October 17, 2007
First bow kill of the season
I lugged my little Sony Handycam along with me on a morning bowhunt on Oct. 13 in Bedford County, Va.
The hunt was quick and exciting. The footage? Let's just say I'm not going to be putting the guys at Primos or Realtree out of jobs any time soon.
But for shooting this thing myself (and also producing it, the first time I've done that) it could be worse. I hope to get a couple more deer (and some more footage) as the season progresses.
Comments
[October 22, 2007 3:47 PM]
LindseyYou gonna can any of that deer meat?
[October 22, 2007 7:28 PM]
CraigI see no sport in sitting in a tree with sophisticated equipment killing a deer as it forages. Based on the blood from its mouth and how it was in a semicircular pattern, I wonder how much pain and suffering the animal went through. If you were a REAL hunter, you would use no equipment and use your bare hands. This is equivalent to shooting wolves on a snow pack with no place to hide from a helicopter. This is not a sport. It is murder of an innocent animal. And don't bring up the argument that the deer population needs to be culled. If hunters hadn't killed off the natural predators, the deer population would be in balance today. Signed -- A Biologist
[October 23, 2007 5:26 AM]
Donnie FleetGood job Mark, Videoing a hunt with two people in a tree is tough enough, but videoing your own hunt is really tough, and can be frustrating at times. But it's awesome to be able to show the footage to everyone, and to have it to look back on years down the road. My hat's off to you for giving it a shot. Check out some of our stuff at www.outdoors365.com , and give us a shout, maybe one of us can run the camera for you sometime. And again good job, Donnie Fleet www.outdoors365.com
[October 23, 2007 9:38 AM]
Tracy Howard : →http://www.geocities.com/tracydeanhoward/main.htmlGood Shot, Mark! I've never video'd my own hunt before, but I might give it a try this year. Congratulations,
[October 23, 2007 10:08 PM]
Sam DoyleNice way to start the season. Meat in the freezer. Now I really have the fever. Great job!!
[October 24, 2007 11:02 AM]
Mark TaylorThanks for the comments Lindsey, Donnie, Sam and Tracy. Sorry for not responding sooner but I'm currently out of the state on a hunt and I've had trouble accessing the Internet. (Not that I tried. But then I turned on my laptop this morning and discovered someone near where I'm staying has unsecured wireless. I'm sitting outside to get a signal but at least it's a nice morning!)
Anyway, I always go into bow season hoping I can get a doe in October and I feel pretty good that I was able to get that done on my fourth hunt. To get it on video was satisfying, and also a learning experience.
Not canning this one, Lindsey, but I hope to try that this season. Now I just have to get another one. (Or two.)
Donnie, I've seen some of the stuff you do. Nice work. Maybe we can connect one of these days.
As for your comments, Craig, I appreciate them, too. I don't agree with them, obviously, but differing opinions help make the world interesting.
Speaking of interesting, for that out-of-state hunt I mentioned, we're hunting wolves from a helicopter. Just kidding. I don't think many hunters consider shooting wolves from 'copters "hunting." From what I understand, that's part of a sanctioned depredation effort. And I think anyone with sense realizes that and bowhunting are night and day different.
mt
[October 24, 2007 11:41 AM]
Gesy : →http://www.gondarelectronics.comNow that you saw me at the Supermarket......
Dont you think I may scare those deers..... LOL
Nancy saids Hello.....
[October 26, 2007 8:13 PM]
Flying CarsI once saw a pack of wolves take down an elk. Being a man of science and reason, I hate to differ with a biologist like Craig, but if he's implying that the pain and suffering that a natural predator inflicts is less than that of a well-placed shot, then he's wrong. Sometimes, I admit, I wish that God had designed me to kill my food in a more direct manner. Perhaps in His wisdom He would offset the suffering of my prey by blessing me with as much pleasure as any one of those wolves.
[October 29, 2007 8:07 AM]
LogbyrPoor Craig. He will be the first one to whine about a deer running out and smashing his car !!! Good job Mark
[October 29, 2007 9:45 AM]
Mark TaylorThanks for the comments, everyone.
Gesy -- Just don't let the deer see you and you'll be fine!
Flying Cars -- You're dead-on about nature, and few people of science or reason would even attempt to argue that a hunter-inflicted kill is more painful than a natural death. They might counter that we still must let nature takes its course, which I think is further justification for hunting. We are natural predators and the evolution of our tactics is natural, too.
Logbyr -- Though I still get complaints from time to time about promoting deer hunting, they are pretty rare. Those who haven't hit a deer themselves know someone who has. It's amazing how opinions change when it gets personal.
Again, thanks for taking the time to comment. And good luck to everyone this season.
mt
[November 9, 2007 2:11 PM]
EarlMark, Nice little video (I've considered doing my own), and good job on the bow kill. I also really enjoy your outdoor articles. I'm a biologist also, currently working on my PhD so we can ignore Craig. I'm sure he'd love to have a cougar in his backyard! Take care, Earl
[August 6, 2008 1:22 PM]
Tannerhey markice job on the de kill i have yet to bow hunt but this season im hopin for my first bow kill and by the way do u have any other land thatu hut on