Dixie Bowmen Archery Club

&

Virginia Traditional Bowhunters Assoc.

Prince George, VA

2009 - 10 Hunting Photos

The bear I killed was 250 Lbs, I shot him at 6 feet charging me.It was very exciting. I was using my Black Widow PSAX 45Lbs @ 28.The bear turned 180 degrees and expired about 35 yards from where I shot him.After taking care of my bear i decided to go deer hunting that same evening and i shot my first Traditional whitetail a cow horn. Pictures of my deer did'nt turn out.

Austin's bear was 165Lbs. Even though his bear was shot with a gun he was very excited. That was his 1st time bear hunting and i think he is hooked. I dont think he is ready to tackle bears with a bow yet.This bear tried to charge us, we were running behind him after Austin shot him and all of a sudden the bear stoped and turned on us we were about 10 feet from him at that point with 1 shell left in the gun. Austin stayed calm and made the last shell count.

It was just about time to climb down. I had taken my release and arm guard off and strapped them around the limb and riser of my bow where I always keep them. I looked over my left shoulder to get my pull up rope to lower my bow down and I saw this guy coming through the thicket behind me in my direction. I scrambled to get my velcro release and arm guard off as fast and quietly as possible and get an arrow nocked. I managed to get my release on and put the arm guard in my pocket and nock and arrow just in time to turn over my right shoulder and see him at 10 yards. I turned around so I could draw and he spooked and ran another 10 yards but stopped at 20 yards broadside. I let it fly and heard that familiar thump and he took off running. It was totally dark by the time I got my stuff together and got out of the tree. I followed blood until it left our property about 80 yards away and decided to come back and search the cutover this morning. After a tough search I finally found him and he had gone about another 80 yards from where I had stopped the night before.

Donnie Whites buck taken with ML.

Owen Welch.

I took my son Owen hunting November 7th on a farm in Prince George county. We were sitting in a box blind over looking a food plot and a freshly cut bean field.
We saw a huge 8 pointer at 4:20 pm but he was just past Owen's effective range with his muzzle loader. We watched him in the binoculars until he faded into the woods.
At 4:45  we saw another deer come out and feed in the bean field, it was a seven pointer. He too was just outside of Owen's range. I tried calling to him but he had no interest as he walked back into the woods.
 At 5:15 we saw another buck, a 4 pointer. He entered the bean field in the same place where the 7 pointer had been. While he fed through the beans toward us, Owen had his gun on the deer looking at him through the scope. He kept asking me,
"how far is he now dad?"
 I kept saying, "not yet he's too far."
"How far?"
"125 yards."
"how bout' now?"
"115 yards, I'll let you know when he's in range."
 
Around 5:20 I noticed another deer coming out of the woods behind the 4 pointer, it was the 7 pointer from earlier. We watched the two deer feed in the beans towards us for the next 10 minutes. As they both came into Owen's range of 100 yards, I asked Owen which one he wanted to take. I was pleasantly surprised when he said "the 4 pointer,  he's closer".  I was proud of him for making that decision since it was going to be a long shot on either of them. I told him to be patient and wait since they were still walking towards us.  I made a soft grunt to see if the 7 pointer would come in a little closer.  It worked but he stopped at 90 yards. We were running out of shooting light, so I figured this was gonna be  it. Owen already had the gun on him when I asked him,
"Owen, are you on him"
"yes" he said.
Then I asked him, "are the cross hairs moving around at all"
"No, Rock Solid Dad".
I grunted softly once more to hold the deer's attention then put my binoculars on the deer and told Owen "When you are ready, squeeze the trigger".
When I heard the BOOM,  the inside of the box blind lit up from the flash of the muzzle loader. I saw the deer mule kick as he took off. As the smoke was clearing, we could see the deer fall into the field about 50 yards from where he was shot.another cool thing, while we were walking out to see the deer a shooting star blazed halfway across the sky. Owen said "Someone up there was looking out for me tonight!"
 
I am very proud of my 11 year old son for the maturity he has shown. He is committed to practicing before heading to the woods just as he did this spring with his 20 gauge before he killed his first turkey, he has been shooting his T/C Encore muzzle loader on the range. I had him loaded with 70 grains of Black Horn 209 powder and a Precision Rifle Bullets all lead Extreme Elite HP 240 grain hollow point. The recoil is light and he has an effective range of 100 yards. The kid can shoot! He proved it with this 90 yard quartering to shot. The bullet placement was perfect, entering the top of the shoulder!
 
This deer sported a beautiful seven point 15 1/2" wide rack. We took the deer to a local processor and I asked him to weigh the deer before processing it. I'm guessing the deer will weigh in about 175+ pounds. He's a HOG! A great first deer and an evening he and I will remember for years to come.
.

Wes Nestor's Thanksgiving day buck!

he wide 6pt. was Thanksgiving morning.  About ten after 9 I heard a buck grunt 2 times. I caught a glimpse of him when he came out of the pines.  But
he headed away from me. I tried grunt call a couple of times but he had no interest & I could see him walking away further, no clear shot.  About 2 minutes later I heard something coming from that direction.  Got ready, but it was a doe...then I saw him behind her chasing. He got within 30 yards
before I fired 30-06. Happy Thansgiving!  6pts. 22&3/4inside spread. Wide!!

The 8pt. was exactly 1 week later (Donnie's b-day)  About 4:30 he came walking down a trail straight towards me.  I didn't have any cover in my treestand for the direction he was coming.  But I was able to get the rifle up & pointed in the right direction by the time was 20 yards away!!  Shot
him with 30-06 as well.  8pts 19&1/4inches inside. If I had any idea these deer would have come into these ranges I would have loved to have been
hunting with my bow. But it was nice not having to do any tracking...like when Regina shoots!!!

Wes Nestor and his backyard buck!

This was on April 18th 2009. At age 10, Owen shot his first turkey with his Mossberg super bantam 20 gauge at 23 yards with a load of #6 heavi shot. The bird weighed 19 lbs. and 10 ozs. Had an 8" beard and a pair of 1" spurs.

November 6th
1st one a small 6 point was walking along the edge of a bean fiel and I shot him with the bow at 15 yards, my first BOW kill. He ran out into the field 50 yards, turned around and looked at me and fell over.

Bishop Knott and his excellent November!

November 11
2nd deer is a 147 lb. 6 point 16" spread walking along the same field, infact I shot him with the bow within 5 to 10 feet of the first deer. He ran about 80 yards up the field and fell over.

November 26
3rd deer was shot with shot gun, 9 points 17 3/4 inch spread 155 lbs (est). I was in another stand on edge of wheat field and he steped out at 15 yards when I shot him and he fell 20 yards from the stand.

Dave Bartholomew

6 point buck... 11-19-09, at 8:23. Crow Creek longbow (66", 47# @ 28") 14 yard shot... 40 yard recovery

8 point 18 yard shot  15 Nov 09   MK-85 muzzleloader.

Ron Shakespeare with his Chesterfield 8 pointer.