In 2003, I decided I wanted to do more outdoors. Yes, the world of nature and animals was going to become my new second home. Heck, I decided that I’d even learn to bowhunt, as part of my efforts to “get back to the land.” And then, I did what every guy does when he comes to a decision like this: I went shopping.
If you’re going to spend a lot of time in the woods, you need good boots and socks. I mean, wet feet really aren’t going to help anyone. So I went out and picked up some L.L. Bean boots and several pairs of wool socks. I’m from Maine. Bean’s what we do out this way. And besides, I’d always wanted some of those ugly rubber-bottomed boots. As for a bow, I picked up a Hoyt second hand from my friend, Al. (Al has the distinct history with me of being the guy I sold my really expensive Gary Fisher mountain bike to for about 1/3 the cost when I decided I wasn’t into mountain biking.)
Not far from where I lived was a store that had an indoor archery range. I took my bow there, bought some target arrows, as well as several hunting arrows, a wrist guard, some camouflage clothes, some deer scent/musk stuff, some bug spray, some face netting, several other crazy things like maps of nearby bowhunting spots and the like. I shot for a few weeks upstairs and felt pretty good about my skills. That is, until my wife came to visit.
One night, my wife Kat decided to come shooting with me. I was all full of puff and excitement. I mean, I’m a pretty decent shot. Heck, I won a trophy when I was in Boy Scouts a few decades ago. She borrowed a bow from the guys at the store and took some target arrows and came upstairs with me.
And proceeded to SPANK me with how much better a shot she was than me. The guy who watched this all smiled, and said, “Women tend to be naturally better shots,” which was a secret code for, “You stink so bad, I thought you were a skunk.” (Mind you, I might have been wearing the deer musk indoors, just to get used to it.
Naturally, I realized that my shortcomings in my shooting with my wife were related to the fact that I had a second-hand Hoyt bow. I proceeded to by myself, and also Kat, new Bowtech bows. Mind you, she still shot better than me, but I could now blame this on having to get used to a new bow.
Skip a few months of pesky things like tests and applications for papers and the like, and you find me in the woods at my parents house in Fremont, New Hampshire. I’m wandering slowly and quietly down this little sliver of land they have that isn’t very wide, but that totals 15 acres. I am quiet. I am patient. I am doing everything I’ve read from the four deer hunting magazines I’ve read and the two deer hunting DVDs I picked up. In those DVDs, the guys see a deer like every five minutes, so I figure I’ll have about 30 chances to take a shot, given what I saw on the DVD (forgetting entirely about editing).
The time finally comes (a few weeks later) that I can draw on a deer. I see my chance. I hold my breath. I pull my bowstring back. I wait and wait and wait. And then I realize that I have no shot. None. I can see him. I can see where my arrow might go (if I’m suddenly magically better than I’ve been for several months). But I really don’t have a shot. There are two or three branches that might change the angle, for one thing.
I slowly let down my draw, laid down the bow, and watched the deer from my spot. He was magnificent, and I would have enjoyed bringing him home to meet the family. But I just couldn’t risk making a mess of my first time out. Whether I made the right move or not, you might feel differently. Me? I’m glad I wasn’t all that hungry.
I had plenty of jerky I’d bought when I went shopping.
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Chris Brogan blogs about non-hunting things like marketing and business communication at chrisbrogan.com.
Photo image credit: Waponi
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The skillful craft of purchasing bowhunting equipment is one that has been mastered by hunters of all skill levels, Chris. I fall into the trap annually when the new Cabela’s and LL Bean catalogs reach my mailbox each autumn. There are always new things available on those pages that I am sure will improve my chances of harvesting a trophy buck yet things sometimes work out and sometimes don’t and it’s usually not the result of the equipment either way.
Your decision to let down your draw is common and it’s the memory you harvested on that day that you’ll remembers. Perhaps another day you’ll get your chance to take a trophy.
Thanks for sharing, Chris.
It’s the “almost got a shot” moments that keep you coming back. It makes the few times that it all comes together just that much sweeter.
Learning to be a great bow hunter is definately not an overnight process. It is just like everything else in life that’s worth having…hard work: practice, practice, practice the whole process….til Wham,.. Got One…wow..that was Awsome!!! Then begin again….on the next level.
I enjoyed your story Chris. Please keep writing!
Thanks,
Julie
Great story…I really enjoyed it! Keep it up!
Chris, that wasn’t a failed attempt at hunting! You practiced, you hunted, you had the experience, you got within range of a deer, and you made the right decision not to shoot. Not risking the loss of a wounded animal is part of being an ethical hunter. I hope you’ll try hunting again! Thanks for visiting our community today.
P.S. From those of us who make a living in the outdoors industry, thanks also for following the age-old tradition of “buying your way to better hunting.”
This is a great story!
Now… if only I could get my “women are normally better shots than men” groove back I’d be in business
Congrats on getting within bow range. Not easy to do and good ethical call on letting down your draw.
I think we should start a Twitition (twitter petition, yeah its out there) to get Chris to guest blog on Jody’s column oh, say monthly!!
You’re all super nice. Thanks for the kind words. Though I’d love to swing by and blog about other outdoors failures and their related purchases, I’m so chock full of other writing to do, that this was probably going to be a one-shot deal. Jody was kind enough to give me her stage, and she was really kind to buy Mitch Joel’s great book on business, so I’m grateful for both things.
And I’m extra happy you swung by to read my little bit. : )
–Chris…
http://bit.ly/buy-ta
Thank you all and a special thanks to Chris for sharing his story!!!
It is moments like that that you will remember forever. I can remember my first draw on a deer like it was yesterday. I too let the bow down and watch the young buck trot off.
When the time is right you will know it.
Chris, great tale!
It was totally NOT a failure (to reiterate what’s already been said), both because you got out there and participated, and because you made absolutely the right choice by not taking a shot. That’s the difference between someone who “gets it” about hunting and someone who doesn’t. A Hunter would never, knowingly, take the bad shot and risk a wounded or lost animal.
It’s not the kill. It’s the process, the collection of skills, and the conscious decision to kill or not.
Aww..that sucks, but hey what an experience still, right?