By Kelli Corbin

-- Well, my story is different than most hunting stories. This is my first year to bowhunt and just the second year I have hunted. I live in a little town called Baldwin, which is close to Jacksonville, Fla.

My husband, Ron, took me to Bertie County, N.C., for my first bowhunt during September 2007. The first morning I saw nothing, but was still excited over the deer sign I saw around the treestand. I decided that I wanted to return to the same stand for the afternoon hunt. I was settled in around 4:30 p.m. and immediately had 10 deer in front of me ranging from fawns to spikes. They fed all afternoon.
 
I kept hearing this loud stomping and grunting noise behind me. Since I'm new to this, I was trying to figure out exactly what that noise was. I remained as still as possible and decided not to take a doe in case a big buck was near.

About 7:30 p.m., the buck appeared about 15 yards away. I thought my heart was down in my feet, but I was still breathing. I drew back the bow and remembered to lock in on my anchor points from my many months of practice.

I took a deep breath and gently squeezed my release. The arrow hit its mark. I remembered to watch where the buck ran to and I did just that. I hooted like an owl for my husband and his friend. They knew something was up and arrived to see me sitting in the treestand.

I showed them where I believed the buck entered the woods. Flashlight in hand, my husband shined the light over near a log and there was my buck. I couldn't believe it.

I can honestly say this is a buck of a lifetime, and I am hooked.

Kelli Corbin
Baldwin, Florida 

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