10/28/2026
Dave Thomas | Western New York | 2026
53 years of bowhunting, and still finding firsts! 🦌
First strike with the Golden Brawler!!
With the season’s first major cold front moving in, I settled into my ground blind near a known bedding area. A twig snapped. Leaves rustled. Two yearling bucks came over the ridge, with a wall of antlers behind them. Game on!
The group was moving out of range until four quick grunts on my new Golden Brawler got all three bucks’ attention. The yearlings turned and passed within 10 steps. The mature buck eased back cautiously, giving me the opportunity I needed.
After 53 years of archery hunting, this hunt delivered four firsts:
Filled my tag on the first sit of the year
Shot a deer from a ground blind with a bow
Shot a deer with a crossbow
Tagged a NY buck that boasted 147 inches of antler
I may be an Old Dog, but these new tricks sure do make for one unforgettable hunt!
NOT my first buck with The Brawler, but the new Golden Brawler is officially one for one! I never head to the deer woods without it. Best grunt call out there, in my book.
