“We call it the ‘Poison Apple Tree’ because when a deer comes there, it often dies,” said my host with a soft chuckle. With a steady rain falling, I welcomed a covered blind for the afternoon hunt, and the location with naturally falling apples and a spooky name intrigued me. “We are using Ram Blinds for the first time, and I think you will like them.”
Ram Blinds
Bruce purchased four blinds over the summer and set them up in places of historic deer traffic. He hosts a family hunt each fall with numerous children who are hunting for the first time, and I quickly learned that these enclosed structures are ideal for hunting, stealth, and comfort. Ram Blinds are made from plastic with a non-reflective finish, allowing them to blend seamlessly into their surroundings. Notice the seam in the above picture, which is where the two pieces of a clamshell design bolt together, allowing the blind to nest one side inside the other. The round blind features tinted windows in all directions that open and close silently, secured with small levers that operate with equal stealth. Bruce had removed all of the leaves under the blind, so the floor was silent, and had a chair with an adjustable height for maximum comfort and shooting acumen. Additionally, the blinds are tall, allowing easy drawing with a compound or a canted long bow.
An Evening Opportunity
“No deer came to feed under the tree this morning, so they will most certainly show up this evening,” Bruce told me after explaining the history of the Poison Apple Tree. Rain was still falling, so I headed to the blind at the top of a ridge around 4:00 for the evening hunt. This was my first experience in the Ram blind, and the 360-degree visibility was impressive. The tinted windows kept movement completely concealed, and it was refreshing to sit comfortably while watching the rain fall outside.
Defeating the Wind
Ground blinds are very comfortable and ideal for videoing a hunt. As I gazed out at the panoramic view of my surroundings, I wished I had brought a small tripod to record the hunt. Even with the tint on the window, vision was excellent, and I could move a camera in complete concealment. The wind direction was favorable for this hunt, and I kept one window open and my Barnett crossbow set on a Final Rest tripod facing the apple tree. However, if the wind shifted, I could close the window and slowly open it for a shot. Scent containment is a significant benefit of blinds like the Ram, which can effectively seat two or three hunters.
6 O’clock Action
Thanks to the panoramic view, I saw a large doe moving toward the apple tree, had the safety off, and launched an arrow as soon as the deer entered the scope picture. I aimed just behind the shoulder at the crease on the broadside shot, and the arrow may not have made a noticeable sound upon impact. The range was 20ish yards, and the rested shot should have been a slam dunk.
Meticulous Tracking
The apple tree was among several maples that had just lost their leaves. Although there was a lot of “red” on the leaves, I quickly learned that this was a natural leaf coloration, rather than blood. I called a friend who joined me as we needed to find the deer before the rain ruined the blood trail, assuming that I had hit the animal. A downside of shooting a crossbow from a blind is finding the arrow. This doe was standing on the crest of a ridge, and the pass-through arrow probably went 100 yards or more and may have stuck in the top of a tree. After the shot, the deer ran over the ridge, so there was no sight picture of its escape. Eventually, the circling and careful scrutiny of the leaves turned up blood and an escape trail. Approaching carefully, the big doe was down about 100 yards down the steep bank.
Wild and Wonderful Weekend
The mature doe capped off a great weekend in the mountains of West Virginia. Their season opens the last weekend of September each year and is an ideal time to combine hunting excitement with mountain splendor. Hunting and licensing information can be found at www.WVDNR.gov and you will find tons of fun festivals and events on the tourism website at www.WVTourism.com.
Check and Double Check
I checked the scope setting before leaving for this trip and found the broadhead-tipped shaft dead on at 20 yards. I ensured the attachment mounts were tight to prevent any scope movement. Both animals expired with high-lung hits that were not the intended point of aim, which disturbed me. After careful examination, I found that there was a second attachment screw on the scope mount, and it required a complete half turn to tighten, which likely caused my impact to be slightly off target. No doubt, the massive wound channel of the Grim Reaper Whitetail Special greatly aided the retrieval from less-than-perfect shot placement.