Broke out the recurve

[kiwi hunter]

Been a few months since I drew the bow, going well, two in the dot at 15 Mars. 50 lb but after a few shots took two turns out and much easier now, at 75 the old muscles ain't what they used too be. So it's building up to rut time by end of this month, fallow deer that is, the hog deer rut 12 months of the yr here.
Unfortunately the sambar don't do their stuff till July/august. But it don't mean I can't hunt them, they strip from may. Feel sorry for you yanks, gotta wait another six to seven month.
I'll do my best to fill in the space for Youse, LOL.

 

[Tmbrgost]

I started my summer shooting program with my TD and have found it to be like an old friend that I missed talking to….very relaxing & fun. My groups are at least consistent at this point.

Any updates or success on your hunts?

 

[kiwi hunter]

I started my summer shooting program with my TD and have found it to be like an old friend that I missed talking to….very relaxing & fun. My groups are at least consistent at this point.

Any updates or success on your hunts?

Unfortunately we are in a serious lack of rain phase, this stops the deer from moving about, they seem to stick close to water and food, the land around me is mostly flat sandy soil, no springs. It think they move closer to private with troughs and watered feed. And I'm stuck here feeding the livestock.
I did skewer a goody hog stag but I'm too stupid to upload pics, will do so down the line when the stars align.

 

[kiwi hunter]

Awast, belay that. It's just broken daylight and I see a fallow stag has found my place, and of course the couple of girls that are resident. Unfortunately he's a year away from being a good trophy and possibly two from being fully mature, anyway happy days are here.

 

[gburk]

I reckon this is the one referred to!

 

[kiwi hunter]

I reckon this is the one referred to!
View attachment 372035

Yes it is. TA.

 

[Tmbrgost]

I reckon this is the one referred to!
View attachment 372035

Excellent! Shot distance?

Nice placement behind the shoulder-

 

[kiwi hunter]

Can belay that again. The stag decided that my girls weren't to his liking and escaped.

 

[kiwi hunter]

But now he's changed his mind, and back again. At daylight this morning there was a fallow hind missing, I have two adult and two rising yrlgs, one of the hinds was missing, 15 mins later I spied her down in the corner being attended by the stag, poor bugger has until the end of June to live.

 

[kiwi hunter]

Well with the lack of feed about the stag ventured up the hill to where the hinds were having breakfast, just on daybreak. I thought I would have a hard time getting the job done but some hay is going to be my friend. Until today I only saw him in the dark, I use a red light, great help on not upsetting animals.

 

[kiwi hunter]

At daybreak today he was within 15 mtrs of the killing shed, shot off when he smelled me but back with the girls 15 mins later. Last three days have been quite windy so all deer are fairly nervous.

 

[kiwi hunter]

I fed the bludger deer at daylight and as I climbed the slope back to my cottage I see a set of antlers on top of the rise, I wait till he sets behind at trees and drop down to a prone position, he had a good look at me than joined a young mini axis for breakfast, 17 paces away. Gave him a couple of minutes then stood up, all the deer took of into the bushes, five mins later they were all back eating the hay including the fallow buck. Now for some practice and tune my hunting arrows.

 

[kiwi hunter]

No time for practise today but he's back on dusk,less than 20 paces from the killing shed. If I pull out one of the windows that'll give me a window of opportunity, lol

 

[kiwi hunter]

Well, yesterday my practice went well and this morning he came into the bait at ten paces, my good practice from the day before abandoned me, looks like I hit him loe and back. A tiny bit of blood but a large pool of masticated grass. Rang the neighbour and he came over with a dog, did bump him but as he was still on his feet and found refuge in the rubbish we had to pull the pin. Not what I wanted at all.

 

[Jnasa]

Well, yesterday my practice went well and this morning he came into the bait at ten paces, my good practice from the day before abandoned me, looks like I hit him loe and back. A tiny bit of blood but a large pool of masticated grass. Rang the neighbour and he came over with a dog, did bump him but as he was still on his feet and found refuge in the rubbish we had to pull the pin. Not what I wanted at all.

I’m sorry to hear. That’s a tough one. Happens to all of us sooner or later.

 

[Tmbrgost]

Bummer!

 

[kiwi hunter]

I've worked out what happened. I'm right handed but left eye dominant, in the heat of the battle I forgot to close my left eye, hence the arrow went left.

 

[kiwi hunter]

Found him. I pushed a track thru the hollow to the back to crush some rubbish regrowth there, being up high on the tractor and it was windy too so I couldn't smell him, I ran out of diesel so walked home and drove thru in the vehicle, as it was late in the day the wind had died down and I got a good whiff, took a milli second to register and I leapt out to find him two steps from the new track.
I'd also found another deadhead that had got wrapped up in a patch of material.

 

[Tmbrgost]

I've worked out what happened. I'm right handed but left eye dominant, in the heat of the battle I forgot to close my left eye, hence the arrow went left.

Interesting. Have you considered switching to shooting left handed? I have the same issue and can shoot both ways but shoot left better once I switched and committed.

 

[kiwi hunter]

Interesting. Have you considered switching to shooting left handed? I have the same issue and can shoot both ways but shoot left better once I switched and committed.

I can shoot left handed with the rifle, but the left hand is very weak in comparison so be a waste of time, probably end up with tennis elbow too, not forgetting I'm coming up 76.
Am making up a new target, be able to bring into the shed too on windy days, I think more practise be the answer.