Video: Hey, I Got One

Haley sits in a tree stand.

Haley

I’ve been out here since early morning. Rob is in a blind not too far away. There’s a lot of sign—hoping to see something.

Haley spots a buck walking in the distance past the tree line.

Haley

In a perfect world on the 3D target, you might be able to risk a shot. But we don’t risk wounding an animal in the imperfect world of bowhunting. Suppose you tried. Your sight is on when you release. But where does your arrow impact that walking deer by the time you get there? Oh, not good at all. Just a little too far—it’s just outside my effective range. Bowhunting is about how close you can make an effective shot, not how far you can try to make one.

A buck walks into frame just below Haley’s tree stand.

Haley

All right. It’s within our effective range. Now it’s all about waiting for the right angle. Broadside! Yep, that’s a great shot. See how this angle gives us a clear view of the vital zone and minimizes our chances of hitting big bones and muscles?

Haley draws her arrow and shoots. She watches as the buck runs away.

Haley

OK! All right. Just got a good shot. So now I’m going to text Rob to help me track, and then I’m gonna calm down, take a few minutes before I head down.

Haley texts Rob, “Got one!!!!!” She climbs down from the tree stand. Rob comes to meet her.

Haley

This is where he was. It’s good first blood. It’s been about a half an hour, and I heard him crash. So let’s follow the blood trail. And remember, be sure to mark the blood trail as you go. It may not be heavy like this one. That way, if you lose it, you can come back to where you last marked it and start searching again.

Rob

Oh yeah. Looks like a clean shot. Can’t be too far.

Haley

Looks like he stepped in mud. Gotta be right around here.

Rob

Oh, here we go. Blood on both sides of the trail here. He’s in here somewhere. Let’s see.

Haley

He’s got to be right around here. Ha! There it is. It’s easy to get excited now. But we should consider these pointers. Approach downed game from the rear, stop, watch it, and make sure it’s dead. When you’re sure, tag it according to regulations. Before field dressing, check your broadhead to see if there may be broken blades inside the animal. If so, proceed with extreme caution. Rubber gloves, a sharp knife, and buddies will help you complete the job.

Rob

Once we get this deer back to the truck, we’ll transport it out of view out of respect for the public, and then we’ll take it to a meat processor we know.

Haley

And soon we’ll be enjoying the rewards of this hunt around our dinner table. But the memories—those will last forever.