First Buck with a Bow on Opening Day

This buck really puts into perspective the journey I have had with deer hunting.
A buddy of mine from Nash county took me hunting about 15 years ago. Prior to this day, I had never been hunting in my life. I was not expecting to see anything but at last light a buck came out and I harvested my first deer. The feeling was unexplainable and from that day on I was ruined. The last 15 years have been full of ups and downs. Zigging when I needed to zag and not executing at times. There were so many great moments and so many bad ones. It’s all part of hunting and it has been an amazing journey.
God has a way of putting the right people in your life and an opportunity came up that I couldn’t pass. I ended up getting my first lease in 2024 for the 2025 season. I have struggled trying to find land to hunt for the last 15 years. I was able to scrape up a few spots in Pitt county but these were very small blocks of woods with hunters all around me. Trying to grow mature bucks has been a big struggle. This opportunity was a chance of a lifetime.
Fast forwards to the week before opening day of bow season and all my target bucks have disappeared. A buck I named Nico was the only one daylighting. So on opening day I decided to go after him in the evening. All the mistakes I’ve made in the past helped me execute. Nico walked out at 7:38 and my heart was thumping out of my chest and I watched him for 15 minutes quartering towards me. When this buck got perfectly broad side. I let the arrow fly and I totally blacked out. I don’t remember anchoring, I don’t remember lining up the peep sight. I don’t remember if I punched it or pulled through my shot. You can practice all you want but when there’s a buck in front of you all that practice completely goes out the window. I didn’t even know if I hit him but he did mule kick and I heard a crash.
This was my first buck with a bow and it was exactly like all the tv shows I grew up watching. It was absolutely thrilling. I immediately got the shakes and all I wanted to do is check my arrow. Texted my buddy and he told me to stay put until he gets there. 30 minutes later and it turns out my arrow zipped right through him exactly where I was aiming and there was blood everywhere. The g5 Megameat is absolutely devastating and this buck didn’t go 30 yards.
I felt like I needed to tell this story because I had so many years I wanted to give it up due to frustrating situations. The neighbor shooting everything that walks or the neighbor that wants to ride four wheelers right at dusk. I could go on and on about all the dumb things I have experienced hunting.
I’m here to tell you dreams really do come true and this dream may be small to most but to me it was a miracle. To all the hunters struggling with whatever you got going on. Keep giving it your all. It’s a journey not a race, enjoy it. You will learn so much about yourself in those woods.
I want to thank my buddy from Nash county that started this obsession and my buddy that God sent to give me this opportunity. I am truly thankful for all the people that helped me along the way. We live in odd times, thank God for the great outdoors!!