Wow, what a weekend for Aim Low topped off by Kristen's last minute doe taken the last evening of the Missouri Youth Season. Because she has taken 3 bucks in the last few years, she decided to shoot a doe, or wait for a "bigger" buck. She held to that early the first morning and let a basket rack buck go by.

Early the next morning, she was second guessing that decision, and let me know that she would decide on a small buck when the opportunity came along. She didn't wait long, as a spike came over the ridge 40 yards away and walked right at our Double Bull blind at a fast walk. By the time she put the gun out the window, he was 5 yards away, or less, and bolted at the first hint of us being there. Two does were seen at 10:30, but no shots.

We spent 8 hours in the blind Sunday. Kristen held tight, hoping for a deer to come along all the way until the last minute. She was rewarded for her resolve right at last legal light, when some noise indicated running deer, followed by a deer walking across the ridge in front of us. It made it out of sight quickly, but soon Kristen saw another heading the other direction. I let out 3 loud bleats to make it stop (a few more steps and it would have been gone as well). Luckily, it stopped instead of running. Kristen found it right away in the scope and put a perfect shot on it. We were a little concerned at the hit, because the deer made it out of sight. But, no worries were needed. We easily followed the blood trail, even though a storm came in while we gave the deer some time. What a great way to end a hunt. To say she was excited is an understatement. And, ya, Dad was pretty excited too!
 

Saturday, Oct. 29
Hunter: Keith Riehn
Cameraman: Eric Gregory

After setting up a stand for the camerman (which took way longer than what we had planned), we got the decoy ready and settled in for what looked to be a perfect morning weather wise in IL. I was fairly discouraged because it was already daylight and there were three does standing in the field to our north before I could even get my release aid on. Somehow we went undetected and they came inside the wood line. One of the does stepped into what I thought was a perfectly prepared shooting lane so I drew back as I was more than willing to take a doe with the rut getting ready to kick in, in a week or so. As if she knew what she was doing she stopped with a 6" diameter tree perfectly hiding the largest portion of her vitals and I was forced to let down the bowstring. I definately did not want to take a risky shot and knew there would be plenty more opportunities so she walked on to live another day.

About an hour after the doe encounter, I heard a buck grunting across the field. He was making some unusally loud, deep grunts. I got out my grunt tube and grunted back at him. I finally caught a glimpse of him moving in the woods across the field. Shortly after that I saw him on the edge of the wood line on the west edge of the field and heading our way. I won't spoil the rest of the story as you will be able to relive the adventure with us on the "Can't Get Enough" video. The end result can be seen in the pictures below!
 

Sunday Oct. 30
Hunter: Eric Gregory
Cameraman: Keith Riehn

SAME TREE!!!

Now it was Eric's turn in front of the camera. Once again we got a late start and it was Eric who was discouraged. We were both thinking "Is there anything else that could go wrong" as the strap to the climbing pole came loose and would not refasten. There I am I'm sitting in my perch ready to film and my hunter was stranded, sweating and cursing on the forest floor below me with no way up to join me. After regaining his senses and mustering up enough will power to give it another try, Eric finally got the strap to catch and found his way up the tree. I bit my lip to keep from laughing and possibly getting myself power slammed out of my stand. After Eric wiped the sweat and look of a crazed killer off of his face he finally sat down to take in the beautiful morning around us. The next 30 minutes were quiet as Eric was in no mood for a pep talk.

Finally at 7:30, Eric's luck turned for the better. We both heard the unmistakeable sound of an approaching deer in the frosted grass in the field to our south coming right towards our buck decoy. We both made a mad scramble, Eric for his bow, and me for the video camera. He was on us in a hurry. Again, I don't want to spoil the event that will be on our first hunting video, but the end result is pictured below!

What a weekend!!

As many things that could go wrong did go wrong, but the end results were two very happy bowhunters. Here is one more picture of our Aim Low Double on Halloween weekend.

return to bow hunting field journal menu >