Had not hunted since Thanksgiving weekend...had a chance for a quick hunt this evening after snowball fighting with the family...so decided to go for it - I love being out in the snow! Big Buck only tonight as I only have an either sex tag left (haven't been getting out enough to justify buying another doe tag)...and I knew this cold and snow had them moving again. Things started off immediately with plenty of doe movement - was really wishing I had an extra tag...but was OK with just snapping some pics on the cell phone and enjoying the great show... Then things got interesting...while this group of 5 does were hanging out at about 25 yards (and my bow still in the holder)...I saw antlers approaching. Once I got a good look it was a nice 2yr old 8 point that I passed in Oct...so I kept cell phone ready for pics. As he was coming from cover - I noticed a limp...paying closer attention I then see an arrow protruding from his left shoulder. As he got in range I noticed he had a back foot tucked and wasn't using that leg, on top of the injured shoulder that he didn't like to put weight on either. At this point I decided I wanted to take him. As I slid phone into pocket to focus on my bow I noticed the one big doe had made me...she snorted once and all 5 does bound toward the buck and closer to no shot for me, at that moment I quickly grabbed bow and readied in my hands...as the does slowly moved away - the buck hobbled on and turned right toward my tree...at that point I knew it was meant to be. He got in to about 10 yards, slightly quartering to me, he looked up just as I was putting the pin on him. He made his dash only about 60 yards and it was all over - Man that always feels good! Here is a pic of his bum foot (and his sternum was rubbed down to skin): And a pic of another hunter's arrow that is embedded in high shoulder area(no-one that hunts with us): Might not be one of the bucks I set out for tonight...but a great hunt non-the-less. And man those suckers are tough...
Nice late season buck, congrats! But I'd be willing to bet he's a little older that 2.5, lots of mass on that big boy.
Congrats on a awesome hunt, and in the end helping that buck out. As much as I love to hunt, I hate seeing any animal suffering. He's definately a good sized 4 point.
I know they are amazing animals, but I think he was heading for infection and a terrible end. Nice job, he's a heck of a buck.
:D exactly what I was thinking!! very nice buck and congrats!! thats wild seeing the other arrow, let us know if it was stuck in the blade or just what it had hit.
Yeah, what Crick said! And was it a fixed or a mechanical? My guess is the arrow, had it passed through the shoulder blade, would have taken the top of the lungs. Looks like someone tried too long of a shot or wasn't pulling enough draw weight.
I say congratulations as well. Very nicely done. Regardless of age, ( 2.5 ), I think we all would have done the same thing. Hell I'd shot him as a healthy bruiser!
Congrats on a nice buck! Where are you at in IL that has that much snow? We got a light dusting Friday night, only snow we've had this year. Cool pics, hard to believe he hadn't pulled/broke that arrow.
Very nice late season buck! Congrats. I'm real happy you ended any suffering that buck might have been going through.
Wow, congrats to you. I can't believe the size of the deer out there. I watched a 4.5-5.5 year old yesterday that was about the same size (inches) as yours.
Nice job! I guess that poor dude just finally ran out of lives after what looks like being clipped by a car and then stuck high and too far quartering away. Nice deer, no way would he have got walking papers from me earlier in the season.
