I wasn't going to post this here (I posted in my team thread and on the BHOD Facebook page), but I figured it's worth sharing if only for the lesson learned. I've made my fair share of mistakes hunting over the last 20 years, and while I hope to learn from each mistake, I still slip from time to time. Luckily, this wasn't one of those times. This past Saturday, at 7:45 in the morning, I made a sub par shot on this buck for no reason other than being hasty and not properly executing the shot sequence. I stayed in the stand for over 2hrs before getting down to inspect my arrow. All fat and no blood led me to believe it was a brisket hit (along with the white hair at the impact site). I just happened to look up from my arrow and see a deer bedded on a bench down the ridge. I couldn't make out the head very well through the brush, but I could see it had antlers. I decided to back out. I came back at 2:30, and found that bed empty with dried blood and signs of him struggling getting up. I ended up making concentric circles outward trying to find blood but to no avail. Then, I just happened upon him not 40yds from the first bed in some very thick briars and autumn olive. He was still alive and looking at me...downwind. He didn't budge. I then had to decide whether to attempt sneaking in for a finishing shot and risk pushing or back out. I decided I didn't want to risk it, and so I backed out once again. My intention at this point was to wait over night and come back at first light since all signs pointed toward a gut shot. However, the temps were warm and we had a significant front pushing through with all day and all night rains forecasted. After speaking with friends of mine, I returned at 8:00 with my father armed with lights. We ended up finding him dead in the bed I left him in. I'm not proud of the shot I made, and I'm also extremely frustrated that a deer had to suffer as it did, but in the end, it could have been worse. The lesson here is one that is preached over and over and often unheeded (I'm guilty of it as well). When in doubt, wait and back out. I was able to recover this deer and save all of the meat, so that in itself was a success. The rest of this is on me to fix in the future. Happy hunting everyone.
Great buck and Great advice. We’ve all been there and your shared experience will hopefully help someone in the same predicament sometime. Thanks for sharing Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Nice buck! Great decision man. You are turning into an annual killing machine my friend. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Congrats on the buck and thanks for sharing the story Matt! I was surprised at a few of the comments and heat I took online regarding backing out on the buck I shot on opening day for the show. Seems a lot of people still think it's unnecessary and/or unethical. I've been fortunate to have learned on a LOT of blood trails including several with a close friend that runs a tracking dog for NY's Deer Search, Inc program with several hundreds of recoveries under his belt. Everyone I know that has really studied recovering deer in detail says the same thing. Back out if there is any question. They will still be dead in the morning if they died quickly.
Glad to see it worked for you man. Beautiful buck. Thanks for posting your story. I'm sure it will help everyone to remember that backing out is always the best choice.
Congrats on the harvest and your patience! A lot of guys would not have been able to hold off like that especially after seeing him. I honestly don't know if I would have been able to. Thanks for sharing!
Good stuff. When in doubt back out. So simple so effective yet so difficult for many. Shot my buck on Saturday. My Daughter and I thought it was back a little. We had good blood on the arrow. Backed out. Came back the next morning and followed a great blood trail to my buck. Even when they fall in sight. I take my stuff back to the truck and wait. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks everyone. I honestly don’t think this would have had the same ending had I hopped out of the stand right away. He wasn’t bedded 30yds from the shot and he may have weakened a lot in those two hours I stayed in stand.
