The Pay Off

Too often than not, I descend from my tree stand and exit the woods without needing to pick up a blood trail. It's the hunts that result in an arrow being flung that keep me coming back for more. From the first spotting of the deer, to the anticipation of the animal coming into range, to finally reaching your harvest at the end of the blood trail is what I live for. Those are the special hunts that make all the long months of preparation, and endless hours in the stand worth it. The only thing more satisfying than harvesting a mature whitetail, is if that said whitetail is sporting a heavy set of antlers. That is when preparation meets opportunity, and that's what I call the pay off.

Blood on the Axis is a welcomed site

Like any pre rut sit in a new stand, the air was full of anticipation. Tonight could be the night. A cold front was making its way through, the wind was perfect, and the stand was along a beaten down game trail that led directly to a fresh scrape. The table was set, all I needed was my dancing partner to show up. As the minutes turned into hours, and the sun hung low in the horizon, my hope began to dwindle. This would make twenty hours spent in a tree stand over the last two days with only a spike and two yearlings gracing my presence. My mind began to wander into thoughts of next weeks weather forecast when I noticed a few tines in the distance.

I picked up my Nikon Prostaff 7's and glassed seventy yards to my left. A large bodied buck had stepped out along the edge of the wood line and began working some small trees. I checked my watch, 6:12pm, and began to anticipate his route. I would loose site of him as he continued along his path, but I could always tell where he was by watching the tree tops shake one by one as he rubbed each one. I ranged a few lanes and checked the wind one last time. If he continued in this direction he would never be able to smell me. I had the upper hand. He had no Idea. As he stopped at the last tree obstructing my view, I came to full draw. He paused, than began to trot to the opposite end of the wood line. My pin bounced up and down with each stride, and as he moved past a clump of small saplings, I squeezed my release, sending and Easton Axis 340 between a "V" in the trees right into his rib cage. He took three more steps, than tucked left into the thicket. Thirty seconds later I heard a drop. I checked my watch, 6:23pm, that eleven minutes seemed like an eternity.

I had watched the green glow of my nocturnal nock disappear into the bucks mid section, so I initially felt good about the shot. I still waited another half hour to climb down to inspect my arrow. Light pink blood with tiny bubbles means only one thing, lung shot. I felt confident of the shot, but the uncertainty of the deer's location had me rattled. I have been confident of my shot many times before, only to come up empty at the end of the blood trail. I decided to back out of the woods, try to calm my nerves, and call for backup.

The Pay Off

I knew a few friends would be finishing up their evening hunts and would gladly help me track the animal. As I waited for them to arrive, I called my wife and my mother. I asked for them to pray for me to be able to recover my buck, and after praying myself, I had a feeling of calm fall over me as if God was telling me it was going to be alright. When the cavalry arrived I replayed the shot for them before entering the woods. After inspecting the arrow, we began to track the blood. About thirty yards, and three minutes later, I had my hands wrapped around the rack of a beautiful Pennsylvania whitetail.

I checked my watch one last time, 8:34pm. In less than three hours time, I went from checking the weather to calling my taxidermist. Things change rapidly in the woods. It is up to you to stay focused on your goals and not let feelings of doubt and discouragement creep into your psyche. I practice shooting my bow twelve months a year so when I am blessed with a shot opportunity I can reap the rewards. Hunting is not only about the kill, but when a kill is involved, there is no better feeling in the world. I am thankful for every second I am able to spend in the woods, but the second you lay your hands on your harvest is the sweetest.