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THE Testimonials

Times this page has been viewed since created 3/17/08

We were sitting in the ground blind as the light was slowly fading into the dusks.  When I saw movement, taping Colton on the shoulder and pointing, “Deer, deer, deer” I whispered.  Colton spotted him moving our direction, and changed his position in the blind just like a seasoned vet.  As the young deer approached unaware of our presents, stopping a approximately 10 yards, I was sure Colton could make the kill.  He drew his bow to his chest, then began bobbing his head just a little, I thought he must not have a clear shot.  So, not knowing what he was seeing out his window of the blind but thinking he would have a perfect shot out mine.  I whispered softly let down and move over here.  Colton, as most of you know is only 10 and was 9 at the time of this story, did as I ask and let down.  When he did the arrow made a shhhh sound on the rest, and the deer turn on a dime ran from our sight.

Colton look at me with disappointment in his eyes.  Then, ask why didn’t you just let me shoot him Dad.  Puzzled, I said “I didn’t think you had a shot son.”  He replied, “I was just doing what you always tell me, I was making for sure that I had a gap larger enough to put my arrow through.  I leaned to look, out the window, at where there deer had stood moments before.  Colton had a perfect 6" wide by 18” tall gap to shoot through.  However, from shooting THE style event and as he said my constant coaching, he was checking for the small debris, to make sure he could cleanly kill the young 7 point buck.  I hung my head and then coached my son, on one more hunting lesson for life.  I told him almost laughing at what had just taken place.  “Yes bubba, I will take credit for costing you your first bow kill, but let this be a lesson to you.  You are the one behind the bow and you know what it is that you can see.  So, if you have the shot and I say something just shake me off and make your kill.”

I have to say even though we where both disappointed, I was so very pround of Colton, not because he listened to me, but because he was putting to practice what he hand learned because of shooting THE style events.  Where the targets are sometimes tighter and even partially obstructed, causing the shooter to have to check to see if he/she might need to make a small adjustment before releasing the shot.  I have full confidence that when he get his next chance we will be bragging of his first deer kill.  This story is prove THE is just good practice for real life hunting situations.

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This story takes place approximately 15 years ago.  And was not effected by THE, but on the other hand is one of the many reasons why it has been created.  The buck of a life time, a 14 point typical, that I chased for about 7 years in Sasakwa, OK, taught me many lessons like this one I will never forget.  I was in my early 20’s, it was a cold Late November morning.  You know the kind of day that we all enjoy watching our breath float away in the breeze.  I was watching an older doe and her last years fawns play in the small clearing about 30-40 yards in front of my stand.  When, from out of no were I heard a deep grunt coming from the timber behind my stand.

I turned my head slowly to see this monstrous buck about 30 yards deep in the brush.  All I could see was his cream colored main beams and, what I thought at the time was, countless number of tines reaching to the sky.  I was in a wooded permanent tree stand that creek a little when you moved.  My plat form was merely 24” by 24”, my seat was the limb just above that.  I slowly stood and turned at the waist to prepare to make the shot, even though I had never practiced shooting behind me before.  The buck’s attention was on the three does that were in the clearing.  He advanced, and thought perfect he is going to give me a broad side shot at about 15 yards.  All, I had to do was wait.  However, the does then saw him and ran back into the timber just on the opposite side of my tree from the buck.

Needless to say his path changed putting him at 22” yards broadside, but 180 degrees behind my stand.  I came to full draw think this is my first Pope and young buck he’s mine.  I released the shot with the pin held on the buck’s vitals, or so I thought.  I watched as the slow arrow out of my pawn shop 70’s model ProLine bow sailed just over the bucks back and shattered on the rocks.  The buck, does, and several other deer I was unaware of bolted crashing through the brush and down the side of the draw.

Granted today with my more advanced shooting skills and equipment this would not have happened.  However, I promise you this and many other form breaking shots are what I practice before I enter the woods.  It is only one of the reasons why, I now promote and allow form breaking shot to be setup at THE events it is just good practice for real life hunting situations.  My goal is to give the hunter a place to practice and improve his hunting abilities.  To make him/her more lethal in the fall or any other time of year they venture out into the woods with a bow as their chosen weapon.