A Battle With the Demons

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• Leupold Katmai 8x32 Binoculars


• Moultrie Game Spy I40 Trail Camera


• Moultrie Game Spy D40 Trail Camera


• Loggy Bayou Transformer Safety System


• Evolved Harvest ShotPlot – Premium Forage Brassicas


• Big Dog Treestands


• Summit Treestands


• Medalist Silvermax Silkweight Base Layers


• Medalist Cheyenne Pants


• Lacrosse Alpha Burly Boots

After we turned the clocks back, my archery hunts were basically limited to a couple of hours before work. One morning, I knew I wouldn’t have much time, so I opted to leave the video gear sitting at home since it usually takes an extra half hour to set up. It was the only hunt all season that I left it behind, and I knew it was mistake when I left the house.

I settled into my stand and waited for the sun to peek over the horizon. Shortly after, three shadows appeared in the thick brush below me. As the deer approached, I decided to pass on taking a shot because I figured there would be other opportunities to harvest a doe, and I really hated to shoot anything without capturing the video footage. The deer were very calm and they closed the distance to about ten yards. The largest doe continued under my stand as the other two nibbled on saplings.

The arrow as it landed below my tree; It passed through the doe and about six inches of soil.

As I watched her pass within a few yards of my tree, the demons began to torment me. They reminded me that there were only two weeks remaining in the season and I would likely never have such a good opportunity again. I resisted, remembering the faithful PSP members and how disappointed they would be. But the demons persisted, chanting about the doe being unaware of my presence and quartering away at five yards. They continued, heckling me about all of the hours I’d spent on stand without seeing a deer and the hunters who would love to have such an opportunity. I fought back, but the strain was more than I could bear.

A heavy blood trail led the way to the expired doe.

My bow came to full draw almost unconsciously and my sight pin settled behind the doe’s shoulder. In an instant the arrow was gone and so was the doe. She sprinted away, only to come to a sliding halt about 40 yards away. I looked down at the arrow standing at a steep angle in the forest floor and shook my head in disbelief. The demons had won.

The shot was good and took both lungs.

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to everyone who may be following my journals and looking forward to video clips from my hunts. I am a weak man. I hope the photos will somehow lessen your disappointment and that, in time, you might be willing to forgive me. I promise to do better in the late season….the colder weather should keep the demons at bay.