2009 Deer

This year I shot my first buck. It was also the first deer I've shot with my bow. It was a six-point buck, probably a year and a half old.

I figured out that all those years of holding out for a big Kansas Monster wasn't really paying off. So my strategy for this year was to get any kind of deer before trapping season.
I had been hunting on a piece of public land right outside the Austin city limits. It has really good habitat, but there was always someone else hunting at the same time. One hunter I talked to recommended a spot about 10 miles South of Austin. There is a half mile hike from the road before the hunting area begins, so it gets a lot less pressure. I went out there on Monday, Oct 5, early in the morning. I got sidetracked on the way there when some horses started to cross the highway in front of me. I stopped woke up the owner and helped get about 7 horses back in the pen. At least none of them got hit. Once I finally got into the hunting area, I missed a doe twice at 20 yards. This is also when I found out what a year of not shooting my bow does to me. I found a good spot to set up the next time I came out.

I went out again on Wednesday, Oct. 7 in the morning and there was patchy frost on the grass. I couldn't find the spot where I wanted to set up because it was too dark. I stayed put until daylight and then made my way to the good location. I sat on a log facing the Southeast wind. I waited about 45 minutes and saw a doe about 40 yards ahead of me. It was going away from me so I blew a few doe grunts. I didn't see the doe again but this buck came into view and started heading my way. I couldn't of asked for an easier shot; sitting down, drew when it went behind a tree, moved the bow into position when it went behind another tree, it stopped and looked at me for a second than took a step forward and was shot at 15 yards. It was shot a little low, but it died pretty quick. I shot it at about 8:20am.

I went back to the truck to change clothes and get a knife and gloves. I found out I need more practice field dressing, but I got the job done. I started the 3/4 mile drag out and was glad I changed out of my coveralls. It got to the point where I would drag for a minute and rest for 2. I got it to the truck at 11:30.

I had help from Lisa getting the deer hung in the garage. I had to make do without a proper gambrel using a trapping stake and a dog leash. I then got off to class at 1:00, but got back at 1:20. I took the deer into the big game registration station across town. I got there and answered the questions and they said we were done. I asked them if they needed to see the deer, which they did not. So then I somehow managed to get the deer back on the trapping stake by myself. I skinned it out and washed it down. Then I went to class at 3:30.

Because we went to Kansas on Thursday night, I butchered the deer from 12:00 to 4:30 Thursday afternoon. I might not have cut it into all the correct cuts, but most of it is going to be ground up anyway.

Well there's the very long version of my 2009 deer. I'm sure you'll hear from me again after trapping season starts the 24th.