When the 2026 bow season rolled around, I was privileged to sit in a tree stand and harvest a big game animal. As more of a rifle hunter, I tend to like spotting and stalking more than sitting and waiting (I don't sit still very well!). For bow hunting, we decided to set up a tree stand for me to sit in. We decided it would be a big advantage to set it up early so the deer would get comfortable with it.
About a week later, I was freezing my butt off sitting 25 feet off the ground waiting for a deer or the unsuspecting bear to walk thirty yards away from me. Unfortunately, no bears or deer walked past me in the 12 to 14 hours I sat there, which kinda stunk. I did see a couple of deer but only one buck, and he was too small to shoot - at least for the moment.
A couple of days later we came back and stayed the night so we could get up in the tree stand a little earlier. Dad dropped me off, then went back for Esther, which turned out to be him going back to sleep for another hour and a half…
Although that trip was unsuccessful, we planned to come back.
When we came back, my hopes weren’t as high as when we came the first time. Nevertheless, I got up in my tree stand and waited for about six hours.
Have you ever fallen asleep in a tree stand? If you do, I would make sure to clip your harness first…
I was on the brink of falling asleep when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a coyote run up to 45 yards and stop. Having never harvested a coyote before, I put a broadhead right through his chest. He ran about 20 yards and fell over and died. I almost fell out of my treestand to try and get to him! I took some pictures and carried him back to my treestand to wait for anything else to walk by.
About a half-hour later, I started to see deer come out to feed. The little buck from the first trip stood perfectly broadside at thirty yards. It was too easy not to resist. I slowly drew my bow, settled the thirty-yard pin behind his shoulder, and let fly. He ran about a hundred yards, fell over, and died. I almost jumped out of my tree stand to get down to him! I was a little excited, if you couldn't tell.
I got a few pictures while Dad and Esther were on their way over, then we gutted him and dragged him out. While this was not what some people would call a trophy buck, he's my first bow buck. I was more than happy with him.
My first bow buck and my first coyote in one night; I think that's a two-for-one combo!
- Enoch Larsson