My name is Tabbi Bulla, 44 years old, and live in Frankton, IN. I started deer hunting in 1994 with a bow. My first year I tagged 2 Doe within 1 month. Didn’t tag anything for a few years after that. I gave it up and sold everything. About 13 
years later I got remarried and started deer hunting again in 2007.
In 2007 I tagged a button-buck. Nothing more the rest of the season. Only saw maybe 5 deer in 2007. My spouse and I only hunt on public land, so hunting is a bit more discouraging and frustrating.
The 2008 and 2009 seasons were worse I didn’t tag anything. In those 2 seasons I only saw maybe 15 -20 deer, to far off to take with a bow. I was very frustrated.
I saw a new Hoyt Kobalt at Bass and Bucks, and decided I want that bow and all the new accessories to go with it. Bass and Bucks set me up. I was hoping this new purchase would lift my spirits a bit. It fits me perfect! Of course I needed new accessories. So, I went with Maxima 150′s , Slick Trick 85 gr. broadheads, and Limb Driver rest.
October arrives treestands are in place. Opening morning I hunted from 1 of my stands and saw a buck ( not enough light to try and take a shot) and a button-buck. The evening hunt I went to a different stand. I had a Buck within range but he would not give me a clear shot, there was a lot of saplings. I saw 2 Doe that evening also.
I continued to see different deer in my stand locations. I had already decided that 2010 was a great year. Just to be seeing numerous deer was a change for me.” A great feeling.”
Mid October I tagged a button-buck. It was a good feeling. I felt like the bad luck was for sure in my past. I continued to see deer just out of bow range. And I reminded myself just be patient and hang in there, “tag one more this year.” That week I went to a different stand location. I took a shot at a nice looking 8 pt. “I be darn if I didn’t hit a tree sapling and that Buck ran off”. I was mad at myself.
The weekend of Halloween was so Great. Within 30 minutes time that evening there were 6 bucks around me. I was in AWWW! But I was ansy also, because I wanted to shoot 1 of them real bad. I continued to see this Buck every now and then. I wanted him bad. I couldn’t pin point him because the rut had started and he would just show up in different spots. Opening day of shotgun season it was raining and very windy that evening. He is about 250 yards down the field running toward me, I’m thinking ” Ok this is it.” I drew my bow back, my tree is swaying, my heart is pounding, and it’s pouring rain: I gave out a loud Maaa sound, he stops, I release and to my frustration the gusty wind kicks my arrow to the right and gets him in the shoulder my broadhead barely penetrating his hide. Oh I was Devastated!! I cried. I didn’t hunt much after that.
December 11th I had made up my mind to “Get over it and get back out there.” I went to the same stand I took the shot from. I use a loc-on with climbing stick. When I got to the top stick I didn’t notice but someone had cut my lock and my ratchet strap off and I fell about 3-4 feet before catching myself. I hurt my wrist and had a sore ankle. Most of all my “Pride” was hurt. Someone had intentionally tried to hurt me. I didn’t go hunting the rest of the week. I gave my wrist a week to heal.
The morning of December 18th My Husband says ” Lets go this evening, come on.” I said “ok, let’s do it.” There was a blanket of snow and cold. My Husband the evening before saw 19 deer and tagged a nice Doe from my stand. I arrive at my stand about 2:45, instantly I start sweating and getting real nervous about climbing another tree. I check everything over real good. I started climbing, I was so scared I was shaking. I made it into my stand “I had conquered the fear and got some pride back.” I got all settled in and relaxed.
It was 18 degrees and the wind was blowing in my face. My eyes were watery and my lips were gettin irritated. But I hung in there. My Husband sat up his climber about 40 yards from me downwind,( cause I ask him to stay close to me). At 4:15 a small Doe came within 15 yds. of me, I went to draw and when I moved there was some ice on my stand that crunched, she blew and ran off. I settled back down and kept looking around. At 4:25 I saw 2 off in the distance cutting thru the woods. Then, 3 small Bucks appear staying out of range. I watched them til they disappeared in the woods behind me. At 4:45 the action starting stepping up. Out in front of me is a meadow and 1 at a time the deer started coming out. There were 10 Doe and Yearlings( maybe more) everywhere to my left. Then I saw a nice sized deer back behind all of these. I was waiting and hoping 1 of them would give me an opportunity for a shot.
At about 5:00 I noticed that the good sized deer was a Buck. I watched him browse around, of course he was staying far away. This whole time I’m saying to myself” no, no don’t go that way come over here.” He turns and starts my way. My heart starts pounding and my breathing changed, I had to get a grip and don’t screw up. My Husband is watching me and the Buck. He is in bow range, but not in the clear yet, I drew my bow and steadied it following this buck through my peep sight. When he got in the clear 30 yards away, I gave a loud Maaa, He stopped. When I released and saw my arrow fly and hit, I knew this Buck was mine. I started shaking so bad I had to set down. I look over at my Husband, he was jumping up and down in his stand. He knew it was a perfect shot.
We sat for a bit and I calmed down while watching the other deer still hanging around eating. When I got to where I shot him, there was no doubt he was gettting tagged. His adreneline pushed him about 125 yards with a perfect heart shot.
My Husband said ” there he is” I started to run and fell down. The excitement was overwhelming. When we got to him we were amazed, I didn’t realize just how nice he was when I took the shot. I tagged me a nice 8 pt. 175 lb. field dressed Buck that night.
“My Goal, My Dream” was to get 1 Wall Hanger. And, I”Gotter Dun!!!!” Can’t wait to get” My Goal, My Dream” mounted…
See ya in 2011 for hopefully another successful season!
Special Thanks To: My Loving Husband (Rick)
Thank-You To: Bass and Bucks and Hoyt for my Very Successful 2010 season!!!
admin says:
Great Story Tabbi thanks so much and I look forward to many more.
ryanboyers365outdoors says:
What an amazing story. congratulations on a super great buck!!! P.S. Im a hoyt addict ill never shoot anything else!!