Well after hunting all day Thursday and Friday (did not see a single deer), I headed out to hunt with my buddy who invited me up to hunt his place. I usually get invited up once a year so I jumped on the chance to go. I scrutinized some maps before I went so I had a better idea of where I wanted to be come daylight. So I get in and set-up by 5:40am. Before I walked into my spot I told my friend, "my daughter told me to kill a buck early so I could be home by her soccer game". We both began to laugh. Well 1-2 minutes after sun-up I get my chance to arrow what would have been my best buck to date. He comes in quick, so grab my bow and get ready. He gives me a 9 yard shot...yeah, a 9 yard shot. It was the lowest light condition shot I have ever attempted. So his left leg was back as he leaned forward to eat. He stopped for a bried second and without thinking I put the shot on right behind his left elbow and as he stepped forward I released...only problem is I did not compensate and move my pin closer to his shoulder as he stepped...PURE guts. I was sick as he ran off. I did not move a muscle as I thought I possibly I hit liver as well. I waited 3 hours in my stand then slowly came down and inspected the arrow...guts. I went back and met my buddy and we hung out for a bit and went back in nearly 5 hours after I shot the buck. We tracked sign all the way to his neighbors property line. There is an old civil war era brick wall that separates the two pieces of property. He said there is no way we can track on their property as they do not allow hunting and raise horses/etc. I was crushed. He leases the home he lives in now and all it would take for him to get kicked out is that neighbor picking up the phone and calling his landlord....Good god man I am sick. He even has a great tracking dog, but alas I am not allowed to go on the other piece of property at all. Not to say I would have found the buck, but I would have searched all day tomorrow if I had the opportunity. I am the kind of guy that will track an entire day if necessary to find a deer. But what am I to do? I asked my buddy to run his dog again tomorrow to see if he can find anything else, and to also look next to the creek and a small pond in the rear of the property. Well I guess I just have to saddle back up.....but I know for me, these opportunities are few and far between with bigger bucks, like years. My motivation is just crushed at this moment to even go out on Monday and hunt. Thanks for letting me vent.
Did you attempt to speak to the neighbors, telling them what happened? Tough break, hope it works out for you.
He knows the neighbors buckeye, and for some reason they do not get a long. He was telling me about them before we even stepped foot in the woods today. He said they got into it just the other day.
You have to try and get ahold of those neighbors, unless they are complete Aholes, nobody wants to see a deer go to waste, come clean with them, offer to show them where the blood ended and offer to leave your bow at home. I think you gotta give it a shot. My friend hit a buck yesterday that he thought was lost because it went onto a neighbors land that no one got along with. He came clean with them, explained his situation, and low and behold they even helped him track. We were both pleasantly shocked!
MN---I might just do that. First things first, that buck needs some more time to die. Tomorrow morning is the quickest time one should look. My buddy is going to run his dog (which is an excellent tracking dog) and see if the buck circled back onto the property. After that, I am going to do what I can to find that buck. It might even be on Monday morning for the entire day. And when I am talking tracking sign, it is next to nothing for a blood trail. I could see dang flies landing on leaves where bile must have been leaking out. He walked right to the break in the brick wall and onto the neighboring property.
Good point. Heck, right next to the property boundary was a game camera. You know the kind to see if anyone has crossed your property lines? I was like what the heck!
Yep I agree with them, ask the neighbors and see if they will let you track anyways so that it doesnt go to waste, also, they dont have the problem with you, its your buddy, so if you come across as really courteous they may not hold it against you. Im so glad NC has the rule where you can track without the land owners permission, just about the only thing I agree with that they do.
I am going to go on the county website now and see if I can get a name to the property I need to walk on. I guarantee there is virtually no blood trail as the guts are probably plugging the wound up. I need permission and I need my buddy's dog.
Here is a pic of the property in the yellow boundary---(do you see the brick wall dividing the property?)--I think he will be dead by the creek or pond. There is really nowhere else for him to go. I want to bring my gps and track every dang inch of that acreage.
Brent, Brett whats the difference... I am getting things moving right now. I am going to gain access and I am going to look over the entire piece of property, up and down. I hope to get on tomorrow, but maybe it will have to be Monday morning. Brett
was going to suggest the same thing...if he's incendiary with them might not be a bad thing to try alone wish ya luck (just got back from qualifying for Quan mainside privileges)
All I can do is drive down there Monday and ask. Bad timing for me as my father just flew in from Texas and we are supposed to spend the day together tomorrow. I am going to rely on my friend to do some work for me tomorrow in terms of running his dog. I am going to try to call the residence as the place is 50 miles away.
My buddy told me to come on down in the morning at sun-up. We are taking his tracking dog "banjo" and searching. Somehow he made it work getting onto the property. I pray I can find him.
Brett that is awesome news!! He'll find him ... he's dead, and I am sure he left a good scent trail .... I wouldn't be suprised if you find him within 100 yards of the property line ...
