It was Jan 3rd and I had not even shot an arrow from any of my bows. The NJ gang was going out for the winter bow fun and I had to work that day 3-11. I decided I couldn't make that hunt. I figured I would drop in the woods near work hoping to catch early afternoon movement before heading into the lab. I wasn't out long and a lone doe came cruising in to my blind location headed toward the corn fields. She stopped at 15 yards just after passing me. She turned and looked back at when I drew, but it was too late for her. My first arrow of the year let out a loud crack as it entered the shoulder. She took off running with her head down, my arrow sticking out both sides. I watched her go 100 yards and lay down. (open woods with snow on the ground lets you see pretty far). I backed out and figured she would be done when I got out of work that night and I could find her then. Well....... 11pm and I'm in the woods and I hear her move off into some brush. I couldn't believe it! I thought my shot was a done deal. I went home and figured on coming back Sunday evening before my next shift 11-7. I drop into the woods only a few yards and glass the area below. Right off I see the deer laying there with my hot pink fletch sticking out of her chest and she has her head up. (I got the hot pink idea from those fellas that hang with the Skipper. Thanks Joe.) Any way, now I'm totally feeling ill. I stalk down near her and she gets up and moves 10 yard and drops back down. I know this deer is hurting , but I can't push it . I'm going to give it till morning after work. I got relief early at work, so I was back in the woods at the crack of dawn. When it is light enough, I see her looking at me. I decide she must be very weak and I can't stand to let her suffer another day. I get up and run with every thing I have at her. She gets up and the race is on. I ran her down after about 120 yards of getting my face beat by branches as I put my all into getting her. I pulled out my knife and punctured one lung then the other with two blows of the blade and it was over as her last breath blew out her sides. Thou I felt bad about the long time it took to recover this deer, I let out a loud praise to my God for giving me the wisdom and physical strength to do what I did and tag this deer. I don't normally like to share such a hard story, but I need to share how I gave every effort to get this deer. I found my arrow entered through the shoulder missing the lung and cut a slice through the esophagus and came out the lower part of her neck. The pink fletch allowed me to pick out the deer a long way off on the days I was checking up on her. So Joe, you kind of helped me with out even knowing it. I thank The Lord for answering my prayers on this tag. :notworthy: This is my first longbow deer and my first deer in a couple of years.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/Doe09.jpg)
...wow..Congrats on your doe. :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :archer:
Your perseverance and dedication to ensuring a successful comp[letion to this hunt shows you to be a true hunter. I also use the flurecent pink fletching. Though I got mine from Stokes Sporting Goods and not from the Skipper, though he may have given them the idea.
Almost forgot to thank Sharpster for turning me on to the hunting spot. Thanks Ron.
nice work. I had a similar experience earlier this season with my wheel bow. and it sure feels good when you can finally recover that lost animal.
Good for you Jerry! That's awesome!! :clapper: The Big Man Upstairs really gave you the strength and insite to get done what you had to. :pray: Congrats Bud! :goldtooth:
Nice going Jerry...keep it up and you just might make it as a member of Team Pink :thumbsup:
Except for the part where you ran it down and finished it with your knife...LOL....perserverance pal...
Wow Jerry! You are a member of Team Pink in my eyes. Mike Bamboo is My Hero this week so you gotta wait for next week to be My Hero. OK? ;)
Looking Foward To Meeting You....
... mike ...
Great job Jerry, how to stick with it......Joe, he looks a might bit younger than us, I don't know that I could run a deer down even if my membership in Team Pink depended on it!
David
:thumbsup:
let's see ol' Tred Barta top that one! Wicked story!
:thumbsup:
What a story...way to go
Jer Bear
Well done and congrats!
Incredible story Jerry,
Now that's the way to bring in the new year! :thumbsup:
No need to thank me. :notworthy: I'm sure you would have found that place all by yourself. Glad to hear that the 'ol stompin grounds are still producing. Well done.
Ron
Congrats! So for educational purposes, where did you actually hit her and why do you think she lasted so long? It sounds like you got extremely lucky in recovering her.
Well, I never really got vitals. Because of the quartering away shot, the arrow went through the shoulder and I guess some shoulder bone helped guide the arrow so that the arrow angle changed and went up into the neck just passed the front of the lungs and out the neck. I only sliced the esophagus, so she could still get air into her lungs. She did bleed a lot at first but subsided after she bedded. It was a big enough trauma to the shoulder and chest that it put a very big hurt on the deer which allowed me to finally catch it. The front shoulder were a waste as far as meet. Amazing what that arrow does to a body. I butchered the back straps and hind quarters this morning along with any other meat I could salvage.
Way to persevere! I had to run down a hog once to dispatch it. Congrats.
nice job,congrats on the deer..well earned and deserved..john
awesome job on the recovery and getting the job done but i do have a question, why did you choose to run her down and not stick her with another arrow? Congrats
LOL! Great story..a truly traditional kill. :thumbsup:
My dad told us boys a story - he did the same thing in his early years. He jumped on the deer, knife in hand.....and the deer kicked the stuffins outta him...beat him badly! Guess this is your lucky year for sure!
I know how you felt knowing that animal was suffering. Great job and congratulations on a hard earned doe.
Earl
Wow, you folks dug up and old story here. Interesting and just as hard reading it again. To answer the question why I didn't shoot it again. I didn't even have my bow on the final visit. I had hoped it would have been over by then.
Jerry,
No offense intended - sorry if I have offended you in any way. Your story is a good one even though difficult. Many here have experienced similar and have felt your "ill" at the moment. No one delights in animals suffering but it does happen...all a part of the game.
When I mentioned my dad's experience, I remembered him telling it in a humorous way. We all laughed about it....but we all know the feeling.
Congratulations on the kill...with many more to follow! Good luck and stay safe. I hope to read of your experiences often! Thanks for sharing with the gang!
I thought this story sounded familiar. Hope she ate well :thumbsup: :clapper:
Nice Jerry. Congrats
Well done Jerry,I like your persistance.
I had a similar experience many years ago (with a doe as well). I ran her down in a similar fashion after wounding her earlier and tracking her for some time. She swam across a stream (I could hear the splashing in front of me as I followed her trail) I found her swimming across and I went in after her. She was too weak to go up the opposite side bank as it was steep and muddy and as I got to the other side I scrambled up there, pulled my knife and cut her throat. She bawled and put up a good fight to the end. It REALLY had an effect on me. After a while I felt somewhat better but it was pretty traumatic (this was about 20 years ago). I still remember the panic in that doe's eyes as I caught up to her and finished her with the knife. It's just one more reason to keep your broadheads sharp and practice enough to keep your shots as true and ethical as possible.
Congrats.
Congratulations Jerry! Fine looking doe. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congratulations on taking your first longbow deer, and on making the decision to do what it took to put her down for good.
Good on you for seeing it through. :clapper:
Congratulations!
Well done!!!
Jerry You came over to the Pink Side of the force.. Congrats Dude... Nice DOE and Welcome to team Pink..
Great, congrats on the fine looking doe love it.
Good job following through. Congratulations on a hard earned deer.
Way to go Jerry. Tough story & tougher for you for sure. Glad you recovered her. That's tenacity. Nice looking bow. Specs?
:thumbsup: Congrats!!!! Slhe sure has a dark face.
:thumbsup: