Tonight I grunted in "Casper"...the deer I've been after since last year. He materialized at 60 yards and I turn my body away and grunt one more time. He's looking for the "other" buck and starts coming closer. Tore a tree up and started scraping the ground. Guess he was showing his dominance. He comes at 20-25 yards quartering away just a hair and I aim for the "crease" (which I never do). I always like to aim a little farther back. Anyway, the arrow hits him and must have hit the opposite shoulder. He takes off with the arrow still sticking out. Didn't look like great penetration either. I listened for a crash but just heard him run over the ridge and then God knows where. Climbed down at dark and inched to the POI. Found a hair and marked the spot with a paper towel. Didn't see any blood which didn't surprise me. When I first shot him...I immediately thought too high...if there is such a thing. I mean if I hit the spine he would have dropped. I'm not sure how much flesh is above the spine but the arrow should have passed through if it was above that. Tried replaying the shot back but its just a blur. I hope I didn't hit the closest shoulder blade or my chances are very slim. I already feel like I'm not going to find him...how can I be optimistic when I know i made a bad shot. I have a buddy meeting me in the AM to look for him. Wish us luck! I'll need it.
you did good with backing out. If you hit the far shoulder, he's dead. Hopefully you hit were you think you did
Yeah...thats the thing. I mean I watched him run away with the arrow him in but I have a hard time "seeing" where I hit him. Its a blur.
Donnie, if the arrow lodged in the opposite shoulder I'd say you've got a dead buck on your hands. He may not leave much of a blood trail with the arrow in him though, so be prepared to do a bit of grid searching.
There was NO blood whatsoever? There is certainly room for a flesh wound in that area, just depends where it's at, but like the others have said, if you have it lodged in the opposite shoulder, I think he's dead. Get back at it tomorrow. You may be surprised. I thought I made a GREAT shot on my buck last week, then when I found the arrow, it actually showed a not so great hit. No blood and 150yds later, he was down, and I actually hit him better than what the sign showed. My point? You NEVER really know for sure until you thoroughly search and give it your all. Good luck tomorrow.
That off side shoulder bounce back can play havac on ones mind. Im thinking if you taged his actual shoulder you would have that etched in your mind. I have made one bad hit directly in the shoulder and believe me it was no more that a couple inches of penetration. I think you got em
Come on Donnie! Be optimistic. I have gun shot/bow shot deer where the first drop of blood did not appear for 30-40 yards......then it just opened up. I really hope that when I get home from hunting tomorrow morning that I see you and Casper in a pic!
Matt....I only went to the spot I hit him. Didn't see any blood and didn't walk any farther trying to find any. Didn't want to take a chance at spooking him. I just hope it DID hit the opposite shoulder and not the one closest to me. I can't say for sure now that I've second-guessed myself so much. Thanks Greg! You know...this was supposed to be THE year for me. We'll see if it still is tomorrow. And trust me...I'll be out there all day.
You did the right thing backing out. Good luck tomorrow! I'm hoping to see pictures of you behind this buck!
I think you might have made a better shot than you think...keep the faith! I'm hoping he's just over the ridge from where you last saw him.
Good luck Bro. We all know the feeling of trying to remember what we saw and what our mind is telling us. If you hit the near shoulder, there would be little doubt, a loud crack and no penetration. If you did not see that, then odds are in your favor. Again, good luck...and regardless of the outcome, you handled it perfectly.
Bloodcrick....when you shot your deer in the near shoulder. Did the arrow wobble as if it was going to come out as the deer ran? It seems like it would. This doesn't appear to be the case with this deer. I hope. Brett..Thanks for the encouraging words. I have my camera battery charging as we speak...just in case. Thanks Matt and WV Hunter. Thanks Michael. Its crazy not remembering what I saw when it happened only seconds before. I hate that!
How steep of a shot was it? If it was high but you think you hit the blade he could go 300 yards. I had 1 do that but I did find him. Since you didn't go after him It's just speculation at this point so don't beat yourself up/ Good Luck
Smart move backing out D. If you made a killing a shot, he's just as dead tomorrow. Good luck. Looking forward to the pics.
Speakin of charging the camera battery... I think it would be cool if you filmed the recovery from start to finish! I've got a good feeling about your recovery. Don't ask me why, I just do. Keep your spirits up and don't give up! Good luck!
130....I was maybe 20' in the tree but when the arrow was sticking out...didn't look too steep while in him. Thanks Ben and Jay....the camera I was referring to is only a "pocket" digital camera. I still haven't bought a camcorder yet. Here's a map of where I shot him. I'm not going to ask where he may have gone because frankly....no one knows. The green below the field is where I think he beds. Thats where I saw him come out several times last year.
I think if you hit the opposite shoulder the arrow would be sticking in him like it is. If you hit the other close shoulder you would of found your arrow because of the lack of penetration I think you have a dead deer brother!
Hope you find him man. My wife got an iffy' shot on an 8 point two weeks ago. We gave him an hour and went looking. We pushed him up out of where he bedded down and couldnt find any blood from that point on. We went home and gave him the night to expire. got up at 8 and found him at 10:30 by doing grid patterns. Just dont give up man. Even when you think its pointless, keep looking.... good luck!!!
Good luck finding him in the morning! I'm bettin you'll have an easier time finding him, than you will have trying to fall asleep tnight. haha
