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Hi everyone! In the final Bowyer's Journal Winter 08 magazine, George Tsoukalas wrote a story about "The Trail to My First Deer"... his first traditional big game harvest. I encouraged other veteran hunters to share their success stories with the readership. I have received several stories from readers relating the circumstances behind their first trad success. Even if you don't want to write a lengthy essay on taking your first traditional harvest, maybe you'd share a brief anecdote about your experience.

Although I shot arrows from my recurve at gophers, starlings, pigeons and carp in my youth, my first "big game" trad success came after years of hunting successfully with a compound bow. About 15 years ago, I saw the light and returned to traditional archery. I made my own TD recurve and crafted my own cedars and took a little basket-rack nine-point from a tree stand overlooking a connecting trail between a nasty spruce/tamarack swamp and an aspen clear-cut. Later that season, I also harvested a nice doe. I still enjoy hunting with that bow... it fits me pretty well. Tom

Hello. I also took many deer with compounds over the years. I finally returned to traditional tackle during the spring of 2007.
I bought a kodiak magnum and practiced as much as possible. I felt extremely confident when the bow season opened here in Pa. I hunted the entire early season without a shot until the last day. He was an absolute monster. He was running a doe and she brought him right by me. I grunted him to a stop at 8 yards! I never picked a spot and blew an arrow about 2 feet over his back.
I still had the late season. So I practiced more. Well on Jan. 5th I got another chance. A much smaller buck but still a nice one. He was pushing a doe also. I got him stopped at 22 yards. I put a perfect double lung shot on him. He was a nice in my book 9 point.

I am still waiting for the first trade harvest big game.
Will try this fall for deer and bear.
After 9 yrs of points, received my kill permit for Wisconsin bear, plus a 7 yr wait and surgery befor that.(Long story).....

Looking for any Wisconsin zone A help for my first bear and kill.
Tim
DEATHMASTER

I began hunting with a green fiberglass Shakespere recurve at age 10. I missed a lot of deer and at 16 I started hunting with the compound contraption. I killed 2 deer and then returned to the longbow and recurve and killed a 4pt. with an Asbell Bighorn recurve.

I've taken many deer and bear with my Checkmate recurve but this winter I built three of my own bows. I hope to harvest some game wiyh these. Starting with turkey this weekend. Turkey hunting is pretty new in my area of British Columbia and Ive never tried. I get two new thrills at the same time. Lucky me. Both will be challenging but thats why we bowhunt.