a little sad today.

[Marc Britten]

#7453

Hello. First post.

I started my tread journey with no archery experience and luckily had a great coach from the beginning it’s been almost 3 years since I first picked up a bow.

I started hunting for the first time in my life this fall. After a fun but unsuccessful elk hunt in Colorado (got near some but no shot opportunities) i started white tail hunting last week.

After a week of feeling out the land I was on I found the perfect place to setup and called in two bucks.

While they jousted I was able to stalk in to a better shot range and after some time one of them started circling down wind of me.

The other buck kept looking my way but timing worked out and his head was down right when the other one was broadside and his head was hidden behind grass.

I placed a good shot behind the shoulder.

Unfortunately my inexperience caused me to not handle the adrenaline will and I made some noise unable to settle and I believe i pushed him.

We tracked him for over 300 yards and the sign vanished. Me and 4 other people have cross crossed the area so many times I’ve memorized the land around the last blood sign and hoof print.

It’s unfortunate that a stupid beginner mistake head led this animal to to waste.

I’m torn between pride (I successfully still hunted and stalked white tail) with remorse (my actions, which I knew intellectually but didn’t practice right away, caused this animal to suffer more and go to waste)

Thanks for reading, I just needed to get this off my chest. My friends and wife have been great helping me look and even called in an experienced hunter to help, but the animal vanished.

[Stephen Graf]

#9139

Welcome to the forum!

Most of us, myself included, know what you are going through. It sounds like you are well on your way to becoming a successful traditional bow hunter. But I noticed just a few assumptions in your post that might need to be re-evaluated:

Shot Placement – You said you placed the arrow behind the shoulder. If you had hit the deer behind the shoulder and the arrow penetrated the chest cavity, the deer would have died within 100 (probably 50) yards of your shot. I respectfully suggest that either you did not hit the deer in the chest, or your arrow did not penetrate.

Arrow Tuning – As I just brought up, you didn’t mention arrow penetration. Did it pass through? What was on the arrow? Guts? Dark Blood? Bright red blood? What happens with the arrow is an important part of the story.

Pushing the Deer – The only time you need to worry about pushing a deer is if it is gut shot or liver shot or something like that. In fact, there are times when you do what to push the deer, as when it is shot in the ham. Keeping the deer moving will cause it to bleed out faster. All this depends on knowing exactly what happened at the shot. The ability to know exactly where your arrow hit and what happened will come with experience. But since the moment is fleeting, and we are always amped up, there is always some doubt.

Not knowing exactly what happened, and always ready to step in and sound like a dope 😳 🙄 😀 I would guess that if you did hit around the front of the deer you hit him in the shoulder and got poor penetration. Shoulder wounds tend to bleed a long time but are generally not fatal. Your buck may live to see another day.

Assuming again that you hit him in the shoulder and going even further out on the limb as we dopes are wont to do 😯 I would guess that the lesson to learn here is arrow tuning and maybe broadhead selection.

Bottom line though, is to not let it get you down. By choosing to hunt with the bow, you are giving the advantage to the deer. This is the way of the true sportsman. In this case, the deer took the advantage.

Three cheers for mister buck! And three drinks ,ok maybe two 🙄 , for our new toxophilite!

[Marc Britten]

#9684

I did not get pass through, though based on the blood on the arrow I believe that I got around 12 inches or more of penetration. There’s hair on it up to 13 inches from the tip on one side and slightly less on the other.

The blood was bright red.

At one point we found what we believe was a clot, and the blood trail picked up quite a bit after that for 50y or so until it vanished.

I can shoot a between 22 and 24 on a five spot target at 20, and could maintain a hand sized group out to 40 last month before the elk trip.

I’m using magnus stinger 2 blade, though may be switching based on this.

The arrow was just over 500grain. Full length black eagle vintage 400. Brass insert 125 grain broadhead.

Edit: sorry rushed the response while leaving for work. Thanks for the response, I’ve repaired the shot so many times that I’m sure my belief had over wrote what happened. Just trying to make sense of it.

[David Coulter]

#10151

Marcb, as “dopes” go, the advice you got above is the advice you need. I wish I could say I never lost a deer. The one that comes to mind that I fret over was with a rifle, too. My dog found it weeks later a quarter mile away from the shot under a blow down. Your heart is in the right place and that’s the kind of hunter we need. Keep hunting, keep learning. The day we stop learning we’re in big trouble. Sign me, Dope2.

[Matt Steed]

#10454

marcb; the good news is that your concerned. You already have the mindset of a Bowhunter. Sounds like your arrow setup is sufficient for whitetail. The Magnus Stinger is a good broadhead from everything I have read. You tried everything in your power to recover the animal; that’s all you can do. Keep hunting and don’t give up. I lost a doe this year during the first week of season. I know how you feel. I felt the same way. I also learned from my mistakes and want make them again. Don’t doubt your setup; that’s the worst thing you can do. There is a guy in Georgia ( Robert Carter ) who has killed over 150 deer with traditional equipment. He says there is no magic broadhead; that they will all do there job; if we do ours. Robert has told me several times when he hits a deer in the shoulder; he wished he had a narrow two blade. When he hit the deer a little far back; he wished he had a big Treeshark or three blade. Keep shooting and keep hunting. The greatest bowhunters that you can find will all tell you they have lost an animal before.

God bless.

[Marc Britten]

#10653

Maybe this picture will give some useful info on guessing shoot placement. With no experience my interpretation may be way off.

[Marc Britten]

#14151

Been thinking on it more and trying to envision the shot. It was just high of center (I was thinking that at the time of the shot when I saw the arrow in the deer).

I’ve been looking at deer skeleton pictures and I’m betting I did catch the shoulder blade. Between the high of center and everything else I bet I was just left of ideal as well (they look a little different in real life vs the pictures your trying to use to learn shot placement).

The blood was probably from it just bleeding down the arrow instead of actual penetration.

Thanks for all the help and kind words.

[Stephen Graf]

#21081

You have made a fair assessment I think.

Reminds me of a story…

Shot a buck once. Hit him high in the back (backstraps) and the arrow passed through. I expected I would not find him, but gave him a few hours and then went to look.

Back wounds usually don’t bleed much in my experience, but this one bled some and I followed the deer for quite a way. At the end of the blood trail was the deer. When I approached he got up and out of there. I knew he would be fine. It was a Saturday.

I went home and sharpened my arrow up and returned it to my quiver.

The following Saturday morning I was in my stand and here comes a deer at the exact same time as the deer the previous week. Looking closely, I could see a hairless patch of skin on his back about where I had shot the buck the previous Saturday.

This deer gave me an opportunity, and I resolved not to shoot high. I shot the deer with the same arrow I used the previous week. This time the arrow passed through the lungs and the deer went 30 yards or so.

Upon examination, I found that this was indeed the same buck I had shot the previous week at almost the very same minute. The wound was almost completely healed. New hair was even starting to grow back.

Redemption never tasted so good 😀

[Marc Britten]

#24464

Great story Steve.

[grumpy]

#36365

Great story Marc, and great thread youse guyes (y’all in Dixie}. Really great that we can all dump our feelings, and share here.

I just finished reading a book TRAILING WHITETAILS by John Trout, Jr. which is a primer for finding wounded deer. Based on what the book said (not my experience) it was a shoulder hit, and you may see the deer again. A hit in the chest cavity will die within 100 yards (according to the book).

After reading the book, I’m going to avoid shooting at a deer when it is raining, or in the evening if I have to work the next day. Rain washes out the blood trail, and I’m too old to track a deer half the night, gut it, and drag it out then go to work (Ten years ago I wouldn’t hesitate}.

[David Coulter]

#37773

Grumpy, thanks for the tip on the book. Haven’t heard of that one and it gets excellent reviews. Has there been a good article in tradbow on tracking or should Steve be encouraged to write one? Reading his posts it seems he’s good his head straight on that aspect of hunting. Best, dwc

[Don Thomas]

#15233

My opinion, for what it’s worth: 1. It does not appear that you hit the deer in the paunch. 2. You trailed it for 300 yards. 3. Therefore, I doubt that you killed the deer and suspect it is alive, well, and smarter. There is a small but very real space between the top of the lungs and the spine. An animal hit a little high there can survive. My best guess though is that you hit the shoulder blade and all is well. Anyone who hasn’t had a similar experience hasn’t done much bowhunting. You stalked a whitetail buck on the ground and delivered what was almost a perfect arrow. Don’t get sad. Get hunting. Don

[grumpy]

#22521

“Anyone who hasn’t had a similar experience hasn’t done much bowhunting. You stalked a whitetail buck on the ground and delivered what was almost a perfect arrow. Don’t get sad. Get hunting. Don”

RIGHT ON DON!!

We have to remember that the only people that do NOT make mistakes, are the people do nothing. Couch potatoes do not have these issues.

[Col Mike]

#27093

A second on Grumpy’ post. Right on Don

Semper Fi

Mike

[Marc Britten]

#28519

donthomas wrote: Don’t get sad. Get hunting. Don

Love it Don.

[grumpy]

#49045

We are all waiting for your next post, don’t be shy.

[Marc Britten]

#49141

grumpy wrote: We are all waiting for your next post, don’t be shy.

Unfortunately outside of some form work and a little 20y shooting that’s all I’ve been able to do for a little while. I’ll be back into it a little later this week.

[Charles Ek]

#10805

For future reference, in case you’re unaware –

Several states have recently allowed the use of blood trailing dogs to find wounded game. I don’t know where you are, but you might want to check. The dog handlers are frequently volunteers.

The above-mentioned Mr. Trout has written “Finding Wounded Deer,” an expanded and advanced sequel to his “Trailing Whitetails.” The former should be required reading for any hunter, IMO.

[grumpy]

#15949

Thanks ed. I’ll let you know when I find it at my local used books dealer.:D:D

[Charles Ek]

#16104

grumpy wrote: Thanks ed. I’ll let you know when I find it at my local used books dealer.:D:D

Right back at ya: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/marketplacelisting/finding-wounded-deer-john-trout-jr/1113981409?ean=9780970749307

[grumpy]

#26593

OMG that’s cheaper than my own Book Bear!!!

[Author]

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