Daren Mansfield

I had bucks on camera since August this guys was on my camera A LOT. The only problem is every single picture I had was during none shooting hours, I couldn’t get a single deer on camera in daylight. I have been a hunter/ outdoors men my entire life since I was about 5, but I am a brand new “Compound Bow” hunter this is only my 2nd season sitting in a tree. So with that said, I have done a lot of homework on scent control and wind, etc. So, there it was Sept 30th the night before opener I flip the phone on and check the wind direction for the morning, of course opening day of bow season and I have one of the worst winds I could possibly have for my stand. I told myself “I’m hunting, it’s opening day” Got to my stand 1 hour before light about 6:05am I was set, secured and not moving! Just as my camera showed I had something walk right under me at about 6:30am couldn’t see what it was but I’m sure it was a deer. Morning light was striking upon my wooded area, and I hear some leaves start moving from footsteps and out pops a little 5 point (Also had on camera but nothing during the day) I thought here we go after all these years of wanting to bow hunt I’m going to finally get to seal the deal and a BUCK at that. As i grabbed my bow and debate if I’m going to draw on him, I hear it again leaves moving something walking in!! Out comes “My Buck” a nice wide 6, he comes in and the 5 and 6 point lock up antlers for about 10 seconds look at each other and the 5 point walks off. I had one clump of trees this 6 needed to clear so I could have an ethical shot. He was walking that direction, I draw my bow nose on string and my eye in the peep, he took about 5/6 more steps and gave me the perfect 19 yard shot. I let the arrow fly, solid hit and a nice donkey kick and the buck takes off. I look down on the ground and don’t see my arrow anywhere, I’m pumped at this point FIRST DEER WITH A BOW AND IT”S A SOLID BUCK! So, I climb down check for my arrow and nothing. Decided I should wait a little bit so I walked back to the truck made a couple phone calls to “Bow Hunting” buddies they told me to wait it out then head back in and look for blood mark it and start the tracking. As i went back in I found good blood about 5 yards from the shot, walked farther and farther and blood was spurting across dead trees and standing trees, found my arrow about 120 yards from my shot and about 10 yards off the field. Blood leads me right out into the field, I walked out and looked across the field with no deer to be seen. I had an open field then a cherry orchard next to that. I walked over to the cherry trees as I was waiting for a buddy to come help me and I hit the very last row and looked down and finally seen my buck laying there horns on the ground! It was an amazing feeling and a hunt that i will never ever forget ! Thank you all so very much! Ya’ll hunt hard and hunt safe !