No buck, but a lion instead

[bowsniper]

Here is the short version:

 

Lion trotted across narrow shooting lane while I just happened to be in full draw. Found him six hours later.

 

 

 

 

Here is the long version:

 

I was up in my treestand before light, getting set up for my coues hunt. Not much on the camera, not much hope, but a great day to be a kid in my treehouse, watching for critters, reading a good book, and scanning for bucks after every two lines in the book. A few years earlier I had missed a great rut buck when one of my bow cams hit a treelimb when I released. The tree limb sucked the energy right out of the bow, and the arrow went under the buck. OUCH! Now, every morning, as soon as it’s light enough to hunt, I go to full draw and make sure that everything is clear.

 

So, this morning, I am at full draw, checking everything, and looking good. Then this happened, I’m guessing in less than 2 seconds at about 30 yards:

 

 

“BIG PAWS. LION! KITTENS??!!NOKITTENS!GETPINONHIM!WHATPIN??!!

HE’SGOINGBEHINDTREE,MOVEPINTOOTHERSIDEOFTREE!!!

IGOTTA*@$%@!!LEARNHOWTOCALLLIONS!THEREAREBRANCHESONOTHERSIDEOFTREE!!

THEREHEISBEHINDSOMEBRANCHES!!SHOOTORHE’SGONE!!

RELEASE!!!!!!”

 

The lion let out a quick cry, and then did a complete flip. I did not where or if the arrow hit. He disappeared as if Scotty had beamed him up! I heard him crash through the forest for only a few seconds, then total quiet. OK, what now? I wasn’t in any hurry to get out of my tree, so I waited the normal two hours when you are not sure where you hit the animal. I glassed and glassed, but could not see my arrow or any blood.

 

It’s 8:00 am, two hours later. “What now? I have never tracked anything that could eat me, so let’s wait two more hours.”

 

It’s 10:00am. “What now? Let’s wait two more hours. Hey, maybe a buck will wonder by. Yeah, that’s it! I’m here to hunt bucks, and getting out of my tree would scare any bucks close by. Yeah, that’s it. Wait.”

 

It’s 12:00 noon, six hours later. “What a wimp!! I gotta quit hiding in my tree and go find that cat.” So I crawl out of the safety of my tree and slink over to the spot where I shot him. I had an arrow knocked, and my glock 21 in my hip. “Which one to use first?” I’m good to 40 yards with the bow, but reloading is slow. The glock has lots of bullets, but I spend too much time with my bow, and I shoot a handgun like crap. I was really wishing I had the buttstock of my FN-FAL, 7.62x51 NATO assault rifle tucked into my shoulder pocket right now.

 

I found good blood at the spot where I shot him, but no arrow. I slinked my way along the blood trail, still trying to decide between the .45 and the bow. At about 10 yards I found the arrow. Good blood all along the shaft, but the blood stopped short of the fletches. Except for a couple of drops, the fletches are clean. What up with that??!! I followed the blood trail a little longer, and then I smelled him before I saw him. He had piled up about 50 yards away. As far as the arrow goes, it entered at an angle, and was stopped by his opposite shoulder instead of passing through. Then he must have pulled the arrow out? I have never cleaned a lion, and I was amazed at the size of his muscles and meat, his big paws, and sharp claws and teeth. After seeing this, I quit feeling like a wimp.

 

This lion was a blessing! The shooting lane was so narrow, that there is no way I could have taken him unless I was already at full draw. I think having no time to think about the shot really helped me. When I have several seconds for a shot, I get all jacked up and filled with adrenalin. Everyone is asking me, “is he big, is he big??!!” I have no clue, you tell me. As you can probably tell, I don’t know zip about lions, except that they don’t tend to hang out in one spot for very long. I would measure him now, but he’s all rolled up in the freezer. I’ll have to thaw him for G&F inspection. I hope it’s ok to refreeze him, because I going to take my time to pick a good lion taxidermist. If any of you could make a suggestion on a taxidermist who specializes in cats, please let me know.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Mark

[azryan]

Awesome job Mark! Keep up the success to your and your son

 

The deer will be thankful

[Red Rabbit]

Mark,

 

Congrats on a nice trophy and some great eating.

 

Philip Soucy is probably the best cat taxidermist. I'll send you a PM.

 

Doug~RR

[catclaw]

Wow- that's one-in-a-million, being a full-draw when it showed up!!!

 

 

[CVLCADMAN]

Congrats on that nice cat! I would have waited longer then shot it 3 more times for good measure! HAHA

[gotcoues]

Loved the story and congrats on your once in a lifetime shot!!! AWESOME

[bowhuntaz1]

What luck...Congrads on the cat!!!

[AZ402]

That's super cool!! Bigtime congrats!!

[WHALE]

GREAT STORY, GREAT SHOT, GREAT DAY

[bowhunter4life]

wooohoooo,, I'm shocked you are still able to type. I think lion fever has finally tapered a little. you deserve it. after 1000 hours in stand over the last 6 years, you were able to have a once in lifetime pay you visit.

[JMP]

It’s 8:00 am, two hours later. “What now? I have never tracked anything that could eat me, so let’s wait two more hours.”

 

This line is a classic!

 

Awesome job on the cat.

 

[GameHauler]

Thats it

You and Troy are not good but just have the best luck in the world

You know I am kidding Mark as you put more time in the field than most

and deserve all the harvests you guys have

I am very happy for you but to have the bow at full draw

God loves you

Congratulations Mark

[huntingfool]

Awesome thanks for busting that lion for us! Sounds exciting, trust me it beat working all day.

[Snapshot]

A lion with a bow, excellent!

[coues7]

Congrats Brother!!!!

 

Scott