Doug Crabtree -  2004
Doug Crabtee's List Of Articles & Bowhunts

Bowhunting With Old Friends
At the end of October 2004 in Ohio and I drove south to hunt with Tim Dobbins and his son Morgan on their land near Jackson Ohio where I was raised. Tim and I use to hunt allot together before Morgan was old enough and haven't hunted together for years. 

After a 3-½ hour drive on Friday evening I arrived at the Dobbins just in time for some good old fashion home cooking. Tim wife Beth has a way with food that only the taste buds could explain. After dinner Tim filled me in on the deer sign in the area and we made plans for the next day. 

We decided to scout Saturday and find the best location for deer and turkey and for the double bull blind. This would be a great way for Tim, Morgan and I to all hunt together without being detected by deer or turkey. There was a lot of sign right behind the house in a little grassy area, which was surrounded by honeysuckle and green briars. 
 

There were a few small trees along the edge, which would be a great spot to brush the blind in and at the same time put the wind in our favor. We returned to the house to get the blind and pruning tools need to clear shooting lanes and brush the blind in. We were side tracked by a late breakfast, which Beth had prepared. Once again only your taste buds could describe the omelet she prepared. 

Around 11:00 pm Morgan and I walked back and put the blind in place, cleared some shooting lanes and headed back to the house to shoot our bows. Morgan had just received a new bow from Mom and Dad and needed a little fine-tuning. It wasn't long till Morgan was putting arrows out of his PSE bow in a nice group at 15 yards. The 40-pound bow would be pushing Easton arrows and Rocket fixed blade 125-grain broad heads. 

At 4 pm Morgan and I walked to the blind for the evening hunt. Tim decided to hunt another stand where he had been seeing a nice buck but if things went right I would capture it all on film. At 5:00 pm we heard noise coming up the old log road towards the opening. 

A nice 8-point was coming right at the blind and had not detected anything. He was just 6 yards away but facing us. Morgan could see the buck through the pro staff window but couldn't take the shot due to the angle and green briars. The buck was feeding right at us.

Just as the buck started to come into the opening and Morgan preparing to draw the buck smelled us and bolted away. I guess at 3 yards even if the wind is in your favor they can still smell you. 

20 minutes later I spotted 2 deer coming at use from out of the brush. It was a spike and a button buck. It only took them about 5 minutes to arrive broad side at 8 yards. Morgan drew his PSE bow and quickly released the arrow. The arrow missed high and went rattling down through the brush. 

Morgan was shaking his head and said, "I blew it". 

I told him that he hadn't even reached his anchor point and released the arrow. He agreed and said he didn't even know what pin he had on the deer. At dark we went back to the house and gave a full report to his dad and watched the video. 

Now there are a few things you should know about the gang I hunt with, we have some rules that we all follow. When you miss a deer all of your hunting buddies in camp get to shot at the hat you were wearing when you missed at the distance you missed the animal. 

Morgan was a champion and placed his hat on the target and took his medicine. Afterwards he saidm "you guys won't have the chance to shoot my hat again because I going to make sure I pick a spot and take my time." 

The next morning found Tim, Morgan and I in the blind before daylight. While we awaited any action I gave Morgan some advise on picking a spot. 

Morgan is 13 and a very good golfer. Good enough to that I don't want to play him. I told him to imagine that there was a golf ball right behind the shoulder ant put the sight pin on the golf ball. 

He said, "I could hit a golf ball." 

Around 8:00 we heard movement in the leaves. By the sound I knew it was a flock of turkeys about 80 yards away. I reached in my pocket and pulled out my Woodhaven Signuture series diaphragm call and started soft clucking, immediately a response from a hen. They were on their way and closing fast. 

Morgan said, "where do I aim at." 

I said, "just aim at the head that way you kill it or clean miss it." 

The turkeys came into the opening and walked towards use. I continued to call with soft clucks and purrs to assure the turkeys that everything was ok. 

Finally they were just 5 yards away when Morgan drew his bow and released the arrow. I couldn't believe what happened next, the turkey went straight down and started flopping towards the blind. Morgan had hit the turkey right in the neck. 

I unzipped the blind and reached out and pulled it inside the blind !!! 

After some high fives and pats on the back we put Morgan’s tag on his first turkey ever. Now if watching a 13 year old harvest his first turkey with a bow was not enough to get you excited you won't believe what happened next. 

A was deer was walking straight at us. 

Morgan quickly knocked another arrow. The doe stopped broad side at 6 yards, Morgan drew the bow and whispered "golf ball" and released the arrow. The arrow was perfect and went through both lungs. 

The doe only went 80 yards and was down for the count. What a day for anyone -- let alone a 13-year-old boy. His first turkey and first deer of his life and he did it with a bow. 

It still gives me chills when I think about it. The rest of the day we took pictures and watched the video. Tim and I didn't even want to hunt, just watch the video over and over. This had been a great weekend for all of use and what a way to spend time bow hunting with old friends. It will never be forgotten.

Now it is time to start thinking about Ohio Whitetails and fall wild turkeys. Stay tuned to Bowhunting.net and check my Home Page to find out what we're after next. Doug.

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