Selfbow Songdog

Growing weary of seeing the same younger bucks each sit in the blind and most of the does had this years fawns with them, I gave my yew selfbow a nod. I figured maybe I would take one of the smaller bucks with it. There's a notion that any buck taken with a selfbow is a good buck. I wouldn't debate that.
 I've taken a couple whitetail bucks with the bow and a handful of grouse.
  Watching a group of deer in the final moments of light, I was paying particular attention to the one in the back. It was bigger and darker. However, with only minutes away from the end of legal shooting time, it was apparent they would not make their way within bow range before the end of legal shooting time.
  That sobering thought has just entered my mind when I caught sight of movement directly in front of me. It was the same coyote i had a chance at a couple days prior. 
 This time I didn't hesitate, I drew the yew bow back, picked a spot, anchored and let the string slip. I was rewarded with that satisfying thunk of steel meeting flesh . 
  Other 'yotes I have shot all had pretty large reaction to being hit. Not this fella. He just turned silently and ran. 
  I went and found the cedar arrow. Covered in bright blood. I looked and at first only saw a tuft of  clipped grey hair . Beyond that was blood. Lots of it. In my haste I left my flashlight in the blind. In the darkness it was getting hard to follow the blood. It was about 30 yards to the treeline where the yote disappeared into. I decided to follow it at least that far and mark where it entered the woods. Then, go back for my light.
  Once inside the canopy of the forest, I couldn't see any more blood.....but just beyond the little brook I could see something a little lighter color than the cut mud bank of the brook. 
  Sure enough, it was my coyote ! 
​

  Walking out to the truck I began thinking of all the "almost" bow coyotes I had a chance at. 
 I've found that the vast majority of times I get busted when drawing the bow by these keen eyes intelligent critters. 
 This evening though was just my turn to draw an ace I guess. I'm not sure when the next bow yote I get will be. 
 I know one thing, if past performance dictates future performance, it will be a few years. That's ok. I made a point to just enjoy this one to its fullest. 
 I noted the smells of the fresh cut field. I remarked to myself just how awesome the night sky was. I know fate and fortune has a way of interfering with the best laid plans. As I often do after killing any animal, I do some searching. Big stuff. Small stuff. I miss family I no longer get to hunt with. I overthink things generally.  
  Not on this night walk though...I just decided to enjoy every step of it. And I did.
Who knows when or if I'll ever get to do it again.