I finally got my first with a bow!

[naturegirl]

I've been hunting with a bow for a little over 3 years pig, turkey and both deer seasons every year. My persistance has finally paid off and boy was it an exciting hunt!

 

We started off on Saturday. We got into pigs around noon. The only shot that I had that day was a 51 yard head on shot on a small pig. I passed and the others never gave me a shot.

 

Day two...got into pigs again. This time I stalked while hubby and his buddy sat at the bottom of the hill with the binos and walked me in. I got close but snapped a twig on the ground and pigs went running. I had a mama and baby at 40 yards. She stood there for 2 minutes broadside and I'm thinking why can't she NOT have that baby with her. It was a bigger baby, but still a baby.

 

Day three..After less than 5 minutes of glassing hubby said "I've got pigs, but they are at the top of the mountain." Uggh, I'd been sick for the whole hunt and everyday we end up climbing the tallest mountain around (or so it seemed) but oh well I was ready to go.

 

Me and Rudy (our hunting buddy) climbed the mountain as Tom (hubby) spotted from below. We got up it as quick as we could, used the wind in our favor and boy was it windy up there. We got to the top and came in at an angle at them. We crept to about 30 yards from them and by then all but 2 were huddled under a big palo verde bedded down. Those 2 were 65+ yards and 50 is my limit. Tom was strongly encouraging us to move closer, but Rudy & I decided to wait them out because they had no clue we were there and we really wanted to both get a shot if possible.

 

After sitting there for at least 20 minutes I decided to inch my way to try to get a better shooting lane and of course for whatever reason (wind, movement, who knows) they started scattering. Rudy said a few words I won't mention, but I'm trying to tell him there are still a few just down the hill. He said "should I call?" I've never seen pigs called in before and he's never called to pigs, but had been practicing. I figured what the heck. Can't get much worse than what it was. So he's calling, which of course I find the calling process quite hilarious. It literally cracks me up. Tom's down at the bottom on the radio telling him what a good job he's doing calling and low and behold they start coming back. Rudy started calling a little too aggressively and they started turning away so Tom told him to shorten up the calls a little and I'll be damned they were coming right to us 6 or so of them lined up and on a mission.

 

Now Rudy's behind me telling me to shoot. I had no idea how far they were and I didn't have time to range them. It would have been a heck mary shot for me that I wasn't comfortable with. Buy they were closing in fast and I drew back. Now they are about 20-30 yards to my left and still moving in, but mostly behind bushes. I'd have to time it just right in between bushes cuz they were moving and moving right towards us. I could hear Rudy behind me. He had tried to knock an arrow while calling and the arrow fell out of the knock. I can't help it I wanted to laugh. It was pretty funny. Next thing they are literally straight up the hill from me and closing in at 10 yards or less. I held onto the lead pig, followed her as she was moving, and let the arrow fly. I heard a thump. Now I've never killed anything with a bow and I've actually only killed one animal before and that was a pig with a rifle at 260 yards so I'm not very experienced, but I was pretty sure I'd hit it because of the thump. Tom was on the radio saying one ran off to the left and he didn't think it ever came out. I climbed up the hill and there's my arrow covered in blood. Yep a hit! I pull out my marker I've been carring in my pocket for 3 years just waiting to use it sometime and throw it down (yes, I was quite happy to be given the opportunity to use that marker). I followed the blood and I didn't have to go far maybe 15-20 yards and there she was with frothy blood coming out of her side and she was dead. It was a perfect lung shot with no suffering.

 

We high fived, did a little hootin and hollering, and I had a smile from ear to ear. I did it! Just thought I'd share my story. I'm mighty proud of myself. I was getting pretty discouraged the night before(yeah, I can be a moody woman=one disadvantage to taking us females hunting). I just couldn't seem to close the deal on anything even though I'd get close over the years, but now I know I can do it!

[naturegirl]

[gotcoues]

Very cool! Congrats on your first archery kill

[DUG]

Congrats! Way to go.

[papa]

Very nice!

[lucky2hunt]

I'm mighty proud of myself.

Dang right! You should be!!!! I'm proud of you for holding up on the shots you were not comfortable with, then making a good shot when it counted, that's a sign of a very good hunter! Congratulations on a fantastic hunt and your first (of many to come) kill!

[tjhunt2]

Heck ya you can do it and you did. It might have taken a few years but how satisfying was that? I know how ya felt and congratulations on getting that first one under your belt. They will come much easier now because you have confidence in yoursef. That's a nice pig. Ya, I'm sure you was getting a little moody but that comes with the territory. Just kidding ya know.

 

TJ

[willhunt4coues]

Way to go...Love to see you girls out and gettin it done.

[Coach]

That is fantastic. Great story, and the picture is awesome - love the huge smile.

[Heat]

Way to go! Still trying for my first javi. Great job!

 

Nick