Whirlwind of a season

Well, the 2011 Archery Season is upon us.  Opening weekend was decent...pretty cool with a slight breeze.  I was lucky enough to take a big doe opening morning.  I followed that up with my second hunt of the year on Monday, the 3rd.  I took my biggest bow kill to date, a big 11 pointer.  I haven't hunted since, due to work and the horrible heat and high winds we've been having as of late.  I am going to get after it again this weekend.  A cold front is moving through on thursday and after the rain ends, it should be some really good hunting, possibly the best of the short season thus far if the winds don't pick up too much.  This season is a tough one for me as I lost my nephew, best friend, and hunting partner, Tyler Potts just a few short months ago.  He was on his motorcycle and was killed by a senseless, incompetent driver that never bothered to look before she turned into oncoming traffic.  After it happened, I wasn't sure I could ever hunt again without him.  As time went on, I quickly realized that I needed bowhunting more than anything because it was what Tyler and I loved to do together.  We lived for it.  As the season drew closer, I wanted nothing more than to get out in the woods in order to hopefully start the healing process.  I knew it was going to be a crazy season for me because of the bond Tyler and I had with the great outdoors.  I wasn't disappointed...2 hunts...2 deer on the ground, including my best bow buck ever.  I know in my heart that Tyler had a hand in delivering those deer to me.  It was like they were reading a script.  I have several trailcam pics of the buck that I took and when I first saw him on film, I made the choice to go after that buck alone on this property.  Both arrows were perfectly placed and  neither deer made it more than 50 yards after the shot.  Both were a very emotional experience for me.  Normally Tyler would have been right there beside me jumping and yelling, but instead I had to soak it all in alone.  I hope the rest of the season is as crazy as the start.  I can't wait to get back after it this weekend!