So last night at fading late, I shot at a buck at about 20 yards with my bow. He kicked and ran, but only about 20 yards. He just stood there for a few minutes, and I kept expecting his legs to buckle and go down, but after 5 minutes, he was still standing. I ranged him at 43 yards, so I decided to put another arrow through his boiler room, figuring i may have missed the 20 yard shot. So I shot at 43 yards, he kicked and ran off again. I waited about 20-30 minutes and went to find my first arrow, which was dry. Clean miss. I went to find my second arrow, and it was no where to be found, but I found one leaf with a little spot of blood, so I knew I hit with my second arrow. It was almost black out by this point, so I went to look for my deer. Got about 40 yards through the woods and saw him curled up next to a fallen tree. To my surprise, he was still alive, and he ran off again. I decided it was cold enough to leave him until morning, and not keep pushing him off. This morning I went back to recover my buck, which took a little while, but I found the blood trail and it lead right to him. he was only about another 40 yards away from where I kicked him out, and maybe 80-100 yards from where I shot him. I was so excited to recover him, until I realized he was half submerged in a creek, and some other animal got a hold of him last night and tore his lower half to shreds. There wasn't really anything to recover, and I don't think I would want to have tried anyway. He was a 7 pointer, with a decent rack on one side, but the other side was deformed and somewhat small. Nothing you really want to pay to mount. Anyway, I was excited to recover my buck, but pissed that I cant use the meat. I took the antlers, called in my tag, and dumped the body in the woods for the woodland creatures to finish him off. Figure something will eat it. I've always seen them on the hunting shows leaving the game until the next day, and it always seemed fine, but I guess we have some night prowling meat eaters out there in Maryland. I gave him a good 30-40 minutes to expire, but that wasn't long enough. When i did find him, the arrow had gone in at a 45 degree angle from the ribcage up through it's vitals and out through its shoulder/chest. About as good of a shot as can be made, but that thing kept living. Next time I will give it an hour or two and keep the search going into the night. Successful hunt, but wasted meat... Thoughts??
Being a Md hunter myself it surprises me the amount of people that don't think we have animals that do this to our deer...I don't think you should be to hard yourself!!!! I think you did right realizing to back out after the 2nd time, you did what you could do.... It sounds as if the next time this should rise up that you will wait to recover !!!!! Good deal man.... Also I'm attaching a pic from late last year of a Doe I came up on when shed hunting that yotes got to in Carroll County Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
Also the comment at first wasn't geared toward you... I meant it as generalizing that most of my hunting friends (Marylanders) are shocked that we have yotes and other predators around these parts lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
Okay... last light shots are iffy at best. No criticism though. Once the deer jumped; that is an all night wait for me and I'll take my chances with the coyotes. Taking up the trail too early the first time was probably your undoing. An un-spooked mortally wounded deer will almost always lay down within 100 yards or less. As far as coyotes getting to him... you can't control that. I had it happen last night while I went to eat supper and wait a couple hours. Still not judging but couldn't you have saved the loins, shoulders and neck?
Its a bummer... think I could and would have salvaged quite a bit off that deer. From the pic he doesn't appear that tore up.
That definitely sucks and is a waste, I've let them lay, after calling in tag, after coyotes or whatever has gotten a hold of them or at most cut out the straps and left rest. Although now starting this year its illegal and you can be fined for wasting a harvested animal. So that makes it a little tougher decision, but with as many coyotes as we have running around I'm not sure what your supposed to do in that situation. I've seen some wheres there's not much left.
That's a tough one .... the only thing I think you did wrong was not try and salvage the backstraps, shoulders and neck, IF they were salvageable ....
Thanks all, the side shown is the good side for the photo. I probably could have gotten a back-strap off it, but the whole thing looked gnarly. Anyway I called my deer butcher and taxidermist and he said he thought it wasn't worth saving as it also sat submerged in a creek all night. Either way from now on Ill give it an hour or more before I recover. That would have solved everything...
None of us were there. I wouldn't eat it either if I weren't confident. I would however be careful of falling into the trap of deciding what you will do every time from now on. Every shot is different. If I see my hit and know its perfect and see or hear the crash. 15 minutes and I am going to get my deer. If I don't see or hear the crash, but think the deer could be close, I back out. Innumerable possibilities, every situation is different. Generally, there is nothing to be gained by rushing the tracking job.
I wouldnt eat it. Not worth getting sick or others invited over getting sick. I would have made a euro mount tho. Thats just me and i like them.
I wouldn't eat any deer meat that a coyote had been chewing on. That is advice from my butcher. BTW, I feel your pain. Had the same thing happen last year. Perfect shot right @ dark & waited until the next morning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
