Both my early archery season and gun season ended the same for me: without much fanfare. Yes, I saw deer. During the archery season I passed on some bucks like we all do, but I didn’t even see a buck during the gun season. So in both cases I ended up with tag stew. Going through two seasons without firing a shot wasn’t the worst thing to happen because I still had the last chance season, more commonly known at the muzzleloader season.   

I will get to that season in a bit but before I do, I have to tell you a story that happened near the Rush Creek Recreation Area, not Rush River, because there’s a big difference. The year was 1978 and I was just a kid. For reference, to get to Rush Creek just hop on the Mississippi River and paddle about 140 miles downstream. Rush Creek will be on your left.

Earlier that fall I had purchased my very first bow: a Jennings Super TII. With arrows and other archery necessities it set me back about $175. Back then, if you had camouflage clothing it was because you knew someone in the military. It would be two more years before Tree Bark camouflage would hit the market.

Up to that point in my hunting career I had bagged a couple of does and even a buck but those were all taken with a firearm during the gun seasons. Because it was my first season hunting with a bow and given my inexperience, every deer I saw was reason for my heart to beat as if it was going to jump out of my chest. I was trophy hunting which is to say that I was looking to bag my first deer. I didn’t care if I got a buck or a doe because it was going to be my trophy in either case.

So there I was, hunting in Rush Creek full of youth, inexperience and enthusiasm. The first deer that walked by was the one that I was going to be shooting. A deer came walking in from my left, stopped and stood motionless. As for me, I was shaking like crazy. Somehow I pulled my bow back without giving away my position and a second later I was releasing my very first arrow. I heard the hit and watched the deer run off.  

The high of shooting my first deer with a bow didn’t last long. I looked for that deer for two days before calling off the search. My hunting spirit was crushed.

Fast forward 46 years. About a week ago I returned to Rush Creek and ended up sitting a mile or so away from the exact spot where I shot at my first deer with a bow. This time, instead of a bow, I had a muzzleloader in hand with the hope that it would be a redemption hunt.  

To be continued.

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