Why I love bowhunting

Well, I won't be able to get out again during the regular season and so I can't help but do a little assessment. All in all, it's has been a great hunt this year. Lots of deer, lots of big bucks and plenty of time to hunt them. Very few hunters compared to past years, too, which I think makes for a much better hunt. I passed on several 2 points, blew it on a couple big 4 points and made repeated efforts at a monster buck who was just too smart for me.

But what's made my hunt this year has been all the close encounters with wildlife I've had. I had a big boar bear 30 yards away while he was ripping a log apart and eating ants. They must be tasty because he was definitely enjoying them. That's the first bear I've seen on that mountain and I've hunted there all my life.

I spotted a coyote and called her and her two pups into range. She knew I was there, but couldn't tell where I was and even though I was tempted to stick her with an arrow to give her an indication, I didn't.

I had a doe come so close that I literally could have reached out and petted her.

And of course there have been several really close calls, when just another split second or just one more step would have given me a shot. My hunt almost ended opening morning when at first light, 3 bucks were slowly working their way towards me. They were all within range and I could have shot, but I held out for an even better shot and while I was being all patient and crafty, another hunter stumbled right into the setup. He was really apologetic, but in retrospect, I would have missed out if I'd killed my deer that soon.

All this makes for some great memories.

What I love most of all is getting in the middle of a bunch of deer and just watching them do their thing. Eventually, one gets a whiff of something that shouldn't be there and they start bellowing back and forth. Even more fun is when there's a big buck or two in the mix and I can't move without getting busted, so all I can do is just sit tight, wait patiently and try to keep the shivers in check as one of them comes my way but not quite close enough for a shot.

Of course, that's all just chapter one. As they say, the story continues...