Post by jajwrigh on Nov 21, 2010 12:21:51 GMT -5
Yesterday morning I had 2 does sneak up behind me and the larger offered me a 35 yard shot. I was using my 7mm-08 Encore pistol and took the shot offhand and missed! These guns are extremely heavy for what they are and they are intended to be on a rest. Not to mention the pistol scope with long eye relief...anyways, I shoot and miss and the doe stands there and looks around. This is my 2nd miss with a handgun and I frantically reloaded another round. At this time I notice that the 2nd doe was about 20 yards away and she was definately on to me by this time. I looked back at the doe that I just missed and noticed a buck about 10 yards further away. He was facing me head on, so I steadied my cross hairs on his chest and squeezed. He ran like the wind and I noticed that his front left leg was kinda skimming the ground. He didn't look hurt, but something was not right. I watched him run and thought I heard him crash or potentially drop down into the bottoms.
20 minutes later, I got to where he was and couldn't find any sign of a hit. I could see in the leaves where I thought he went and followed the trail for 80 yards or so with no sign of a hit and no sign of the deer. By this point, I felt sick for missing twice at close range, so I continued looking around for a good period of time and gave up for the time being. I returned to the house and put the Encore up for the season and I grabbed a shotgun instead. Last night I hunted the same stand with no luck, but I was still bothered by the whole situation.
This morning, back to the same stand again and I was unable to focus because I kept replaying the shot and the deer's reaction over and over again. At 9am, I couldn't take it anymore so I began looking for the deer or a sign of the hit, again. I went about 150 yards further down into the bottoms than I did yesterday and looked back on the hill where I just came down from and noticed my buck about 20 yards to the side of where I just came down. I went back the route I came and veered over to the left and found the start of the blood trail about 20 yards from where I thought the deer ran. The blood trail was really heavy and I instantly recognized a lung hit. He had a 7mm hole in his front shoulder and "tomatoe soup" lungs to go with it.
Not a big buck by any means, but he is my first deer in the regular gun season and my first deer with one of my own handloads. I was using a 140gr Nosler Accubond, for anyone who cares. He is a 5 pointer and here are a few pictures, including one with my son. ;D
20 minutes later, I got to where he was and couldn't find any sign of a hit. I could see in the leaves where I thought he went and followed the trail for 80 yards or so with no sign of a hit and no sign of the deer. By this point, I felt sick for missing twice at close range, so I continued looking around for a good period of time and gave up for the time being. I returned to the house and put the Encore up for the season and I grabbed a shotgun instead. Last night I hunted the same stand with no luck, but I was still bothered by the whole situation.
This morning, back to the same stand again and I was unable to focus because I kept replaying the shot and the deer's reaction over and over again. At 9am, I couldn't take it anymore so I began looking for the deer or a sign of the hit, again. I went about 150 yards further down into the bottoms than I did yesterday and looked back on the hill where I just came down from and noticed my buck about 20 yards to the side of where I just came down. I went back the route I came and veered over to the left and found the start of the blood trail about 20 yards from where I thought the deer ran. The blood trail was really heavy and I instantly recognized a lung hit. He had a 7mm hole in his front shoulder and "tomatoe soup" lungs to go with it.
Not a big buck by any means, but he is my first deer in the regular gun season and my first deer with one of my own handloads. I was using a 140gr Nosler Accubond, for anyone who cares. He is a 5 pointer and here are a few pictures, including one with my son. ;D
...........turkey scout