By Raymond Robinson

Booking a hunt can be a very scary process. First of all, most people don’t realize the complexity involved or have the experience to make logical decisions. There are as many choices as you want, From self-guided, semi-guided, to fully guided hunts. There are high fence & fair chase options offered to those who like the smorgasbord of available hunting trips. Personally, I like the fully guided fair chase hunts. they are the ones that appeal to me the most.

That description brings me to what I really penned this story about. Last year I was looking for a hunting trip. The previous year I went with Kentucky & Wisconsin. In Wisconsin I took a young 7 point with my bow. The previous self-guided trips allowed me to learn more about selecting pay hunts. eager to find a hunt for the 2003 season I talked to Mark about what I was looking for. As a bow hunter, I really wanted to go where the people I hunted with understood bow hunting. I was more than happy when Mark suggested Giles Island.

I had seen them on TV and knew that there were a lot of nice bucks there. But one thing about the south is the unpredictability of the weather. 80 degree days usually mean that deer don’t move much. However I believe hunting pressure and being scent free are the two other ingredients for success in spite of the temperature.

I arrived at the office at my scheduled time, walked in and introduced myself & purchased my Mississippi license, then waited for instructions. I backed my car down the boat ramp & 4 guys helped me unload my gear. After parking, we took the boat ride across the river’s loop to the Island. After a safety meeting everyone shot targets from an elevated stand. Then we were introduced to our guides and drew stand sights that were picked from the day’s wind direction.

Although excited to be here, the temperature was a hot 80 degrees that day. My guide and I walked to the tree we were going to hunt from. As we sat in the tree he got his video equipment out and we sat waiting. Hopefully I would get an opportunity to harvest a buck. About then I realized what hunting with a guide is all about.

After sitting still & watching a professional scan the woods behind me and the vast field to my far left, I was able for once in my hunting career to be somewhat relaxed. I asked my guide to explain what the pattern of the deer was and & where they had been seen. As we quietly sat discussing strategy, we came to a place where the topic got funny. Trying not to laugh out loud, we exchanged humorous topics and learned about each other. The day ended with two people becoming friends.
When we returned back to the camp, everyone huddled around the TV to get an opportunity to look at each other’s hunts. Although I had not seen anything, several others had & there were some good bucks videoed that day.

The next day we were up again early. We drew from the hat & sat out on a quest for more deer. My guide & I went to a levy and sat. as we waited, a family of raccoons came by playing & chasing each other. After a while a skunk came by browsing in search of food. As I watched the forest, I laughed again when 2 squirrels chased each other in the top of a large pecan tree, The one chasing leaped to catch a branch and missed. The thud of impact was unmistakable. I watched the squirrel pick himself up and slowly crawl away. Again nature showed me how tough animals are.
We hunted & saw nothing on both morning and evening hunts that day. But having my guide with me to talk to & explain the strategy convinced me that patience was the key & we were doing the right thing.
It seemed like every day most of the other hunters were seeing deer. The videos were remarkable. I saw 130 to 155 P&Y deer during the day in 80 degree weather. Confident my opportunity would come, my guide and I hunted two more hunts & only saw three deer.

At night we ate like kings. The chef was very skilled. We had fried venison, roasted pork loin that he had made special injection for & even had some Louisiana dishes that were unbelievable There was a pool table there and you could go on the back porch where the woods had subtle lighting and deer feeders. Planted under the trees & in the field was rye, oats & wheat. It was not unusual to see 10 to 35 deer at night, feeding undisturbed by human pressure.

I am shy by nature & sometimes spent a lot of time alone thinking, collecting my thoughts & being self excluded. As I was sitting one night, one of the guides invited me to play pool. I was impressed that he realized I was shy and took the initiative to invite me.I really appreciated him asking me to be a part of the group.

The last day of my hunt had similar results. Before leaving that morning we were invited to hunt a second time before the rifle season began (this was only for people who had not harvested a buck during the week.) My guide and I set out for the morning hunt. We got set up and waited for the first morning light.

Silently we waited until I could not take it anymore. I looked at my guide and started planning for my 2nd trip. As we joked & laughed he apologized that we had not seen as many deer as most of the group in camp. Just then he got that look. You know, the look that says, “don’t move, there is a deer behind you.” as he breathed the words to me, I got set up. There were three does at about 40 yards. With their deer management program, does were a must & taking one the last day would be great.
The deer must have been suspicious because they moved to our left.

As my guide filmed & checked the range, I poised myself for the shot. quietly I asked how far they were. “51 yards” he responded. as the release tightened the bow I placed the 35 yard pin above the backbone & directly in line with the shoulder. As if in slow motion I released the 300 carbon extreme watching it take flight. The arrow flew just inches over the deer’s back & the group bounded into the distance. Suddenly laughter broke out. “Can’t hit em if you don’t shoot at em” exclaimed my guide.
Two weeks passed & I returned to the Island.

I saw bucks every day & had other opportunities slip by. My final morning on the 2nd hunt of the other guides told me to be ready. Where we were to hunt, a big 8 point was sneaking out of the swamp edge right in front of our stand. Being tired I did not consume his insight. We arrived before daylight and got settled in, as the gray became dawn I lost focus & turned to look. Then like a ghost the 8 pointer was standing 18 yards in front of me, broadside. I froze. My guide whispered “he’s a shooter.” I waited for the buck to move. As he stepped between me & a tree, I stood & looked but could not see him. Then, almost on cue he bounded for the swamp. My heart sank & I realized the deer had beaten me.

That was one of the longest rides home that I have ever taken. It took days to get over & I spoke only to my wife as I digested the opportunity that had slipped by. As the days have gone by I look back on one of the best hunting opportunities I have ever had, Without a doubt I will return, hopefully even this year, back to Giles Island.

All happy memories in bow hunting are not the success we achieve, but mostly in the skill we are exposed to and the people we share them with