central Florida wma success

Made it out for the 1st hunt of the year. I was a guest on a buddies tag. I took him to the same place 2 years ago on his 1st archery hunt in many years. That year he filled our limit on the 1st morning he killed his 1st buck, and his 1st doe with a bow 5 mins apart. This year I returned the favor killing 2 bucks on the 1st day of our hunt. The 1st morning I took a nice 4pt. that just appeared over my shoulder. Stuck an arrow in him, and he kept feeding on acorns for a 1 to 2 min. than ran 10 yds, and piled up. strandest thing I had ever seen after putting a hole in something.

That evening was slow till the last 1/2 hour of light saw a few deer in the distance than right before dark had a doe walk up to 5 yds, and I decide to give her a pass. Glad I did 2 mins behind her I look to where she came from only to see horns sticking out of a palmetto patch. The deer came in along the edge of a swamp full of water when he got to 35yds he stepped out into the water, and that is when I let it fly. I knew I cracked him good, but with light fading I had to get on the blood trail quick. The deer ran onto the dry ground so I was hoping for a good blood trail. When I got to my arrow it looked clean as a whistle floating in the water. It was washed clean, and quite discouraging. Just for a sec. though. I stepped up on the dry ground, and with in 10 yrds had a blood trail a blind man could follow. While standing there an animal started thrashing around in the water about a 100 yds away. When it stopped I followed the trail only to find it go into the water about knee deep. I trudged on to find my buck about 30yds in with just his rear floating his head was lodged under in some debris. Nice 7pt. I was real happy with him, and a daily double.

My buddy didn't go home empty handed he ended up with a nice doe. So we packed up, and came home with 1 1/2 days still left to hunt on the permit. Time to go grind some burger. Enjoy!