NATCHEZ — Allen Pettis hadn’t been this nervous during a hunt in a long time.

A bow hunter since the 1970s, Pettis had seen his fair share of game come and go, and had capitalized on many opportunities to shoot for the kill.

But this time was different. In his line of sight was a velvet buck, the first Pettis had ever had the chance to string back and fire an arrow towards. It was Friday, Oct. 9, and Pettis had actually filmed this buck a week before, on Oct. 1.

“Knowing I had already filmed him that past Thursday, and seeing him come out, I was a little nervous,” Pettis said.

The nerves would soon be replaced with contemplation, however. Pettis, who enjoys filming his hunts, had one of two options: to follow the buck with a camcorder or immediately get ready to shoot.

“I opted to shoot,” Pettis said.

Pettis hid behind a tree for roughly 30 seconds in order to secure a 12- to 13-yard shot, he said. His bow was strung, and when the deer came back into his line of sight, Pettis hit him just above the shoulder.

“The arrow went in and got his lungs,” Pettis said. “He ran about 50 yards and then expired.”

With the nerves having completely subsided, Pettis said gratification overcame him.

“It was gratification that something happened and I didn’t think that it would,” Pettis said. “A lot of people I know that are into hunting and scouting told me it wasn’t likely I’d ever see him again after I filmed him that past Thursday.

“Where I was, it was fortunate that the area didn’t have a lot of human traffic. Deer can sense when humans have been around because we leave scents.”

Pettis hit the ground running during the 2009 bow-hunting season, which began Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 23.

“It’s been (those dates) for forever,” Pettis said. “I started archery hunting probably somewhere around 1974, and I can’t remember (the dates) being any different.”

Pettis doesn’t remember exactly why he first became interested in bow hunting, but he said he finds that it has a certain thrill to it that hunting with guns doesn’t have.

“It puts you a lot closer to the animals. With a gun, if you can see them, you can shoot them. Your best shot for archery is 30 yards inward.”

Roughly 10 years ago, Pettis began filming his hunts for his own pleasure — and to provide evidence for hunting stories if his audience didn’t believe him, he said. The most rewarding hunt to film hasn’t been his own, however. It’s been that of Chandler Warren.

Chandler Warren is the son of Ricky Warren, Pettis’ boss at Great River Chevrolet, where Chandler can often be found helping out. Chandler has what Pettis describes as a severe learning disability, but that hasn’t stopped him for pursuing one of his new passions.

“Roughly a year ago, he’d hear me talking about hunts,” Pettis said. “I started taking him to deal with food plots, and that sparked his interest (even more).”

After teaching Chandler how to use a gun, Pettis was able to accompany Chandler on the Outdoors Without Limits Youth Hunt Nov. 15, 2008. The process of allowing Chandler to take part in that hunt was somewhat lengthy, however.

“Chandler’s 22, but with his condition, he’s basically a kid,” Pettis said. “The youth hunt rules stated that you had to be 16 years old or under to be able to participate.

“We got a hold of Sen. Bob Dearing, who called (Executive Director) Sam Polles at the Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife and Fisheries. We were able to get a rule passed that allowed Chandler to hunt.”

The results were good for Chandler. With the guidance of Pettis, he shot his first deer on the youth hunt.

“That was more rewarding than any of my other hunts,” Pettis said. “Just being able to see his excitement was great. He had never had an opportunity to go anywhere like that, and I was able to teach him a few things.”

“I still need to teach him a few more things, though,” Pettis added.

Chandler said he likes learning things from Pettis.

“I enjoy it,” Chandler said. “He teaches me to be still and be quiet.”