We all love harvest stories and picture: Some of you probably already saw on Small Acres facebook page but helped a good friend recover a stud last night. Crazy story is this buck came in and seriously licked his tree steps at the base of the tree then was set to walk away when a even crazier thing occurred. My buddy typically clips bow hoist rope to the stand but must have not and it fell back down...well this buck got his antlers tangled in it and was getting quite frazzled. Being now or never he took a pretty severe angled shot, did not get a pass through and feared he'd not got good penetration as he said about 8 inches of arrow were sticking out as it ran away. He called me and I said sit tight back out and I'll be over...this was a great thing because it forces one to wait. Pops and his bloodhound eyes said they could come so we even waited touch longer for him. He was an absolute mess when I got there he was all antsy but so worried about the shot. I started having him walk through the shot, we measured his arrow and had him describe the arrow entrance exactly as he remembered and I knew instantly this deer was dead....all depended on if he'd actually got a hole punched barely on exit side of things if we'd have good blood. All he could remember was seeing the dreaded fletching still sticking out...but we kept discussing the shot in slow detail and he started realizing it wasn't as terrible as he'd envisioned. I didn't tell him but I prepared for a non-recovery in the dark and a morning grid search (assuming no exit hole)...the second we found blood and it was consistent I knew it was gonna be found quick...as he'd actually punched an exit hole. The whole waiting 2 hours wasn't necessary as he was so stiff when we found him and must have died minutes after the shot, but you never know. It was amazing to him as we talked through the shot, measured his arrow and began to unfold the shot in such a detailed way how we learned so much before we even started tracking the deer. Closing the eyes and visualizing the shot angle, impact and what happens after is the best way to put it all together when no arrow for evidence is found...and a great tip for anyone debating a hit and when to take up the trail. Stud of a buck and a very deserving man! All on 7 acres...Small Acre Hunting at its finest. Arrow entrance/exit: It entered about 3 inches lower than the spine and about 3 inches higher than where one would aim if ground level and broadside. Clipped top of right lung and then punched a small hole right in the armpit on the left side. Honestly, with the angle and the tighter window it creates he truly did put it in about the best case spot!
Definitely easy to over criticize your shot when you don't see them go down. Way to go for knowing how to handle it and talk him through. I know I need that from time to time. Congrats to him on a great buck!
It entered about 3 inches lower than the spine and about 3 inches higher than where one would aim if ground level and broadside. Clipped top of right lung and then punched a small hole right in the armpit on the left side. Honestly, with the angle and the tighter window it creates he truly did put it in about the best case spot!
Congrats to the hunter! Great buck! So are you saying he had it tied to the tree? Haha Makes it alot easy to shoot! Jk
I think I'm going to use a fishing pole for my pull up rope next year. If it happens to me I can just reel that sucker in
Great story and great buck!!! Congrats to your buddy, def well deserved. He shooting a recurve or is that an old Oneida? Either way, great recovery and a great buck, all on 7 acres to boot!
