Over Labor Day weekend I spent a lot of time in the field. My Caveman and I packed our granola bars, woke up at 3 am and had a blast yelling at each other when one of us was to loud in the woods. We bonded while scaling the sides of cliffs, eating dirt over barbed wire fences and worrying that one or the other was drinking to much of the water and some how, throughout it all, I got 2 shots off and no, one wasn't aimed at him (although I came close). I've learned throughout the years that hunting with my caveman has its price but, no matter what we love hunting and most of all hunting with each other.
I am a recent bow gal. This is only my second season so on Saturday morning when we spot and stalked into a field where we could see to huge branch bulls, cow calling and fighting one another it was one of the most amazing things I had ever seen. It felt like I was watching a Lee & Tiff episode only it was real time. In my daze I forgot the whole point of being there but that quickly disintegrated when Caveman started poking me in the ribs and telling me to move faster in a hushed whisper. As we hastily stalked around the side of a knoll we could also hear another bull rubbing his rack on a tree. I was too focussed on the 2 huge branch bulls to pay attention to the one on the hill until I heard, STOP. I did exactly that and slowly spun around. Caveman whispered 50 yrds top of his back. I yanked my bow back, tried to remain calm, put my pin on him and let it fly. As I watched the bull dance off into the woods I look over at Caveman to see if he was going to cry or yell (thankfully neither) he just looked at me and said "welp better luck next time." I smiled, to me that was the closest I'd ever been to really killing a bull. That was a rush in itself. (Later when we analyzed the situation, I realized I was so worked up I didn't hear "top of the back" and proceeded to miss my bull by a long shot... Oh I also failed to mention that the bull on the knoll I was shooting at was standing next to two other branch bulls and they were all standing broad side starring at me. It doesn't get much easier then that. Oh but wait, it gets better.)
After my right leg had stopped shaking uncontrollably and not two minutes later after the elk had spooked, do we see a large group of deer headed our way about 100 yards out. Caveman proceeds to tell me to hurry as we hastily sneak up on them. I'm struggling though because I feel completely exposed stalking in the middle of a road while they cross right in front of me. However, none of them seem to notice. By the time we get up to 50 yards the last buck is passing by. Caveman yelps, I shoot and for a second we both think I nailed him but to our dismay the only thing that buck got was a hair cut. Yep, one lonely, little hair was the only evidence to show that I had come close to killing my first buck.
Either way, it was the most amazing experience ever. Yes I could have tagged out both my buck and bull in less then 2 minutes in one day but, I've forced myself to look on the bright side. Next year they will be bigger and I will be better prepared.
The good news is I might not be as bad of a shot as I thought. Later, when we got home, we found out my 50 yard pin wasn't really 50 yards but more like 45 yards. You can bet it is dialed in now though. So to all you new hunters out there, always make sure your 50 yard pin is sighted in because you never no when you might get a shot.
Okay, so when we say "bull" we really mean Elk, right?! Not a bull. Like in Spain.
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