A dominant doe also known here as a bus doe, was feeding and when another doe came near her, she would fight it off. I knew that if I drew back while she was feeding, she would see me. I waited until the next time the bus doe went to fight the other one off, then I drew back and held it there. When the bus doe came back, she quartered away from me. I lined up the shot and released. I was nervous so  the arrow hit the doe in its spine, and the doe dropped on the spot, scarring off the other deer. I waited in the tree for Robert and the others to finish their hunts. 

When everyone pulled up, they were very happy for me. After a dozen pictures, handshakes and hugs, we tagged and cleaned the deer. While cleaning the deer, I noticed how well my Rocky Mountain broad head sliced the spine. Everyone thought it was funny to see my Darton bow with a red stabilizer flinging purple arrows. Who says you can't be stylish while hunting?. 

I don't think it has sunk in that I have killed my first deer. This is my first week of hunting.! It takes some people years to do it, and I pulled it off in 1 week!!!! I also saw some gobbler turkeys while I was at the point. They were in the patch of woods across from my tree stand. They had some pretty nice beards. They were too far away to shoot.  They didn't see me at all,  my Trebark Superflauge camo blended me in perfectly

Tomorrow we are leaving to go home. I can't wait to brag about my first deer!! Brian didn't see anything today. The wind wasn't in his favor at all, but tomorrow he is hunting all he can to fill his tags before he leaves. Thank you Robert for letting me stay at your house, giving me lots of support to harvest my first doe, and for waking up extra early every morning to make sure I made it in my tree stand. Thank you Brian for teaching me how to shoot and being patient about it and for getting me into the sport of bow hunting. You have really opened my eyes. Thanks to all of you readers that have kept up with the updates.
Chrissy

October 15th Morning hunt: I saw 7 deer today. 3 bucks and 2 does, a yearling and a fawn. The 7 point buck was running the other deer off. I guess it means the rut is about to start here. I even saw a younger buck bed down. "I have never been 30 yards from a bedded buck before, or doe for that matter."

The 7 point went to making rubs an marking territory with his face.  I took a shot at a doe "30 yards" and she ducked the arrow. I guess my bow is a little to loud. I am gonna silence my bow now, and then ill be ready for this evening.

Chrissy saw a Bucks and a doe, but the wind was swirling so much, hat they left the area. Time is getting short for us to head back to florida, tonight is the night!

October 14th.  From the Mouth of Brian.:
This morning I was in a high stand about 25 feet off the ground. The deer showed up almost immediately, I didn't even have time to get my face mask on. 10 deer in all were there. 2 little bucks and the rest does and yearlings.  The young Bucks were starting to chase does and the does were getting tired of it fast. For the first time I saw 2 does stand up on their hind legs and box eachother. The fighting didn't go on long, just for a minute or two, but every time that bus doe would walk near the others they would put their heads down and walk away. 

The does got tired of being chased every 5 minutes by the young bucks, so they left. 1 lone doe picked her way through the brush and I set my pin on her, aimed, and WAP!, I could have swore I got a good shot, I sat back and relaxed for about 40 minutes then I climbed down and walked over to my arrow. I expected to see some sign of a fatal hit on it, but it was clean as could be. I had just missed and hit the dirt. Ohh well better luck today I can feel it.

October 13th: Chrissy's Words: 
Evening Hunt: I was sitting at the point (where I hunted this morning), it was almost dark and 2 of the bucks from this morning walked up and scoped the area. Before i had the chance to turn my head, 3 does walked up. When one of the does turned broad side to me, I pulled my bow back, but it was too dark to see out of my peep sight so I started to let my bow down. I guess the doe I was aiming at saw me. She snorted twice and all of the deer ran off. I wish they would've come earlier so I could have had the shot. I didn't shoot because I didn't want to make a bad shot and hit her in the back or somewhere else. I hope I get another chance to kill one. In these last few days I have come to realize that bowhunting is a difficult and challenging sport. I would like to give credit to anyone who has ever killed an animal with a bow. The day was very hot. By the time the deer were supposed to come by Brian, they smelled him and snorted him. He then climbed down and went to Robert's so he wouldn't disturb them anymore. Tomorrow he is going to try his luck at the river. 
 

Morning Hunt: I got up in my tree stand at about 6:30 this morning and started to doze off when I saw a deer walk up. It was still dark so I couldn't distinguish whether it was a buck or a doe. When the sun rose, I saw that the 6 point buck (possibly Brian's buck) had been joined by 2 other 4 point bucks. After watching them, 5 does showed up.
They kept getting scared off by a cow in the area. While watching them, I had my Darton bow ready to pull back. I was so nervous and cold that I was shaking. Whenever one of the deer would look up toward me, I would try my best to be still. They were finally scared off by the honking of a vehicle in the far distance. I was upset that I didn't get anything, but the deer should be there this evening. Brian saw 4 unidentified deer. 

October 12th : 
I was sitting at the pocket today and the 6 point showed up. I was waiting for him to get calmed down so I could take some pictures to post here on the page. Well he looked down the fence line and I heard another deer coming. "A doe" I thought so I made sure I was ready to shoot and waited patiently. "  Here at Robert's the rule is it has to be an 8 point or better, or a doe, to be shootable" well im expecting a doe when.......

A huge massed 9 point walked out. I was stunned. All of a sudden I went goofy and started hyperventilating, I couldn't think straight and my arrow was having trouble staying on my rest. The group of bucks was headed my way "10 in all" and I knew that if they all got near me getting a shot at the whit horned buck was going to be impossible. 

I stood up and the little 3 point under me looked right at me and started walking off. The white horned buck looked at me, and put his head down to eat. I raised the bow, drew back and he turned broadside and looked at me. I was so caught up in the moment, shaking and nervous, so I placed my pin on the vitals, shot and BAM!!!!!  he ducked. A clean miss. He and the group ran off, but didn't snort me. So after they were out of site I climbed down so I wouldn't mess the area up any further. I tell you what, Today was an experiance. LOL pray tomorrow that I keep my head on straight and that old white horns walks by again. MAN I LOVE BOWHUNTING! 
P.S Chrissy slept in tonight and cooked dinner.  Thanks Chrissy the spaghetti was great!

This is the view from my treestand. That 6 point was right below that big branch and a little to the right. About 10 yards away.
October 11th Brian & Chrissy's words:  Chrissy hunted the tripod this morning and saw nothing. I hunted the pocket and a dandy little 6 point kept me company for about 2 hours. Turtle and Kathy left for home after lunch and then it was back into the hunting. I hunted the pocket again and Chrissy was at the tripod. Chrissy saw a doe about 60 yards in the thick brush and that nice little 6 point was at my stand again. He is quite a character, and will make a fine buck when he gets older. After about 2 hours of sitting on my worn out seat. I stood up to stretch my legs and caught a glimpse of a massive rack and heavy bodied deer about 150 yards away. Wish me luck for tomorrow.
This is my seat, see how the ants have made it a home.
 

October 11th 10:45 am: Brian & Turtle.  Today I saw a 6 point from about 7:00- 7:30. He was a young 6 and to small to shoot. Turtle saw 2 does at about 7 yards he attempted a shot but his bow squeaked. On the way back to Robert's doug saw more deer including a nice 8 point. Chrissy hunted near Robert in a tripod and saw nadda.

October 10th Brian's words.: Well after lunch we headed down to the greyhound station just to see if the luggage was maybe there, to all of our surprises it was. I was so happy. We got home and did some practicing and headed out for the afternoon hunt. I hunted the pocket and on the way in we scared a deer off. Im not sure if it was a buck or a doe I just saw a white flag and a brown streak speeding off. I sat there until dark, and saw nothing with the exception of the beautiful Texas sunset. I've been playing guitar and keeping everyone entertained. I gotta get some rest tonight, because tomorrow I hunt. Wish me luck everyone I can get my e-mail from here. Brian@Bowhunting.net

 October 8th: Chrissy and I arrived late to Robert's house because the bus had big delays. When we finally got here all of our luggage was lost, so it's on its way to Los Angeles or something and we are waking up to the first morning of hunting, with no equipment, but tomorrow Turtle is coming to get me and we are going to track my luggage down at the station. Thank You Greyhound. So hopefully I'll be able to make the evening hunt.

I hadn't been here even 5 minutes when we saw the cow that was in the gate today, this cow likes to walk under tree stand when people are hunting, so Chrissy, Robert Hoague, Don Beckwith, and myself did a little cattle rustling to get the cow back to it's home.

Then  I went to go hang my stand to hunt and the fire ants in Texas have apparently taken to the trees. I have some huge welts all over my arms and they don't feel to nice, but it's nothing a little spray can't handle.

Chrissy and I counted 26 deer today. Don Beckwith let Chrissy and I use his binoculars and we scoped the from afar. But 3 were right on top of us when we were driving to Robert's. I have a good feeling about hunting this week. Wish Chrissy and I luck guys!

Well will the saga of the lost luggage come to an abrupt end? Will Turtle find one-ness and fulfillment in his life long dream of driving Brian to the greyhound station? Tune in Tonight and find out!