First things first. I love to hunt, and I also love being a girlie gal, so I fix my hair and wear earrings — the same pair every time for luck — each time I go to the woods. This is in case a photo op arrives, either a selfie or when I take a deer! My husband Daryl always hurries me out of the bathroom before we go to the woods, and he always laughs at my hunting selfies.
I’m type of gal who stands firm on the belief that girls can do what boys can — girl power — so I started bowhunting quite a few years ago to spend time with the guys in my house and prove I could do it as well as they could.
It was during my first time in the woods with my bow and my son, Josh, who’d reluctantly agreed to hunt with me, when a problem revealed itself. I’m sure Josh agreed only because he didn’t think we would see a shooter.
We hadn’t been out long before a nice 9-pointer walked in to within 20 yards of our stand.
After a whispered debate, because this was a good buck and my son was determined to take the shot, Josh conceded. Suddenly, I got buck fever! I drew back too early and couldn’t remember if I was supposed to put my mouth or nose on the string, or what the heck to do with the kisser button! In fact, I don’t remember much.
I did take a shot and — you already guessed this part — I missed. Josh didn’t get a shot either, so that buck encounter is something I’ve never lived down.
I used to wonder what people meant about getting buck fever. I thought it couldn’t be that difficult to control your emotions. Boy, was I wrong! I’ve also heard if you get the fever that bad, then you really enjoy it. After this experience, I figured I must really love bowhunting, but I also knew I wanted to redeem myself for my big miss.
For my birthday last year, Daryl gave me a new bow, but l didn’t start really practicing with it until this year. After getting comfortable with the bow and making consistently good shots, I was beginning to think this might be the year I would redeem myself.
I was already practicing to talk myself through buck fever just in case it crept up again. I was a good shot and knew what to do, but could I actually do it when the opportunity arose? That was the question I asked myself each time I went hunting.
I’d see deer and sometimes I hoped they wouldn’t come within bow range because I worried buck fever would get the best of me and I’d forget everything I knew. And that’s exactly what happened.
It was early in the season when I got the opportunity to take a buck. A good one jumped the fence 20 yards to the left of my stand, and buck fever hit as soon as I saw it. When I grabbed my bow, I immediately started to sweat and shake. I told myself not to forget to put my nose on the string, to use the kisser button and correct pin, and not to over-grip.
All of these thoughts happened in two seconds. I lifted my bow, steadied it and drew back.
“Thump!”
That’s what I heard, but I don’t remember hitting my release. I saw my arrow had made contact, but barely, and way too far back. Immediately, I felt heartbreak and couldn’t stop shaking.
Daryl was hunting fairly close, heard the hit, and saw the deer running. A few minutes later, he came to my stand. While looking up and shaking his head, he asked what happened. I told him I didn’t know because I got buck fever so bad. I climbed down and we walked to where he said he saw the arrow. When we found it, we realized it was a terrible shot and probably felt like a bee sting to the big buck.
A week went by before my husband saw that buck in the bottom with other deer. That was great news, but it didn’t help my confidence. I wondered if I would ever be able to control my buck fever and make a good shot.
We continued to hunt, and each time I whined about the walk or the weather. Once I got to the stand and relaxed, it was always the greatest part of my day. I never had a hunt where I didn’t see a deer, so the season was going well, and I was having fun.
I pulled back a few times on bucks but wasn’t confident enough to take the shot. Daryl and I talked about why I couldn’t control my nerves, and he always gave me a pep talk. Still, every time we headed to the woods, I had the same “poor pitiful me; I can’t do it” attitude.
After work on Oct. 17, he persuaded me to go hunting with him, but I was still whining and pouting and ready to give up bowhunting. I almost wore a different pair of earrings to see if that would change my attitude. We made it to the woods, and once I got into my stand, I relaxed and decided I was going to enjoy it.
Birds were everywhere, squirrels were jumping, and a few cows were on the upper ridge. No deer were moving, and I thought it would be the night I wouldn’t see anything. Then, I heard a thump near the fenceline. It was a big buck walking away, leisurely heading to the back of the farm.
I told myself I wouldn’t see him again that night. About 15 minutes later, though, I heard deer directly behind me. I looked back and saw a buck. It was a nice 10-pointer, so I got my bow ready and, again, buck fever set in.
The buck walked directly under my stand, so I couldn’t get a shot. Three does came out to the right, and then a second buck walked under my stand. I couldn’t get a shot at any of them.
About 30 minutes went by before I noticed a buck standing about 40 yards out to my left. He was checking everything before he proceeded into the draw.
I still had my bow in my lap, but I had taken off my gloves and pulled down my facemask. My hands started sweating and shaking, and my heart was beating too fast. The buck stood in one spot for a few seconds then snorted and walked about 20 yards from me broadside.
It was the perfect shot opportunity! I couldn’t pass this up!
After a deep breath and one last positive thought about my girl power, I went through each step in my mind while physically doing it. Nose on the string, use the kisser button, use the peep, 20-yard pin, don’t over-grip, steady the bow, stay in the shot and breathe. I was ready. I pulled my release.
I waited to hear the thump before moving. Then, I put my bow to the side and saw my nock lit up. It was a good shot — a darned good shot!
I watched and listened as the buck took off toward the fenceline. I could barely concentrate with my heart beating so hard and my body shaking. I was so excited, I had to call Daryl to tell him. Do you know how hard it is to get your cell phone out of your pocket while you’re shaking that much? I struggled to get the words out and told my husband, “I think he’s down!”
He asked if I shot one, and when I said yes, he asked, “Are you sure you made a good shot?”
At that moment, doubt set in. I started questioning everything. While I waited for Daryl to get to my stand, I replayed the shot in my head, along with where the arrow hit. I was still shaking and trying to catch my breath, and so excited that I left my quiver hanging in the tree.
We waited a little bit, talking about what happened, and then Daryl headed out on the tracking journey. He’s such a sweetheart. He followed the blood trail for quite a while before deciding we should come back the next day. Although he said he thought it was a good shot, I was getting worried again.
The next day, Daryl called with good news. “You killed one heck of a deer!”
I asked him more than once if he was fibbing, because he does that stuff to me. “No,” he said. “Change your clothes and I’ll be there to get you.”
On the way up the hill, he asked if I knew how big the deer was. Of course, I had no idea. I don’t even remember how it all happened. I was just trying to make the shot.
After we reached the buck, I jumped up and down and did the happy dance! My husband told me this buck was one of the big 10-pointers he had his eye on, and that he was proud of me. Since then, he’s told me he didn’t think I would get a big one, so that’s why he always sent me to the stand while he went to another one.
Looking back, I still don’t know how I controlled buck fever enough to take the shot, and I still don’t know exactly what happened. I’m just thankful it worked out. If I wasn’t totally convinced buck fever existed, I am now. I’m also 100 percent hooked on bowhunting. It’s the ultimate rush and the most exciting experience ever!