Ixe2x80x99ve written extensively about my exciting lifetime of projectile management and the ever-loving mystical flight of the arrow, and all these 70 years later such passions run stronger than ever.
Say HALLELUJAH!
My daily archery/bowhunting practice sessions are serious business, certainly always outrageous fun, but quite honestly, life-and-death serious.
My job, moral obligation and duty as a bowhunter is to kill swiftly, so accurate shot placement is as serious as it comes.
Again, my Morrell 3D targets are set from 20 to 50 yards with my big, round, National Field Archery Association Olympic bullseye target right at 60 yards. Every target has a 1- to 2-inch square of dayglow orange tape deadcenter on the vitals and bullseye where my very being is focused like a laser tractor beam that owns my soul every arrow launch.
My shot sequence includes a dedicated mantra of, xe2x80x9cright hand, left hand, orange square, not yet,xe2x80x9d as trigger pressure increases and I am virtually consumed with owning the airspace between me and the orange square.
The greatest archers in the world (of which I am not one) universally agree that virtual archery is a 90-99 percent mental game.
It is true and I agree.
My psychological obsession with the little orange square provides a matter-over-mind moment to definitively imprint my shot sequence in a powerfully inescapable procedure every arrow.
As I climbed aboard my deep-swamp ambush perch on the magical day of Halloween 2018, I was, to put it mildly, cocked, locked and oh so ready to rock doc!
SpiritWild VidCamDude Ethan Wiskur was equally prepared for another long evening vigil, and we were thrilled and stimulated as always with the nonstop wildlife activity that such mystical ground provides.
We experienced every imaginable indigenous wildlife throughout the evening, except for white-tailed deer.
Mercy! It was Halloween day for goodness sakes, so where were the deer?
With dusk settling in all around our swampland paradise, I caught movement way off in the tangles of my puckerbrush fen. With Bushnell confirmation, the second deer was a horse of a buck trailing a randy doe heading northeast on a mission, but way out there.
I barely whispered “shooter” as Ethan and I stealthily rose and swiveled 180 degrees. My rangefinder found a beachball-size hole at 61 yards just a few yards ahead of the duo, and within short seconds of seeing the deer I was at fulldraw, weaving my 60-yard pin into the peep on my Mathews right onto that hole.
The buckxe2x80x99s head nosed into that small opening and I let out a pretty loud doe bleat.
By the hand of God the buckxe2x80x99s chest centered and halted in that hole as my auto-pilot archery brain went through a quick right hand, left hand, orange square moment.
The 400-grain Gold Tip arrow was launched, arching beautifully across the expanse and then punched hard into the huge buckxe2x80x99s upper chest with a resounding and lovely THWACK!
And down goes Frazer!
Thank God it all unfolded so quickly, thereby not giving me any time whatsoever to think about it.
I immediately launched a second arrow, which also found its mark and Ethan and I looked at each other speechless and wild-eyed at the miracle of such a long arrow shot.
The recovery of this old swamp monarch on SpiritWild video says it all with shock, dismay, joy, happiness and deep spiritual satisfaction that all of my serious daily practice had paid off with such an amazing reward.
The beast was simply stunning!
At least 6-1/2 years old weighing in at nearly 275 pounds, the Roman-nosed swampdonkey was a hulking sight to behold, and Ixe2x80x99m certain the recovery footage will need some serious editing since the TV show recovery alone canxe2x80x99t go on for longer than an hour!
My happiness meter was pegged once again and all I can tell you is that longrange archery is a definite realty with the right hardcore, dedicated practice.
This was my second Michigan open-range whitetail for 2018, the first one on October 20 at 50 yards, and now a Halloween beast at 60 yards.
Good grief!
Aim small miss small but practice big!
Find that exacting, infinitesimal shot sequence that pays off at various distances and practice in such a way to completely imprint it deep into your psyche and soul.
Goodluck and may your bowhunting happiness meter be pegged often.
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Ted Nugent xe2x80x93 xe2x80x9cThe Music Made Me Do Itxe2x80x9d (Official Music Video)
With more than 40 million albums sold, rock legend Ted Nugent is equally well known as the nationxe2x80x99s most outspoken proponent of our 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, conducting thousands of pro-gun, pro-freedom, pro-American interviews in major media worldwide. Nugent is a New York Times best-selling author whose works include Ted, White & Blue xe2x80x94The Nugent Manifesto; God, Guns & Rock xe2x80x98nxe2x80x99 Roll and Kill It & Grill It.This year, his award-winning Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild TV show celebrates its 500th episode! For all things Nuge, visit www.tednugent.com