Oh baby, this is it! Opening day of bow season showed up at my doorstep wearing a ScentLok suit and Rocky boots – my hunting buddy James. After hunting together for a little over 14 years together without ever missing opening day of bow or gun season, we set out for the opening morning of bow hunting. The temperature was about 45º and there was a light mist coming down from a very dark sky. I was skeptical about what the morning would bring, but I was hoping that this wouldn’t hinder deer movement.
By 5:45 a.m. I was up in my stand sitting comfortably waiting for daylight to come. While sitting there I couldn’t help but feel like I was revisiting an old friend. It was everything like the cool air, the sound of rustling leaves and the anticipation of a big buck being somewhere nearby that just got me revved up. It’s 7:00 a.m. and the squirrels are busy moving from tree to tree, cracking open acorn shells and rustling leaves on the forest floor. By the way, an experienced hunter can tell the difference between a deer walking on leaves and a squirrel rustling the leaves, yet even an experienced hunter still looks to be sure.
The morning passes on and all I’ve seen were two summer fawns walking with their momma oblivious to any danger being near – a sign that my homemade cover scent was working. I headed back to the truck at about 11:30 a.m. to find my buddy James already sitting in the truck. When I got to the truck he raised his hands revealing all ten fingers to me. James had shot a ten-point buck no more than 20 minutes after he had climbed into his stand. It turns out that after shooting the buck, it ran for about 45 yards and then disappeared from his sight. He gave the deer an hour or so to die then tracked it to it’s final resting spot – the river. After getting a little wet, James figured he’d warm up in the truck until I got back to help him drag it out of the woods. James is off to a good start. Now it’s my turn to take down Ole’ Mossy myself.
Yes folks, hunting season is here once again and the great book of 2008 hunting stories has already turned it’s first page for James. I hope luck is on your side this season as well. By the way, James says hello and aim for the middle.
Posted by deerhunttips 
