and the deer trotted off slowly. I knew it was a good hit but waited 45 mins to get down and check the arrow. It was covered and I had a great blood trail. My buddy met me as I'm always nervous trailing by myself, especially if theres help. We really didn't need it as the blood poured out the whole way, easy 80 yd track and a 115 lb 6 point was on the tailgate!!!

We had on and off action the next few days. I had an 8 point come in on Monday at 20 yards and bust me when I tried to draw my bow. He had eyes in the back of his head I guess, or a 6th sense (or 7th, 8th, etc). Not sure how he knew I was there but he darn sure did and wasn't having any of it.

It was super hot the first 4 days of the week but it was noticeably cooler in the mornings after that. I was only covered in sweat, it wasn't dripping off my nose as I climbed

Later in the week we hunted a different area that was really thick brush but good buck sign and decided to give it some time. We saw the activity increasing throughout the week with more and more oaks dropping acorns so figured now was the time to gamble. I had a buck come in at dark, right as I was getting down but too dark to shoot. I had to sit really late as he ate dinner so as not to spook him. The next morning a doe slipped in behind me undetected. I was watching her when I see a dark deer trotting in to check her out. I didn't count points, with the big main beam I knew he was legal. He gets to 20 yards with a clear shot but I whistled to stop him and he spooked! Crap I just ruined it!!!! I quickly hit the grunt call and he stopped looking around for 5 mins at 40 yards. Luckily the doe made a rustle in the brush and he focused back on her. He trotted the same path but this time I grunted at 20 yards and he stopped. I knew I didn't have a lot of time so I settled the pin low on his chest, said a prayer, and let the shot off. It hit about 1/3 way up but I was low in the tree so it should be fine I think. I heard that sound of the arrow thumping through the ribs and he bounded off. I heard him in the brush, then heard a loud crash of palm fronds. I text my brother what happened, think I heard him crash but it could've been that he ran through a thick palm island and kept going. Definitely going to need help on this one.

As I wait on my brother, I keep replaying the shot and think there's no way that deer isn't dead. The shot was good, felt good, the deer's reaction...everything is pointing towards another tailgate ride to the house. My brother gets to me and I tell him where the deer was when I shot. He finds my arrow, bloody (yes!) and says yeah theres blood all over. Cool, I get down and meet him as he's already 10 yards down the blood trail. The good thing about the thick brush is that the trail was easy to spot. After 80 yards we get to a palm island where I heard him run. The trail angled that way and he was laid up 5 yards inside it. My first 8 point, and biggest archery buck to date! He weighed in at 130 lb and was a really dark deer, a lot of black on his muzzle, beautiful animal. We drug him out and loaded onto a cart for the hike out. What a wonderful week in the woods! Yes it was hot, cost me blood, sweat, and tears, and mosquito, yellowfly, and tick bites, but 100% worth it! And the meat in the freezer is a bonus, gotta start grinding burger and sausage soon.