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Post by medic22 on Oct 24, 2016 22:30:58 GMT -5
Well, as I posted in the live from the stand thread. I hunted the edge of the bean field again, but this time i was only 50 yards off the road.
As I expected, I was dead one the money where the deer would be. At about 5:30 my ADD kicked in and I started digging around in my pack for something.....first mistake. I looked up to see 3 does crossing 20 yards in front of me. By the time I got my bow, only one was in sight and I couldnt draw without getting busted, so I let her go. 45 minutes later 4 more does came through and hung out in the same spot. I wanted the big doe, but she didnt stay in view for long.
So here comes my second mistake of the night. I didnt range the doe first. Normally Ill range trees to estimate my shots before hand.....impossible on an open field. I guessed 40 yards and sent an arrow right over her back. 2 of the remaining 3 bolted. The third, which was the second largest of the group moved just a little, but enough.
I managed to range her at 38 yards and nock an arrow. She was perfectly broadside and I let it fly.
Now here is were the night went down hill. The shot looked and sounded good, i was confident in the placement. I was NOT confident with how much arrow was still hanging out. She hunched and ran through the open field and the arrow backed out about 70 yards into the run.
I backed out and called a buddy after a quick blood check in the field. Judging by the arrow there was only about 4 inches of penetration. We waited a little over an hour before prusuing into brush.
Id estimate she traveled about 250 yards before we ever found blood, but there was a lot of it......and then there wasnt. Then we would find a lot again. We went through at least 500 yards of chest high CRP when we finally lost it. Covered a majority of ground on that side of the lake and never found her.
Not sure what to think about that penetration, other than a crossbow doesnt sound so bad right now.
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Post by medic22 on Oct 24, 2016 22:34:31 GMT -5
Oh, im shooting a bear truth @ 60# with 27.5 draw length.
Carbon express piledriver hunter with 100gr slick trick grizz tricks and nocturnal nocks.
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Post by ms660 on Oct 25, 2016 0:50:59 GMT -5
Do you have any good deer trailing dog close to you. If it's dead they usually will find it. Don't give up yet I would try again in the morning.
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Post by poc on Oct 25, 2016 1:01:31 GMT -5
There's one in Jeffersonville or Clarksville... Down that way.
I want to train one, if I can ever find a dog.
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Oct 25, 2016 4:46:25 GMT -5
What color was the blood? Sounds to me like you may have hit the shoulder. No matter what I'd still go out and give it another good look before giving up.
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Post by chasingtails on Oct 25, 2016 4:58:42 GMT -5
From what your describing I would say you were bumping it. 4inch pen isn't much, she could go long ways on one lung. Would of been better to of waited longer with that being your first bow shot/hit I knew you was excited to find it. Finding a lot of blood 200+ yards away an a lot I would say she was standing or laying still.
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Post by M4Madness on Oct 25, 2016 5:16:33 GMT -5
Lots of times it is extremely hard to judge exactly where you hit with all the stuff running through your mind. With the penetration you describe, it was probably a scapula or vertebrae hit (the spine dips way low right at the shoulder). Here's a photo I found online that illustates it perfectly:  That said, you might give it a final search today in good light, and simply search ahead of the direction that the doe was heading. I've lost sign and simply pressed on in the same direction and found them. I will say that I've seen deer bleed terribly and survive. I also hit a doe one time at 12 yards and it ran a short distance and stopped. I could literally see blood pouring out and hear it hitting the leaves. I put a finishing arrow into her, and you know what? Upon field dressing, I was shocked to discover that the first arrow had NOT penetrated the thoracic cavity, but rather had passed just above the dip in the spine. It looked lower on the hide, and I'd have sworn that it was right in the ribs. Don't doubt your compound bow on the basis of this one encounter. Hang in there and give it another chance. Good luck! |
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Post by johnc911 on Oct 25, 2016 6:00:34 GMT -5
Fist year hunting archery ?
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Post by dbd870 on Oct 25, 2016 7:31:41 GMT -5
From what your describing I would say you were bumping it. 4inch pen isn't much, she could go long ways on one lung. Would of been better to of waited longer with that being your first bow shot/hit I knew you was excited to find it. Finding a lot of blood 200+ yards away an a lot I would say she was standing or laying still. Agreed. Hope you can find it this morning. |
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Post by medic22 on Oct 25, 2016 7:46:16 GMT -5
Ill try and address ever commeny without qouting everyone.
2nd year bow hunting, first hit.
The blood was bright, like arterial, somewhat frothy, and the major concentrations of blood looked more like she was coughing it up. It would be very scant for a while, then heavy, then another puddle that looked like she coughed it up. Repeat. Evidence suggests that she would slowly fill up, and the trail would be heavy, till she coughed it up, then light while she was filling back up. Make sense?
Im not aware of any blood tracking dogs within reasobale distance, but ill look into it today.
Its always possible we bumped her, but in that thick brush, we would have heard her. Next time I am going to wait longer, i started hearing to coyotes and got worried.
Im still pretty confident on the shot being a single lung. I had a very clear view of her running through the open field and could see the impact area. I was suprised that the lighted nock didnt keep my attention. I was focused only on where that broadhead hit.
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Post by medic22 on Oct 25, 2016 7:48:08 GMT -5
Last night was all the searching there was. I have to work today, and I work 24 hour shifts. I would have liked to have gone back today, but the high likelyhood of predators and spoilage wouldnt make me feel any better about the situation.
The only thing that will make me feel better now is killing coyotes when deer season is done.
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Post by dbd870 on Oct 25, 2016 7:49:21 GMT -5
Agree it sounds like a single lung. Those are tough ones; they can go a long ways.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2016 7:52:31 GMT -5
If only one lung the doe will live. I've had that happen and saw the doe with arrow the next summer fishing. As she ran across the damn the broadhead and 4-6 inches of arrow fell out. My brother was with me and could not believe it. I shot a buck and found 4 slugs in it all healed over. Probably shot the year before. They are one tough animal.
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Post by medic22 on Oct 25, 2016 7:56:28 GMT -5
One more thing to note.
As ive mentioned before, I hunt combination dwarf woods/CRP/AG.
I continue to hunt there because I like the challenge and I truly believe its the best opportunity on public land to kill 160" deer.
Ive been tossing around the idea of going back to the big woods. I think that tracking through that CRP pretty well sealed that
decision for me.
As my buddy mentioned on another forum, i think if that was an elevated shot, it would have been easier. Its difficult to get a stand higher than 8 feet out there. Where I was last night, anything other than a tripod is impossible.
This is only the second seer ive ever lost and im sure it wont be the last. Fortunately I learned a few things from it, and thats always a good thing.
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 25, 2016 8:22:45 GMT -5
That's tough...
My guess is that you hit high and maybe caught one lung. As the cut away deer photo posted by M4 shows there is a lot of nothing to kill the deer there. Just muscle and bone. That probably stopped the penetration. First blood is usually a long ways off as it takes a bit for it to run down the body. Deer can very well survive to be hunted again,even next season, from this hit.
Some hunters hit this area and swear that it was a killing shot but they must have hit the "void" or "no man's land as they call it. They erroneously believe there is a void between the lungs and the spinal column.not true.
You did everything possible to find the deer and that is very commendable. A lot of hunters would have given up and chalked it off with a "well it was just a doe".
I've blood trailed deer in CRP before and that is the toughest trailing going.
IMO - you did everything right, just the shot was off. 38 yards is getting out there.
Better luck next time but from your posts I know that your time is coming and SOON..
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Post by medic22 on Oct 28, 2016 18:33:39 GMT -5
Saw one doe tonight. Clearly nursing her front left leg. Entered the field and walked the far edge 70 yards out.
I cant be sure, but it makes me feel so much better!!!
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Post by cvawolf on Oct 28, 2016 18:41:48 GMT -5
Saw one doe tonight. Clearly nursing her front left leg. Entered the field and walked the far edge 70 yards out. I cant be sure, but it makes me feel so much better!!! Well only thing to do now is get a good clean shot on her and get her harvested before a coyote figures her out. Gun season is right around the corner if she doesn't come in bow range,good luck. |
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Post by ironjaw on Oct 28, 2016 20:13:09 GMT -5
Saw one doe tonight. Clearly nursing her front left leg. Entered the field and walked the far edge 70 yards out. I cant be sure, but it makes me feel so much better!!! Well only thing to do now is get a good clean shot on her and get her harvested before a coyote figures her out. Gun season is right around the corner if she doesn't come in bow range,good luck. Jack, is that you? |
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Post by medic22 on Oct 28, 2016 20:13:38 GMT -5
Sadly, I hunt public land and I dont own a muzzleloader. So its bow or nothing
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Post by cvawolf on Oct 28, 2016 20:15:26 GMT -5
Sadly, I hunt public land and I dont own a muzzleloader. So its bow or nothing Where about do u hunt and if your close to me you can borrow mine no problem |
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