Wolf Creek Productions, Inc. Online Journals and Reports

The warm rays of the sun were beginning to lull me to sleep. It had been almost 48 hours since I had last slept. It was my first afternoon in France and I was already in a treestand bowhunting roe deer. My cameraman Ryan Cornish and I were taping a future episode of the Limbsaver American Archer television show. I had planned to take it easy on this first day of a scheduled 10 day trip. Rest up a bit after the 8 plus hour flight from Detroit to Frankfurt, then a 3 hour drive to our hotel in the German town of Eidenburg not far from the French border. But, I was wired up and ready to go, so my guide suggested an afternoon hunt. With that said, I grabbed my bow and arrows and off to Rexiem, France we drove.

Prior to the trip, I had been told by a hunter I met at a sport show, that I would never get a roe buck with my bow. “I’ve hunted them with a gun” he stated “you will never get near one. They are far too elusive and shy”. This stuck in my head and I recalled his words over and over again as I sat perched high in my treestand on this warm and sunny French afternoon.

Roe deer are petite, with bucks averaging 30 inches in height and seldom tipping the scales over 50 pounds live weight. They are creatures of the dense forest and are solitary in nature. Males and females alike are extremely territorial often fighting to defend small areas in which they live. Roe deer rut in June and July. Delayed implantation allows the female to be impregnated at this time but not give birth until the following spring. Because of the heat and thick foliage hunters will encounter during the mid-summer rut, May is the most popular month in which to hunt these elusive deer. It’s not unlike hunting the late October pre-rut. Roe bucks are active, both rubbing and making scrapes, just like whitetails back here in Michigan.

Just as the sun’s last rays began to disappear behind the wall of dense woods, I spotted movement along the edge of the field. Grabbing my optics I was pleased to spy a doe roe deer feeding along the edge of the forest. My stand was located some 50 yards from the forest rim in a tall oak tree. The doe began to feed in my direction moving at a steady pace, nibbling at the tall grass as she approached. Then more movement and a roe buck appeared. He began to lope in the direction of the doe. With only my naked eye I could see he was a good buck. I was no expert but had studied the SCI record book extensively before traveling the 4000 miles to bowhunt them. This enabled me to at least have some idea of what it takes to make a good roe buck.

Grabbing my Martin Razor bow I readied myself for a possible shot. The approaching buck made the doe pick up her pace and her travel course was bringing her within 20 yards of my stand.

But, as she walked past me the buck lost interest in her and stopped to rub a small bush. He continued rubbing and feeding as the doe disappeared behind me. After several tense moments the buck looked up and realizing the doe was gone began trotting towards her last position. I drew my bow as he passed in front of my treestand. Then as if on cue he stopped to itch himself. As the Carbon Express Maxima arrow passed through his boiler room, he leapt high in the air and ran into the forest instantly disappearing in the shadows.

After a quick and easy track job, I found my roe buck. He had traveled less than 70 yards after the shot, once again showing the effectiveness of a sharp broadhead. Later my guide Hubert informed me that my buck was an old deer that he aged at 7-8 years old. The buck’s antlers were very heavy with lots of pearling. Trophy roe bucks have antlers averaging 6-7 inches and a 3×3 configuration, not unlike an elk. My buck weighed 42 pounds dressed and was the heaviest deer taken so far this season. I was elated. I had taken a roe buck on the first day of my hunt. Even my guide could not believe my good fortune. He told me it takes most gun hunters 3-4 days before they even get a shot. Lady luck was sitting on my shoulder this day.

I spent the remainder of my hunt chasing boar and playing tourist. The scenery was spectacular, the cuisine awesome and the beer excellent. If you’re looking for a great off season hunt that can be combined with a vacation with the wife or family, you should consider France. It’s relatively inexpensive and traveling there is easier than getting to Alaska.