Fred Eichler is a well-known traditional bowhunter, TV host and an outfitter (click here to learn about his business, Full Draw Outfitters). In the 5-minute Facebook video below, Eichler is sitting in a portable treestand overlooking a stock tank, and of course, game animals will visit the tank for a drink, too.
Eichler is in southeast Colorado, and it appears to have been a dry fall to this point in the deer season; nothing is green. Such conditions increase the odds of a close-range encounter at a water source. After a muley doe and two fawns visit the water, Eichler spots a monster buck approaching with four more antlerless deer.
Remember, Eichler is shooting a recurve; he can’t draw in advance and wait for the correct shot angle. Instead, he must draw and shoot within a few seconds, which means he risks being spotted by one or more fawns or does.
Luckily for him, more antlerless deer are approaching (you won’t see them in the video), which causes the big buck and the four other deer at the water to turn their heads at times and watch. Finally, the buck steps away from the tank, and as one of the fawns scoots to the right, Eichler has a brief window of opportunity to draw his recurve without being spotted, and he pounces immediately.
Eichler’s Muzzy-tipped Easton traditional arrow strikes the buck in the lungs, but as you’ll see, it doesn’t exit the big-bodied muley. In fact, I don’t think it penetrates the hide on the opposite side. Nevertheless, the arrow certainly did its job because the buck’s death run lasts only 16 seconds. Instead of following a blood trail, Eichler can simply walk (run!) to his prize.
It’s clear that a buck of this magnitude wasn’t expected by Eichler. Yes, he gets excited after punching a tag, regardless of species or animal size, but it’s rare to see him overwhelmed as he is here. Eichler loves meat more than antlers, and with a recurve, he often takes the first high-percentage shot he gets on a buck or bull, and this time it just worked out that the first one turned out to be the mule deer king.
P.S. For best viewing, click “enter fullscreen” and turn up the volume.
