So after having some issues with my tree stands, I started a thread a few days ago about hunting from the ground. I set up on a hedgerow on the edge of a corn field and grassy field, about 30 yards from the woods, sitting on a little stool with the wind in my face. After some rainy days and even a rainy morning, yesterday afternoon was beautiful here. I set up a little later than I wanted to, about 4:20pm. Around 5:40 I heard some rustling in the brush about 40 yards to my left. Then out popped a doe, followed by a 5 pointer. He ended up chasing her around a little bit and then right back into the woods out of the field. The rut is just about starting here so I figured I would give a few bleats and see what would happen. Sure enough about 3 minutes later I heard a stick crack, and I looked over and the same 5 pointer was standing just outside the woods, staring over where I made the call from. I waited until he put his head down to move, then when he would look I stopped. We played this game for a few minutes until I had my bow up, but not drawn. Finally he started quarting away, a perfect shot. However at this point my bow wasnt drawn. I drew back slowly and at this point, he had stopped behind a branch, hindering my shot. I anchored as best as I could to avoid fatigue and waited. He then came into a clearing but was walking entirely away from me. He then finally turned broadside again but was walking fast. I made a quiet bleat with my mouth, he stopped, and I stuck him right behind the right shoulder. The rage I was shooting from my Mathews Z7X failed to deploy properly and the arrow only penetrated about 6 inches. I watched him run down the tree line about 200 yards and disapper into the woods. I called my friend who has been helping me learn deer hunting for a few years now. He skipped his night class and helped me find him. The blood was thin along the tree line, but just into the woods, the arrow came out, and the spillage began. We found him 30 yards into the woods, across a creek, and dead as a door nail. I finally shot my first deer with a bow, and I bagged my first buck. Even though he was small it felt like a bagged a world class brute. Thank you guys for all your help, you have helped me learn so much. I also learned something new yesterday...I am switching back to muzzys :D
Congrats on your first deer! The broadhead didn't deploy properly? Are you saying it didn't open, and that resulted in poor penetration?
Great job and thanks for telling us the story. Sucks the Rage didn't open though. I switched to Muzzy's so I never have to worry about that again. Also, on the fatigue note, when practicing I hold my last shot and count down 60 sec in a mock practice just for that situation. Kind of interesting to see how accurate you are after holding a full draw for a minute+. Congrats again. I still hunting for my first Buck.
good job on the successful hunt. This is my 2nd year with the Rage 2 Blade, and it work on opening day with my doe; however, I am nervous about it not working when it counts (counts for me, not my freezer). I'll just have to learn the hard way.
Trust me on this,.... You hit the bone knuckle .... It had nothing.to do with the broadhead.... Huge congrats on your first buck!!
Congrats on your first, and welcome to the "CLUB." You're now officially going to be ADDICTED to deerhunting with a bow, and few other events in life will live up to the thrill of a successful hunt. As for the RAGE not working correctly, are you shooting enough poundage??? Too many people think they can shoot these BH's which require HIGH ENERGY, and end up disappointed. Not sure if that's the case with you or not, but I've seen/heard it MANY TIMES when that was the case. Tuning your bow to shoot a fixed BH will in the end result in your bow being BETTER TUNED anyhow, and make you feel MORE CONFIDENT in your set-up. Savor the kill, enjoy some backstraps, and if you need ideas for recipes, there are more than a few GREAT RECIPES you can find here and elsewhere for Jerky, trail bologna, snack sticks, etc....
Are you shooting the three blade or two blade Rages. I was using the three blades until I had a similar issue with it not deploying all the blades. I switched to the two blade Rage and have had no problems since. If you are shooting the threes, give the two blades a try. I think you will be happy with them. Other than that, a good shot and plenty of poundage does make a big difference. Nice job on the buck and welcome to the addiction.
I am shooting a 70lb mathews z7xtreme, 28.5 draw, and I shot clean through a bear with muzzys in early september. Also, somene mentioned hitting a bone knucle...AS FAR AS I KNOW and judging by the entrance I hit right in between two ribs. It SEEMED like a pretty easy entrance...
Well like I said the tip of the arrow hit directly between two ribs. And when I am shooting at an animals rib cage, I AM going to be hitting bone. I plan on giving them one more try and then I will see. I just still find it hard to believe that those little ribs sucked up that much KE.
That's strange, but congrats. I think I heard someone on here once say, "pics or it didn't happen". Before he posts on here, you might want to post some pictures.
You mentioned the blood trail increased substantially once the arrow came out...how was the entry wound?
