Opening day report

[grouse]

Archery season opened here this morning and it was clear, cool (54 degrees) and as wet as if it had rained all night. I climbed into my tripod stand about 10 minutes before shooting hours and got comfortable. About 7:00 A big doe and a fawn stepped out into the bean field about 200 yards away. As I watched them I saw something move much closer. First one then two and soon four antlered bucks walked out of the woods about 40 yards away. Two of the bucks seemed to be obviously legal and the other two looked like 4s or 6s, (we have a 4 pts. on one side min.) but I couldn't be sure and, despite a 40 yard broadside chance on a big one for a few seconds, I let them walk. They trotted out into the bean field and began to feed.

When I looked up the doe was gone and the fawn was coming down to join the bucks. They all wandered around feeding for a while and one of the big bucks went back into the woods. Soon another doe came out and joined one of the smaller bucks and they headed in my direction. I was hoping they would come close enough for me to shoot the doe because the buck was pretty big but his rack looked likely illegal. The buck led the way and at 15 yards (to my surprise) I counted 4 points on one side. I put the crosshairs behind his shoulder and squeezed. He bolted out into the field and suddenly collapsed and was quickly motionless.

This was the first time I have ever used a mechanical broadhead (Xact) and it worked great. It's a good thing I took the two practice shots I did or I could have never have made the 15 broadside shot. The deer was a small racked 7 point buck but a pretty big deer. I have a picture of it jammed into the front end loader of my tractor but I have never figured out to post a picture on this site.

It was a good opening morning!

[AJ01]

Sounds like one heck of a way to wrap up the morning! Chalk one up for the gentleman from "The Show Me State"!!!
Grouse, I reckon you "showed 'em"!!!

AJ


I use a site called postimage.org
If I can figure it out, I'm know you can!!!

[papa bear1]

Way to go Grouse.
do you have anymore antlered tags or just doe tags ?

Dave

[robertyb]

Congrats on your kill.

[mr meat]

Congrats

[vixenmaster]

Fantastic hunt n kill, congrats

[Owl Creek]

Congratulations.
What part of Missouri do you live?

Steve

[Carnivorous]

Nicely done!!

Oct 01st can't get here fast enough!!!

[xcaliber]

Congrats!

[grouse]

Way to go Grouse.
do you have anymore antlered tags or just doe tags ?

I think I can shoot one more buck but I have to wait until firearms season or after firearms season with a crossbow.

[grouse]

Congratulations.
What part of Missouri do you live?

Steve

I live in the St. Louis suburbs, but I own a farm with a house in Pike county and that's where I hunt.

[Owl Creek]

Congratulations.
What part of Missouri do you live?

Steve

I live in the St. Louis suburbs, but I own a farm with a house in Pike county and that's where I hunt.

Ok, I live near Bonne Terre.
But will be hunting up by Fulton.

Nice to meet another Missouri boy.

[ihunt]

Congrats nice going

[longbow joe]

Congrats on your buck.Yes the xact always has worked great for me ,lm surprised they are not more popular maby it's that they cost a little bit more dont know ...of the 9 deer l shot with them none didn't go more than 70 yards at maximum most died in 20.
Good going

[Hester0305]

Congrats on your buck I'm glad everything worked out for you. Sounds like it was a great opening day.