A Beginners Bow Hunting Memory
By: Lisa Selner
Hunting Season 2008
"The sportsman lives his life vicariously. For he secretly yearns to have lived before,
in a simpler time. A time when his love for the land, water, fish and wildlife would be
more than just part of his life. It would be his state of mind." (Author, Jim Slinsky)
Each fall hunting camps come alive throughout the Eastern Shore of
Maryland. They are aligned with rustic lamps, casting light over fresh kills
that were dressed and left to hang in the cool, crisp night air. It portrays
quite the unique spectacle, and brings to mind thoughts of what the old
days might have been like. White-tailed deer are plentiful here, providing
many opportunities for deer hunters to prevail and not go home hungry! It
is not uncommon to sit in your tree stand for a few hours and have up to 20
deer pass by in some areas.
Having never been bow hunting before, I became acquainted with the bow
after my first year living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. I’ve always had an
interest in bow hunting but never pursued it due to lack of time with
frequent traveling and busy work schedules over the years. My interests
became reality when I purchased a bow on my 28th birthday (Summer
Solstice) and spent the remaining summer months becoming acquainted
with, practicing, and preparing myself for my first real bow hunting
experience.
It was my second time out in the woods with my new bow, awaiting the
moment to put my recently acquired archery hunting teachings to use.
After hiking through the woods with my gear, I arrive at a tree overlooking
several well traveled crisscrossing deer trails. I climb the tree with my
climbing stand, and make myself comfortable. The slightest noise causes
my heart to beat rapidly, anxiously anticipating what is to follow. It is a
false alarm when I see that each noise is only a squirrel rummaging for
morsels under the leaf litter below, or songbirds bickering in the bushes. I
remain patient, enjoying the natural sounds around me, while also
envisioning the arrival of a deer.
The moment arrives when I least expect it, and then all of a sudden I see a
small herd heading right for me. I quietly get in position, being sure not to
make any sudden movements that may alarm the approaching deer. My
heart beating wildly, my body trembling with anxiety, I pull back on the
string with my right hand. The first nice doe to come in range paused
about 20 yards in front of me. During that moment I realized that this was
serious, I had to remain calm. I had to make sure that I was about to make a
clean kill. I aimed behind her shoulder, and then released my arrow. The
world around me seemed to be in slow motion for those few moments.
After releasing my arrow I watched as the doe jumped in alarm, then
darted down a trail behind me. When she was out of sight I could hear her
stumbling, then made what I figured was her last breath. I watched the
herd that was following her. Two smaller does directly behind her watched
with puzzlement as she ran into the brush, only to resume grazing when
the lead doe fell silent. They had no idea what had just happened or that I
was in my tree stand above them. The rest of the herd came closer; all
unassuming to the events that had just taken place. I looked where the lead
doe stood before I released my arrow, and saw the arrow lying nearby on
the ground from above. It was red with blood.
This was the first arrow I ever shot at a deer. Needless to say I couldn’t
control myself after that as the excitement overwhelmed me. I wasted no
time climbing back down the tree, screaming and making one heck of a
racket! Alarming the deer below me, they scattered about and got out of
there immediately. Once I made it to the ground I ran to the arrow. All the
commotion attracted the attention of my friend who was also hunting
several hundred yards away from me. He came down to see what was
going on and to help me look for the doe. And we found her where I heard
her fall for the last time, about 40 yards from where she was shot. Her
energy having already passed to the next realm, she was my first bow
killed deer.
By: Lisa Selner
Hunting Season 2008
"The sportsman lives his life vicariously. For he secretly yearns to have lived before,
in a simpler time. A time when his love for the land, water, fish and wildlife would be
more than just part of his life. It would be his state of mind." (Author, Jim Slinsky)
Each fall hunting camps come alive throughout the Eastern Shore of
Maryland. They are aligned with rustic lamps, casting light over fresh kills
that were dressed and left to hang in the cool, crisp night air. It portrays
quite the unique spectacle, and brings to mind thoughts of what the old
days might have been like. White-tailed deer are plentiful here, providing
many opportunities for deer hunters to prevail and not go home hungry! It
is not uncommon to sit in your tree stand for a few hours and have up to 20
deer pass by in some areas.
Having never been bow hunting before, I became acquainted with the bow
after my first year living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. I’ve always had an
interest in bow hunting but never pursued it due to lack of time with
frequent traveling and busy work schedules over the years. My interests
became reality when I purchased a bow on my 28th birthday (Summer
Solstice) and spent the remaining summer months becoming acquainted
with, practicing, and preparing myself for my first real bow hunting
experience.
It was my second time out in the woods with my new bow, awaiting the
moment to put my recently acquired archery hunting teachings to use.
After hiking through the woods with my gear, I arrive at a tree overlooking
several well traveled crisscrossing deer trails. I climb the tree with my
climbing stand, and make myself comfortable. The slightest noise causes
my heart to beat rapidly, anxiously anticipating what is to follow. It is a
false alarm when I see that each noise is only a squirrel rummaging for
morsels under the leaf litter below, or songbirds bickering in the bushes. I
remain patient, enjoying the natural sounds around me, while also
envisioning the arrival of a deer.
The moment arrives when I least expect it, and then all of a sudden I see a
small herd heading right for me. I quietly get in position, being sure not to
make any sudden movements that may alarm the approaching deer. My
heart beating wildly, my body trembling with anxiety, I pull back on the
string with my right hand. The first nice doe to come in range paused
about 20 yards in front of me. During that moment I realized that this was
serious, I had to remain calm. I had to make sure that I was about to make a
clean kill. I aimed behind her shoulder, and then released my arrow. The
world around me seemed to be in slow motion for those few moments.
After releasing my arrow I watched as the doe jumped in alarm, then
darted down a trail behind me. When she was out of sight I could hear her
stumbling, then made what I figured was her last breath. I watched the
herd that was following her. Two smaller does directly behind her watched
with puzzlement as she ran into the brush, only to resume grazing when
the lead doe fell silent. They had no idea what had just happened or that I
was in my tree stand above them. The rest of the herd came closer; all
unassuming to the events that had just taken place. I looked where the lead
doe stood before I released my arrow, and saw the arrow lying nearby on
the ground from above. It was red with blood.
This was the first arrow I ever shot at a deer. Needless to say I couldn’t
control myself after that as the excitement overwhelmed me. I wasted no
time climbing back down the tree, screaming and making one heck of a
racket! Alarming the deer below me, they scattered about and got out of
there immediately. Once I made it to the ground I ran to the arrow. All the
commotion attracted the attention of my friend who was also hunting
several hundred yards away from me. He came down to see what was
going on and to help me look for the doe. And we found her where I heard
her fall for the last time, about 40 yards from where she was shot. Her
energy having already passed to the next realm, she was my first bow
killed deer.
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