The moment of truth

The big 8-pointer had walked in, hooked a smaller buck out of his way, gave a doe and her fawn the "look" that makes them scatter, and walked around. He was big, proud, all full of himself, and was soon to be dead.

My bow was up, arrow nocked, Game Tracker string attached, and release on the bow string. I was waiting for just one thing: The Moment Of Truth.

It came two minutes later. The buck had to move and get properly positioned for a high-percentage shot. That means quartering-away or broadside to me.

The buck moved a little, and the decision had been made five minutes earlier. I was going to shoot this buck. When was a matter of how soon the buck made his fatal move.

He stood there, late afternoon sunlight glinting off his antlers as he stood motionless at 20 yards, and then his ears perked up. He made a swivel-hipped little turn to the left, and stood looking back into the woods. This small turn offered me a quartering-away shot.

The bow came back to my anchor point, both eyes were open and the red-dot sight slowly settled behind the ribs, and my finger caressed the release trigger. The arrow flew straight and true, and the buck was down after a 60-yard run.

This buck must take a few steps to open up the shoulder on this side.

I've given people this advice for many years, and will offer it again now. Don't take the shot the deer originally offers you unless if is a perfect quartering-away opportunity. Wait until the deer turns and gives you the shot that is needed to immediately kill the animal.

I listen to many hunting tales all the time. People tell me they shot at a buck at 15 yards and it jumped the string and they missed. The next guy may make a bad hit and blame it on the bow or the arrow or anything else but his lack of skills.

One might ask: isn't this a topic for just before or during archery deer season? It could be but it's appropriate now so people get into the proper frame of mind long before they hunt.

Let me set the record straight. Shooting nervous deer is never a good idea because there is no telling when they will bolt. One nervous old doe will make every nearby deer nervous.

Of major importance to hunters is this bit of advice. Any arrow that travels 180 feet per second (fps) or faster will impact an unsuspecting deer at 20 yards before the sound of the string reaches the animal.

I've seen people shooting carbon arrows at 40 pounds of draw weight, and their arrow speed far exceeds the 180 fps. My bow is set up to shoot at 55 pounds of draw weight, and my arrow speed puts a sharp broadhead and arrow shaft through the deer before it ever hears the arrow being shot. My arrow speed is about 240 feet per second.

Don't shoot at alert but "jumpy" deer. Nervous deer are hard to shoot.

A key factor here is the word to shoot at "unsuspecting" deer. Hunters who move around, and make even a faint noise, can often be detected in an elevated coop or stand. Learn to sit quietly, and always be ready for a shot. Hold your bow rather than hang it somewhere. Too much movement is required to retrieve a bow.

Many hunters miss the buck of a lifetime simply because they have a bow hanging on a hook, tree branch or someplace where they must reach for it. Often they bump the bow, it hits the wood, makes a tiny sound, and the huge buck disappears.

The best place for your bow is in your hands with the arrow nocked and on the rest, and the release already on the bow. Fumbling for a release in your pocket does little good when the Moment Of Truth arrives, and you are not fully prepared for a shot.

This buck must turn to the left to give a straight path to the heart-lungs. Never shoot a buck quartering-toward you.

Every moment of every day I hunt finds ready for the Moment Of Truth. I've already determined if a certain buck shows up, and gives me my preferred shot, I will shoot. Too many hunters wait until the deer arrives, think about it, and once they reach the proper moment, the buck has vanished faster than a politician's promises after election day.

I hunt much more than most people, and over many years, I've faced the Moment Of Truth countless times. The deer's fate is sealed once that decision has been made.

I know which bucks frequent which blinds, where they come from, and where they go when they leave, and it's easy to make a decision of shoot or don't shoot based on my advance knowledge.

Of utmost importance is to become an excellent shot, know deer anatomy, know your limitations, and have the ability to wait until the buck offers you an ideal shot. And then shoot straight and true.

Advance preparation is the secret to shooting bucks on a regular basis. Be ready at all times, know how your bow shoots, and enjoy the few moments before a shot is taken. It is that few seconds before a shot is taken when your emotions are running wild, but through it all, remain calm and take only an ideal shot.

Learn to do that, and the Moment Of Truth will tip heavily in your favor. And with plenty of practice, those missed shots and other excuses are no longer necessary.

Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors