A great start to the season!

[outdoorstom]

Since I didn't fill my bow tag last year, I was able to start hunting on the 27th and had the good fortune to make the most of it tonight. I hustled home from work and was in my stand at 4:20. It was very windy, and threatening rain. I was sitting over a small clover/chickory plot up in the corner of my woodlot. I saw my first deer at 5:00, a spike. He browsed awhile, then got downwind of me and took off. Around 6:00, I had 3 does come through about 5 minutes apart. At 6:30, a 4 pointer made an appearance. Believing they are still in their bachelor groups, I was hopeful he wasn't alone. He browsed his way through and wasn't gone for a minute or so when what I thought was an 8 pointer showed up. He hardly even slowed down as he walked through the plot, so I grunted at him and he stopped right where I was hoping he would, at 25 yards. I got my pin on him and let it fly. I heard the arrow hit, and he bolted off into the woods. I wasn't positive, but thought I heard him crash. No more than 10 seconds after the shot, the sky opened up! I decided to climb down and check for sign, before it was gone. I found a good blood trail and followed it for about 10 yards and found my arrow. It was broken off, with the broadhead (Rage, 2 blade) missing. Blood covered 2/3 of the arrow. With it raining so hard, the blood trail disappeared before my eyes. I decided to back out and wait until morning. About 3 hours later, I couldn't stand it and went out to look for him. It took about 10 minutes before I found him 60 yards away. I'm glad I didn't wait, as there are quite a few coyotes around here.

[bigbuckhunter]

Quality deer, congratulations.

[ELMER J. FUDD]

Congrats, nice work!

[G-Man]

nice! congrats!!

[bubba]

Nice deer Tom. I will be over for dinner tomorrow lol. Congrats

[Cabin Fever]

NICE!! One in the freezer already!

[sweet old bill]

great deer and a great shot. Boy those BH did make a heck of a hole.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Way to go! Great story.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Great job!

[Dave]

Great job great when a plan comes together. How much did he weigh?

[hunter]

Great buck and you still have this year's tags to fill.

[outdoorstom]

Great job great when a plan comes together. How much did he weigh?

Thanks for the congrats everyone. He only weighed in at 135 after dressing him out. Looks to be 2.5 years old.

[cynthiafu]

way to go

[Elmo]

Nice!

[ncountry]

Great job, nice buck.. I settled for a huge doe during the evening of the 27th.2 buddies shot deer the same afternoon a doe and a spike .Hanging next to theirs she was 2' longer.

[BUCKrub91]

Nice deer! congrats on the successful hunt!

[fasteddie]

Congrats on the shot and recovering your deer !

[Littlesunray]

nice deer, glad you where able to find him. can't wait til we can get out in the woods again.

[Deerthug]

Nice!! I can't wait - 2 more weeks in SZ.

[Pat Rockets]

Early season takedown? Always a relief..two more weeks for me till i start creepin around..good apples on and around the trees..finally after 2 yrs..

A 2.5 yr old buck...cmon couldnt you have let him walk..this early in the yr?..haha..jk..jk

[dave6x6]

Great shot Tom on a super buck..

[ny hunter]

Nice deer congrats,Way to start the season Awesome!!

[burmjohn]

Nice buck, congrats!

[growalot]

Congrats on a nice buck !

[NYBowhunter]

Congrats on a nice buck !

Congrats, very nice buck..