1St Bowhunt In Over 20 Years

[countryred]

Howdy gang,....This fall I am going to give bowhunting a try on our property in Shannon county near the Jacks Fork. We have 10 acres of thick brush that has a few trails and rubs. We have had a game camera out since March and see that deer are showing up to the mineral block almost every day. They arent much on size, mostly does with a little 5 point also. We also had a small group of turkeys in a pic so I know they pass by. I built a small natural blind from cedars and pines about 10 yards from the trail.

I used to bow hunt hard up here in northeast mo as a teenager and young adult. My dad and I had some awesome places to hunt and seen alot of nice deer. We got a few and then I got into tournament bass fishing real hard and slowly gave up the sport. Dad stayed after it until his health started catching up with him. He was always more interested in turkeys more than deer, but never took a turkey archery style. I have no idea how many he got with a shotgun...maybe 50 plus? We both had some near misses, I came home with a handful of tail feathers once that I sliced off a hen with a wasp broadhead.

Dad passed away in February, he had been going down hill in the fall and they found the cancer in early December. He got to stay at home and didnt have to go to a nursing home or a hospital, which was his wish. He was a barber by trade but loved the outdoors. He loved to fish and hunt. He could kick my butt crappie fishing almost every time. He was a state champion turkey caller too, I think back in 79. Dad killed a turkey with a band on its leg, one of the first turkeys relased in Monroe County. He also killed a buck with a radio collar. It was captured up here near Deer ridge and he killed it near Mark Twain Lake. That little 7 point did a lot of traveling that fall.

I have Dad's last bow, it isn't much but means alot to me. Its a Hoyt Raider , 60 lbs at a 29" draw. It has regular wheels instead of those fancy cam ones that everyone uses now days. Its fixed up with some pin sights and I found some old tabs, For the new guys ,,, tabs are what we used before releases. I picked up some 100 gr Muzzys at Bass Pro last week. .This week I am going to the archery shop, see if it needs a new string and pick up about a half dozen arrows. Sizes??

My goal is to bag a deer and maybe even a turkey this fall with dad's bow. He never got to see our new place and future retirement spot. But in some way, I think Dad will be right there with me, and his old bow, teaching me and helping me, like he always did.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Best of luck. Sorry to hear about your dad, glad to hear he got to pass at home. I believe as you, he will be with you. I have not shot anything with a bow besides targets and backstops, can't be of any help in that area. Practice before you go out, you lose a lot just in one year,not to mmention 20.

[REDSOXWSCHAMP]

good luck, practice, practice, practice

[countryred]

Thanks guys, I'll practice all I can. Arrow shopping today.