First Crossbow Kill - Ohio
Jimmy and his first crossbow kill.
Hunter: Jimmy Fouts
Cameraman: Dave Wozniak
It was October 4, 2008, one week into archery deer season in Ohio when I got my first whitetail deer with a crossbow. I have been hunting with guns for ten years, but just began crossbow hunting two years ago and have had nothing but bad luck. This year was different, mainly because over the past couple years, I have learned much more about deer hunting than I learned in all of the previous years combined. I attribute the success I had on October 4, 2008 to my good friend David Wozniak (aka Woz), who was filming the hunt that day. Over the past two years, Woz has spent a lot of time teaching me about hunting and giving me tips. Well it finally paid off!
On Friday evening Woz told me he wanted me to hunt morning and evening on the following day, which was uncharacteristic of what he and I normally do. Usually we rotate between hunter and camera person. So the next morning we hunted a spot where one week earlier, on opening day, we had some action. To make a long story short, we had more action and blew an opportunity on a mature doe, never even getting a shot, though she walked past us broadside less than ten yards away.
That afternoon we went to a spot where Woz and his sister had hunted the day before and had seen a 135” 8-point and some does and fawns. When we got to the spot we loaded up all the gear and had about a 300-yard walk to the tree stand. Once we got there, Woz was first up the tree. He had just gotten locked in with his Hunter Safety System harness when two guys on a 4-wheeler drove past less than 100-yards away, then headed right into the main bedding area and parked. They were hunting on the adjoining property. At this point I had not climbed up the tree yet, and I was very discouraged. I was thinking to myself that all of the deer in the area were certainly spooked and that it was pointless to hunt that spot. We stayed and as I climbed the tree Woz told me to climb slowly, as he had just seen a nice buck enter the field we were hunting, about 200-yards away. I eased my way up the tree and got settled in.
My attitude changed in a hurry. We never saw that buck again, but almost immediately, out came a mature doe with 3 fawns. They were about 70-yards in front of us, feeding on soybeans. While I was watching them, I saw movement to my right, and much to my surprise appeared another mature doe with more fawns, only 50-yards away. I decided that if I had an opportunity I would take her. She was feeding 50-yards in front of me for about 10 minutes, which seemed like an eternity. Eventually she dropped down over the hill and out of sight. I thought my evening was over until suddenly she appeared again, this time coming within 25 yards of us. She then paused and looked up at us. I had no clear shot and she was quartering towards us. At that moment it was as if she read the script and walked broadside in front of me at 25 yards. Once she was in my shooting lane I put the cross hairs on her and fired.
The TenPoint crossbow sent the arrow toward her with great accuracy and passed through her. I was pretty sure I made a good shot but Woz was positive I had made a good shot. I was extremely excited at this point and wanted to go get her right away, but I knew I had to wait. While waiting, we heard coyotes yipping from the direction she had run. I was worried they had found her. My worries were eased when we found her untouched.