Tom you have my deepest sympathy. For a hunter there's nothing more guts grinding then these types of situations. I hope you still find him as he can survive a little longer on one lung. I’d start looking around water sources.
If you just can't find it, then it's time to let go of it. Don't let it ruin your season brother. I couldn't find a Tom that I shot this Spring. I searched and searched and searched. It's OK.
Here is a frame from the video of the lighted nock. It is deceiving because it looks like the arrow is headed behind the shoulder. The arrow actually went in behind the ribs and is angled toward the off leg. This is what I consider quartering away hard but I believe is a lethal shot. If it was turned more I would not shoot though. I still think I should have got more penetration and killed that buck quickly.
I did get back this morning for my last hunt before heading home and was lucky enough to have this doe come out before we climbed out of the stand.
Honestly Tom i would have taken that shoot but i would have put my pin on the last rib. For a hard quatering shot it looks to far forward. But on that note i know crap happens and we never get the perfect shot that we really want. At least you never quit. Sent from my LG-E739 using Tapatalk 2
Congrats on the doe! Sorry to hear the recovery wasn't as successful as we all had hoped. Been there done that, doesn't matter of the size of the deer, they all suck. That image if the lighted knock can be deceiving without video, camera angle doesn't show the true trajectory on the shot.
congrats on the doe! sorry to hear about your buck, its something we all try to avoid, but at least you are the type of hunter to exhaust every effort to find a wounded animal. I would have taken the shot as well and didnt see anything wrong with it, other than the unfortunate outcome. Good luck the rest of the season, hope you stick a slob.
I would take that shot... I've never lost a deer to a quartering away shot. Though, admittedly, that shot is a little steep. The light should have been right above the opposite leg. Looks a tad forward. Just My opinion. Either way, whats done is done and now we all know about the risks behind that shot. Thanks for the post OP. I'm sorry you couldn't find him.
It looks like you are to the left of the camera and the arrow still has a ways to go before reaching the deer. I'd have taken the shot and not lost a moments sleep to the online naysayers. I never posted this story for this reason alone. I lost a bear this spring in Alaska (first animal ever, it was tough and I looked for the remainder of the trip since I was done hunting by law), big enough to go B&C at that. Perfectly broadside at 30 yards but hit a few inches high in the backbone.
Congrats on the doe Tom. Judging from the alignment of the front and rear legs, (and the down head position) the buck articulated his torso at a fairly hard angle to the right. IMHO, you would be eating buck soup if the torso was in normal alignment with the legs.
here is a perfect example for bruce. this was a 42 yard shot she was standing where the star is and this is zoomed all the way in on my phone entry hole behind the short rib exit hole So again hell yes I would take a hard quartering shot
That stinks Tom. For me that is definately a shot I would have taken. You did every thing in your power to find the deer. It's a tough pill to swallow, but your already back in the saddle. Congrats on a fine looking doe
Congrats on the doe. Huh? Here is pics of entry and exit hole on a hard quartering away. Lots of vitals still in path even if I am off my mark a little...probably more room for error than direct broadside... Quarter to...shoulder in the way...quarter away..even hard away...lots of exposed vitals...just my opinion..granted we should all only take shots we are comfortable with...I was very comfortable with this one and will take again if given the opportunity. entry exit
Congrats on the doe! To Michael and JackFlap, two good shots, and like I said, I have taken it before, but did not have good blood trails. Each hit seems to bring a different blood trail result, but was curious how your trails were. It could have been freak incidents in my case, but when hunting around swamps and thick CRP I am not real comfortable taking the shot for fear of losing the deer.
Way To Bounce Back Buddy! Honestly that's what it's all about, If every hunt ended the way we wanted it to, it wouldn't be the rush we all love. Being able to bounce back after a not-so-perfect ending is the other, harder half of the battle. Nice Doe!
As you can see, I had a complete pass through and exit hole. A good blood trail and about a 90 yard recovery.
Thanks for the info. I was not trying to stir the pot, but was sincere in wanting to know your experiences with the blood trail following the shot. That being said, the buck in question appeared to offer a "solid" shot that I would have taken too. Bad luck happens sometimes. Thanks again for the input.
