One Very Curious Buck!
Mar 25, 2021 15:09:41 #
My Hunting partner, Dr. Vicente Tavarez, took considerable time to finally persuade me to take up bow hunting. It was really something I was reluctant to attempt since I had already a lot invested in rifles, loading equipment and was quite comfortable in shooting. However, there were also some benefits to bow hunting, like deer season opens in October, a full month ahead of rifle season so bow hunters have a 30-day period without any worry of being shot by an eager rifle hunter in the woods.
Our first attempt at hunting deer with a bow was at Aransas Refuge, along the coast of Texas and a place that had never been hunted in over 100 years because it had been set aside for the winter home of Whooping Cranes. These cranes had been near extinction and only recovered after a suitable and protected home had been set aside for them on the Texas coast.
The problem was the white tail deer population had exploded and needed being reduced. The Texas Game and Fish Commission decided this could be facilitated by allowing bow hunters hunt the deer and thereby thin the herd to a more reasonable level. Now, while this was a good idea, there were many more rookies like us than there were expert bow hunters. Both Dr. Tavarez and I got reasonable shots at bucks, we were inexperienced enough to not connect with even one buck. We did learn a lot and were anxious to come back for a second chance.
We put in a tremendous number of hours almost every evening shooting at targets to improve our aim and build up our arm muscles drawing our bows. Archery requires much more than a rifle because drawing and holding that draw with a 70-pound bow takes a lot of practice. We were going to be well prepared for the deer at Aransas Refuge the next season. But those dreams were not to be, because in September we experienced Hurricane Beulah, which wrecked a lot of damage, loss of life and flooding. The flooding was so bad the entire Rio Grande Valley was cut off from the rest of the state. The U.S, Military had to use helicopters to deliver critical supplies for a period, since the highways in and out were under water. Our plans for this hunt were dashed.
However, we were determined to bow hunt somewhere. I got on the phone and began calling to find an alternative deer lease. We had practiced all year and did not want to waste this opportunity to hunt during October. Finally, I found a ranch in Gillespie County that had a good offer for deer hunting. They had a lot of deer, acres to hunt, and if we did not kill a deer we did not have to pay anything. It was a good alternative and there was a bunk house for us to sleep in without any extra charge.
Besides the doctor and I, I recruited two more hunters to accompany us. One of our party killed a deer the very first evening after we arrived and all by one of our party was successful in killing one or more deer. I completed my tags of two bucks and a doe.
Dr, Tavarez had a spike buck that he at first wasn’t going to shoot at, but finally decided to take a shot. The deer was looking at him when he released the arrow and the deer jumped out of the path of the arrow, then ran away but in a few minutes returned, as he must have been curious as to what this strange phenomenon was? Dr. Tavarez shoots another arrow, the buck repeats his same routine. Finally, the doctor must get out of his blind and go fetch all the arrows he had fired at this one curious deer who could not figure out what was flying out at him. Back in camp we kidded the Doctor a lot about the game he had been playing with this curious spike buck.
Just Saying…RJS
Our first attempt at hunting deer with a bow was at Aransas Refuge, along the coast of Texas and a place that had never been hunted in over 100 years because it had been set aside for the winter home of Whooping Cranes. These cranes had been near extinction and only recovered after a suitable and protected home had been set aside for them on the Texas coast.
The problem was the white tail deer population had exploded and needed being reduced. The Texas Game and Fish Commission decided this could be facilitated by allowing bow hunters hunt the deer and thereby thin the herd to a more reasonable level. Now, while this was a good idea, there were many more rookies like us than there were expert bow hunters. Both Dr. Tavarez and I got reasonable shots at bucks, we were inexperienced enough to not connect with even one buck. We did learn a lot and were anxious to come back for a second chance.
We put in a tremendous number of hours almost every evening shooting at targets to improve our aim and build up our arm muscles drawing our bows. Archery requires much more than a rifle because drawing and holding that draw with a 70-pound bow takes a lot of practice. We were going to be well prepared for the deer at Aransas Refuge the next season. But those dreams were not to be, because in September we experienced Hurricane Beulah, which wrecked a lot of damage, loss of life and flooding. The flooding was so bad the entire Rio Grande Valley was cut off from the rest of the state. The U.S, Military had to use helicopters to deliver critical supplies for a period, since the highways in and out were under water. Our plans for this hunt were dashed.
However, we were determined to bow hunt somewhere. I got on the phone and began calling to find an alternative deer lease. We had practiced all year and did not want to waste this opportunity to hunt during October. Finally, I found a ranch in Gillespie County that had a good offer for deer hunting. They had a lot of deer, acres to hunt, and if we did not kill a deer we did not have to pay anything. It was a good alternative and there was a bunk house for us to sleep in without any extra charge.
Besides the doctor and I, I recruited two more hunters to accompany us. One of our party killed a deer the very first evening after we arrived and all by one of our party was successful in killing one or more deer. I completed my tags of two bucks and a doe.
Dr, Tavarez had a spike buck that he at first wasn’t going to shoot at, but finally decided to take a shot. The deer was looking at him when he released the arrow and the deer jumped out of the path of the arrow, then ran away but in a few minutes returned, as he must have been curious as to what this strange phenomenon was? Dr. Tavarez shoots another arrow, the buck repeats his same routine. Finally, the doctor must get out of his blind and go fetch all the arrows he had fired at this one curious deer who could not figure out what was flying out at him. Back in camp we kidded the Doctor a lot about the game he had been playing with this curious spike buck.
Just Saying…RJS
Mar 25, 2021 15:40:41 #
Welcome to bow hunting!!
I'm also I'm a rifle hunter my boys got me into archery hunting what a difference I found out thought that you have to hunt differently , then you do with a rifle . I have killed one Turkey and a few deer 🦌. California is tuff hunting with a bow.
At least you are aloud to shoot doe's!! We have to put ln for a special doe tag and hope to get drawed. And there is no hunting for does or spikes
You can 't believe all the does we have in California !!!
Good luck Hunting!!
I went fishing yesterday still slow up here Bass are not quite there yet, caught 3 all hens a their bellies were starting to swell.
Good luck fishing 🎣 also
Andy Cacciatori Bassman
I'm also I'm a rifle hunter my boys got me into archery hunting what a difference I found out thought that you have to hunt differently , then you do with a rifle . I have killed one Turkey and a few deer 🦌. California is tuff hunting with a bow.
At least you are aloud to shoot doe's!! We have to put ln for a special doe tag and hope to get drawed. And there is no hunting for does or spikes
You can 't believe all the does we have in California !!!
Good luck Hunting!!
I went fishing yesterday still slow up here Bass are not quite there yet, caught 3 all hens a their bellies were starting to swell.
Good luck fishing 🎣 also
Andy Cacciatori Bassman
Mar 25, 2021 15:43:56 #
Mar 26, 2021 10:27:30 #
basshawg48
Loc: Louisiana
love bow hunting started bow hunting 5 years ago have not connected with a buck yet here in louisiana. but have killed a few does.
Mar 26, 2021 12:01:38 #
At least you have killed two does l feel any deer with a bow is a trophy.
Because of the odds and all the practice you do before the season!!
Have you tried Turkey Hunting with your bow it opens up tomorrow her in California I won't be going this year had rebuild knee surgery on both my knees but I'll be out there next season.
Good luck fishing and hunting
Andy Cacciatori
Because of the odds and all the practice you do before the season!!
Have you tried Turkey Hunting with your bow it opens up tomorrow her in California I won't be going this year had rebuild knee surgery on both my knees but I'll be out there next season.
Good luck fishing and hunting
Andy Cacciatori
Mar 26, 2021 12:57:26 #
basshawg48
Loc: Louisiana
dont hunt turkey too many bass tournaments and the bass fishing to good this time of year
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