Many of my friends have known that I've been a lot less bloodthirsty this year after my extraordinary high of my Colorado elk trip; the freezer's full, and I've simply enjoyed watching and waiting for a big boy to come by. I've also devoted quite a bit more time this year to taking my oldest boy with me, and I've had a blast getting to enjoy his company in my favorite pasttime. Last night, I took the man who gave me the gift of the outdoors -- my father. With about an hour of shooting light left last night, I was finally presented with a chip shot that I decided to take. A button buck was leading her momma from their bedding area out past me at about 15 yards directly upwind. I let the fawn stroll on by, and after taking a LONG look behind momma doe to make sure nothing else was following, I settled my pin behind her shoulder and drilled her. She slowly trotted 25 yards away, and paused. I waited for her to topple... and she slowly walked another 25 yards. Then she stretched out desperately trying to balance herself, and I thought "Just about to tip over..." Nope, she gets her legs under herself and proceeds to bed down. "Hmmm... that's not right," I thought. Then her head fell over with a hard plop. OK, better... until her fawn circled back around and she stood back up and walked over the levee of the river I was up near. Crap. Nothing else showed up, so I climbed down at last light and found my arrow. I stuck it back in the ground and backed out to meet my father and we headed home. This morning, my 7-year-old son begged to tag along with my dad and me on the recovery; I grabbed my chest waders and we headed out. We picked up blood where she'd laid down and followed it over the levee and into the water... I'm looking across the point and then I notice a brown blob up the river 50 yards or so. I throw up the binos and confirm it's her floating out in the middle (almost a stagnant chunk of water with no current). I'll show the entry and exit holes at the end of the pics; I simply can't believe she didn't crash within 50 yards of the shot site. I'd take that shot placement any day almost, but I evidently and incredibly missed the second far-side lung. You'd never guess by looking at the entrance and exit holes. Gotta say it's nice field-dressing a deer at the edge of water and with your dad helping hold the legs apart. I'm not used to such luxuries. Entrance hole: Exit hole:
Congratulations on the doe and the recovery! Now if I can only copy your recovery (hopefully w/o the water part)!
Unless I missed the hole in the other lung (and I did have the luxury of washing it clean in the river), I think I did... Didn't search for the hole for TOO awfully long though, as it was 25 degrees outside this morning and I didn't want to keep Dad and my boy waiting on me too long. Like I said, I'd take that shot placement and the resulting entrance and exit holes 10 times out of 10, and I'd have to think 9.9 times out of 10 that'd get both lungs. Weird.
Congratulation's Greg!! Great pics too!! My dad 5 years ago said the same thing when he called me and told me about his doe. He sent me pics of where It entered and exited. Never would've thunk It either with his. Nothings a slam dunk that's for sure.
Congrats Greg !!! Nothing like a day of hunting and then a day of fishing to refresh the soul. You my friend... just have different way of doing it then most !! LOL Great pictures !! Tim
You're right Greg - I'd take that shot placement everyday - glad it worked out for you and that you could have 3 generations there for the recovery...that's the best part of the story! Glad to see the thirst for blood coming back Congrats!
Greg again congrats man, love the pics, they turned out great. Pretty cool getting to spend time like that with Kids and Father to. The entry and exit on yours mirrors the next day acorn eating Doe I delt with, you know what im talking about congrats man and Rock on team 20
