by Kelly Sheffer

Created on: April 23, 2009

How I Shot My First Buck (With My Pants Down)

I love the fall. The weather is still warm, the bugs are almost gone, and the leaves are turning. It is a great time to be in the woods, it's bow season.

I did not grow up hunting or shooting, and my husband doesn't hunt or shoot either. So I had to teach myself everything having to do with hunting.

I have been bow hunting for about 5 years, but had never filled my tag. Opportunities had presented themselves, but I had passed on small bucks and a few does, because it was early in the season. This year I actually remembered those decisions, and decided not to pass up any decent doe or buck. In fact, just two days earlier I had seen a 4-point buck fighting with a 6-point just out of range. I decided that if either gave me a shot I would take it.

One night I was sitting in my tree stand minding my own business, enjoying the warm Michigan weather when it hit me that I had to pee. Which is not an easy thing for a woman to do in a tree stand. I stood up, looked around and saw thirty turkeys walking single file directly towards me. I didn't have a fall turkey license so all I could do was watch.

Imagine having to pee real badly and waiting for all those turkeys taking their sweet time scratching around and you know I was in agony. One even walked right under my tree stand. After about twenty minutes, they finally started to walk away. When they were about 30 yard away I just could not wait any longer. Ahhhh relief!

I have to tell you that I am a petite woman: 5 feet tall and 110 pounds. Finding hunting clothes to fit me is darned near impossible. I have to wear a pair of pants under my camo ones to keep them from falling down.

After my little break, I pulled up my first pair of pants and, as I did I noticed that 4-point buck was about fifteen yards away. I watch him, watching the turkeys. I don't have a good shot so I wait, all the while my camo pants are still circling my ankles. He finally came in broadside at 7 yard, and I shot. I saw where the arrow hit and knew it was a good hit.

I could finally pull up my pants, while I watched him go about 20 yards before loosing sight of him. I waited and after about 15 minutes I went to go look for him, I found him about fifty yards from my stand and it was indeed a perfect shot. It went through both lungs. His antlers had two broken tines that I am assuming came from the fight with the 6-pointer. He was my first buck and my first bow kill and, of course the first buck I shot with my pants down. They say you never forget your first: I will always remember mine.

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