If you are familiar with hunting in Texas you know that there is not a lot of property available for public hunting opportunities around the state.  With that said that does not mean that you cannot find some great property to hunt.  With a little research, you can find some great locations for some low cost successful archery hunting.

I did my research and located a parcel of property within 1-½ hours of my house.  Since I had not been able to break away early in the year for some heavy scouting I was just going to hunt in an area where I located some deer sign this past spring.

By daybreak I had my Wildlife Research scent pads hanging in some near by trees and was settled in my Double Bull blind watching a trail that led to a pond.  This past spring this trail was littered with deer and turkey tracks.

The morning hunt was unproductive so I decided to break down the blind and stow it in some near by brush while I did some scouting for an afternoon stand location.

I followed the trail that led to the pond.  The pond was a little low but there were tracks all around the pond.  The temperature was already rising and the weatherman was calling for a really warm afternoon (upper 80’s).  After seeing all the sign around the pond it did not take me long to figure out that this was a definite possibility for the afternoon hunt.

After making a quick pass through the area and having a close encounter with two does I was back at the pond.  The wind was coming from the north and I easily located a huge Pecan tree on the southwest side of the pond that would be perfect place to hang a stand.

This tree was on the backside of the dam and there were trails coming from some open fields right by the tree that led to the pond.  From this tree I would be able to shoot behind the dam and most of the pond.

By now it was approaching noon and I had to get moving if I wanted to hunt the pond for the afternoon hunt.  I picked up my Double Bull blind and headed back to the truck for a quick lunch and to pick up my North Starr ATA Tree Stand.

By 3 P.M. I was settled high atop the old Pecan tree looking over the pond.  My Max-1 camo made me disappear in the tree top!

Once in the tree I could see over 300 yards out in the neighboring Mesquite flats and open fields.  This spot just had that perfect feeling.

As the afternoon slowly passed by the temperature continued to climb.  I eventually lost all of my shade and began baking in the Texas sun.

There were lots of critters that came to water early in the afternoon but none of them were deer.

As the sun set and shooting time was running out, I began to think that I was not going to see a deer.  I knew that the moon the night before was almost a full moon so I was not really expecting to see a lot of deer but seeing something would be nice!

It finally got too dark to film and I was thinking about packing up and heading to the truck when I heard the doves take off from the opposite side of the pond.  I quickly looked across the pond to see what had scared the doves and to my surprise there was a doe drinking water from the pond.  I could not figure out how she slipped in on me!  I did not waste too much time pondering that thought.

I slowly grabbed my Mathews Switchback from the bow rack and clipped on my Tru Fire release.

Earlier I had ranged the other side of the pond with my Bushnell Yardage Pro Scout.  The distance to the other side of the pond was 50 yards.  This was an extremely long shot on a whitetail but the conditions were perfect.  I had practiced at this distance regularly so I was confident in my shooting abilities. 

As the deer was drinking water she was totally relaxed.  I waited until the deer was broad sided, drew my bow and placed the 50-yard pin of my Trophy Ridge Rhino sight on the does vitals.  The next thing I saw was my arrow streaking towards the doe.  Dust flew above the doe and she jumped and trotted up towards the grass at the top of the dam. 

I could not believe that I had missed!  I grunted on my grunt call and the doe responded.  She walked back down near the water as if she was going to drink again. 

As I was loading my bow for a second shot I realized what I had done.  Earlier in the day, I had ranged the dam about half way between the water and the top of the dam.  The doe was standing at the water on my shot, which would put her a lot closer, more like 45 yards.

The doe was now standing where I had ranged earlier and she was looking for the deer that had grunted to her.  I came to full draw, took a deep breath, and relaxed.  You don’t get a second shot very often and I wanted to make this one count!  I put my 50 yard pin on the vitals and sent my Wac’em tipped Carbon Express arrow on its way.  The Lumenok lit up like my arrow was on fire and I saw it disappear into the deer. 

The doe stumbled back and almost fell down like she had been hit with a .308!  She quickly regained her composure and disappeared over the tank dam.  I heard the doe running through the tall grass then all was silent.  I just knew she went down!!!!

I quickly gathered up my gear and exited my stand.  I was running out of light and I wanted to check my arrow and see what type of hit I got.  Once I located my arrow and saw all of the blood on the ground where I had hit the deer, I knew I would not have too far of a tracking job. 

By now it was pitch black outside.  I began following the blood trail and I found my doe only 50 yards behind the tank dam.  I had done it!  I scored on a whitetail deer on public land in Texas!  That was a great feeling.  Most of our hunting in Texas is done on private land or with outfitters so this was a special doe.

Once I had drug the doe back to where all of my gear was, I dug out my cell phone and called Donna to tell her the good news.  An hour later I was loading my deer into the back of the truck and heading home.  The drive home flew by as I made call after call telling all of my buddies about the nights events.  You would think I had killed a P&Y buck! 

Most public properties in Texas only allow foot traffic so you definitely have to work hard to take a deer.  This was one of the most physically demanding deer hunts that I have ever been on.  I think that is why this doe was so special.

James Ferguson

President/CEO

Bowhunting North America, LLC

This hunt was made possible in part by our sponsors:  

Mathews, Inc., Carbon Express,

The Gean-Edwards Company, Rynoskin, Trophy Ridge, North Starr Tree Stands, 

Shed Hunter Co., Fieldline, DoskoSport, Lumenok, Tru Fire Corp., Rocket Aeroheads, Quake Industries, 

Limbsaver, Bushnell, Huntin' Hoist, Wac'em Broadheads,, Beard Buster, The Beckham Group, Sure Grip Gun & Bow Racks

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