1.) Albertabowhunter - 09/29/2015

Yesterday morning, Sept 27, around 7:15, I started my first sequence of calls. Immediately I was rewarded with the sounds of not too distant grunts. A couple extra soft moans, and he came in like he was being led on a leash. I could finally see him at 60 yards, and watched him close the distance. Grunting all the way, as to be announcing his arrival to the yet to be seen needing cow. As he passed behind some small shrubs it gave me a the opportunity to draw. When he stopped at 19 yards to search for his possible future girlfriend it gave me the opportunity to settle the 20 yard pin right behind his shoulder. No sooner than the pin settled, the Spitfire tipped PSE arrow was on its way through the lungs settling into the opposite side ribcage. The Bull ran, snapping the arrow in half, 60 yards in a horseshoe pattern and stopped 40 yards from me. I could hear his struggling breathing as the air escaped from the side of his chest. Eventually the sounds faded, I was unable to hear the gurgling breaths, nor the snapping of branches. I gave him what seemed like an 30 minutes, but was probably only about 10 minutes. I climbed down and found the start of the blood trail, then the broken off arrow. I started following the trail towards the point I saw him last. He was pretty much right in that spot. He laid down and collapsed against a tree keeping his body upright so when I approached I was unable to tell if he had expired or not. As I got closer I was able to see the entry hole and the air bubbled filled blood that had poured from his lungs. I carefully watched to see if any movement or bubbles appeared. He had already expired and my first tag of the year was filled.

[URL=http://s772.photobucket.com/user/richard_doucette1/media/Facebook/2915%20Hunting%20Season/12043180_10153074660981472_5921740979342707628_n_zps2vmlpnlt.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s772.photobucket.com/user/richard_doucette1/media/Facebook/2915%20Hunting%20Season/12074826_10153074661021472_4991538697815920584_n_zpsq7vrmnns.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s772.photobucket.com/user/richard_doucette1/media/Facebook/2915%20Hunting%20Season/12043121_10153074661116472_3194099483313023789_n_zpsqogogkse.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s772.photobucket.com/user/richard_doucette1/media/Facebook/2915%20Hunting%20Season/11014964_10153074661066472_6514106670677762406_n_zpspzeyupfp.jpg.html][/URL]

2.) billy b - 09/29/2015

Great hunt, shot, & story Richard, I know the few on here will appreciate it as I do. How much do you think he weighed? Do you butcher him yourself or have it done?:applause::applause::applause:

3.) Hunter - 09/29/2015

Great story, great shot! I can't imagine having something that big 20 yards away. :tu:

4.) Albertabowhunter - 09/29/2015

[QUOTE=billy b;34891]Great hunt, shot, & story Richard, I know the few on here will appreciate it as I do. How much do you think he weighed? Do you butcher him yourself or have it done?:applause::applause::applause:[/QUOTE]

He was 585 pounds at the butcher. 44 inches wide on the antlers. I usually try to butcher it myself..... (butcher describes my processing skills) but its still too warm to hang, so I had to take it in.

5.) Albertabowhunter - 09/29/2015

[QUOTE=Hunter;34893]Great story, great shot! I can't imagine having something that big 20 yards away. :tu:[/QUOTE]

Honestly, Its when you walk up on it and its laying there, is when you realize how big it really is.....

6.) Triton Rich - 09/29/2015

[B]That's awesome, congratulations![/B]

7.) Jon - 09/29/2015

Not having moose anywhere around here, I am always in awe when I see one down. What a great story and even better shot. Congrats Richard.

8.) Swamp Fox - 09/29/2015

I enjoyed reading that.

You (or anyone signed up for the contests) can enter any of those or any other pics you took/take this year in the Small Game/Other Contest while you're waiting to put your tag on a whitetail. Remember, we have two contests running ---Whitetail (split into two divisions: Vertical Bow and Any Other Legal Weapon) and Small Game/Other (SG/O).


The Whitetail Contest is what you're used to, with a few tweaks, and the [B]SG/O Contest is a picture contest rather than a kill contest[/B]. You can read the rules here:

[url]http://forums.huntingcountry.com/forums/showthread.php?1772-The-Official-2015-Hunting-CONTESTS-Sign-Up-Thread[/url]....Posts 4 and 9, after reading Post 1.


Each contest has a dedicated thread for posting your entries. If anyone has difficulty finding those threads, please let me know. They are both in the Bowhunting Forum, I believe, which seemed like a good idea at the time.


:wave:

9.) bluecat - 09/29/2015

Great job. Meat!

10.) Wild Bob - 09/29/2015

Very cool! Nice work. Your season is off to an awesome start!

11.) luv2bowhunt - 09/29/2015

Congrats! Great story, great hunt.