Last evening I ended up shooting a nice 8pt. I saw this buck come in about 60 yards away heading towards me. He turned and walked off and stopped at the crest of a steep hill. I decided I had nothing to lose so I grunted a few times at him with my mouth. He did turn and look my direction but ended up running down over the hill. I thought he somehow spotted me? Evidently he may have been chasing after some does? A couple minute later a doe walked up the hill and stood nearly where I last saw him. She stood in nearly the exact same spot for the next 25 minutes! Suddenly 2 other does came busting up the hill. He followed.
He chased them to the top of the hill. I watched them stand there until he walked up near them and then they took off out the ridge with him following. As the went out of sight I thought that was the end.
About 10 minutes later I saw movement, got the binoculars up and realized it was him heading back towards my direction. The first doe was still standing in the same spot!
As he walked towards her and got within about 10 yds of her she finally ran over the hill a little ways.
He had had enough and continued towards me. He crossed a trail and offered me a broadside shot at 20 yds. I drew and let loose. I have orange wraps on my arrow and saw it hit. It looked like a good shot but I was confused when the arrow didn't pass thru. I could see the arrow in him. This was 5:55 when I shot. I waited a little while and then climbed down to inspect. As I suspected , very little blood as the arrow was still in him. I followed a faint blood trail for about 50 yds where I found the broken back half of my arrow.
I was still convinced it was a good hit but just wasnt sure why the lack of penetration and a pass thru?
I decided to back out and wait for daylight. A friend went with me at daybreak. The bloodtrail was very weak, maybe a drop every 7-10 yards. I was starting to get a little worried! As we followed, mainly the kicked up leaves, the blood began to increase. About 250 yards into tracking, the blood really picked up, then for the next 75 or so it was really picking up. We eventually found him laying in a thicket. Rigor had set in so I figure he died last nite. I guess better safe than sorry! The front of the arrow had passed thru the other side but somehow we missed it along the trail. It was a double lung shot but I was a little high and hit the top of each lung. Thats what took so long for the blood to really start. Had to fill up inside before he started to expel much.
Homemade R/D Longbow 58" 43@25" Carbon Cabelas SST 220 with Magnus 125 gn 2 blade with 125 gn insert. Total arrow weight 575gn
One of the biggest body deer I have ever shot. 8pt and 165 lbs field dressed
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d36/warden415/photorightside8pt.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d36/warden415/photomefull8pt.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d36/warden415/photomeclose8pt.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d36/warden415/photohead8pt.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d36/warden415/photobow8pt.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d36/warden415/photobackrack8pt.jpg)
:thumbsup: :campfire:
Wow great deer. Congratulations!!
Very Nice....Congratulations!
Sweet! Congrats! Good job not giving up.
:bigsmyl: :archer:
Nice deer. Nice bow. Congrats
Nice buck, good shooten !
Congrats! That is a fine buck!
Nice buck Congrats! Good story too.
heck yea buddy! very nice!!
Very nice buck, Good job!!!!
Good job. I hate to give up on a shot. Glad you stuck with him and brought him home.
Nice buck, story, and pictures. Thank you and congratulations
Nice buck. Congrats!
Great buck ..thanks for sharing
Congrats awesome
:thumbsup: :clapper: ,Nice one.
NICE!!!
Very nice deer, congrats. :thumbsup:
Job well done.. :)
Very Nice Buck,congrats. :clapper: :clapper:
Good Stuff..Congrats!
Congrats nice buck and fine bow| :clapper: :clapper:
Nice buck!
Nice WV deer Steve ! What county were you hunting in ? I see you are CO , thanks for your hard work and support . I live in Putnam county near Scott Depot .
Jack
Great buck Steve..congrats!!
Nice one, well done.
Looks like a pair of Schnee's on your feet, great boots.
Very nice!! Good job on a nice buck.
Awesome hunt, Congrats on your buck! :thumbsup:
alrighty then-nice buck.
nice
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Nice buck, congrats!
Nice deer! Where abouts in WV are you?
wow ...great buck !!!!
Very nice.... Congrats !! :thumbsup: :campfire:
Nice Buck!! Congrats!
Very nice deer! Way to go sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great buck, congrats!!!
Very nice, congrats!
Wow - very nice buck. I keep looking at it next to a pic of the one I shot in October and they could be twins right down to the right side kicking in towards the center more than the left. Both weighed about the same too. Congrats on a fine buck.
Bob Urban
Very nice buck, Congrats!
nice deer for sure!
God Bless,
Nathan
:bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
Great looking buck Steve!!!!! Congrats!!!!
Congrats!
Wow, you did everything just right! Hell of a buck ... good on you man!!
Bob.
Steve, nice Buck!!
Nice buck! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Jack I am in Brooke county. And thanks for the kind words!
The boots are actually Hoffmans. I looked at all the PAC boots and thought the Hoffmans offered the most bang for the money. VERY happy with them
Great story and deer, good job Brother.
Congrats! Thats a beauty!
Nice dear my friend!
Congratulations!
Bravo! :clapper: Nicely done! Beautiful buck!
Nice job. 165 dressed is a big deer around these parts.
You did...you did shoot a nice buck!
Congrats!!
Very nice, congrats on a fine deer!
:archer: :jumper:
Congrats Steve :thumbsup:
Very nice buck, your patience paid off. Congradulations.
That's the way to do it! I love tHese days of big bucks chasing doe. Congrats!
Great job! Ya got any before pics of him?
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :clapper: :clapper:
Nice Buck! congrats.
Real nice. I would be very ahppy to take a buck like that. Nice tasteful photos, too. Woof!
Congrats!
Bisch
Congrats very nice!
Fantastic Buck, Congrats!!!
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Nice Buck!
I saw that buck's twin this morning! Looks like your outcome was much better than mine! Congratulations on a real nice buck!
GLENN
Great job Steve! I am glad to see you with that stick in your hand.
Shane
Very Nice Buck!
Congrats, A very nice big buck.
Nice 8 congrats!!
Good one congrats
Congrats on a nice buck!
very nice buck.
Nice WV deer CONGATS
Congrats and thanks for sharing. Great deer. :thumbsup:
Congrats
Congrats...some beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.
Many happy returns. :thumbsup: :campfire:
Great looking buck! Congratulations :clapper:
excellent
What a buck!!!! Congratulations that guy is a stud! Very old mature buck too, absolutely cannot get any better than that as your smile shows!
Nice Buck! Great job! :thumbsup:
Very nice, way to go!
Congrats...Nice Buck
Nice buck !
:thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
congrats nice buck
Most excellent Steve !!
Nice buck!
congrats!!!
That's pretty cool. And getting it with a homemade bow is even cooler. I'm new to the site, but have really found it helpful!
Super nice deer
Nice buck for sure, congrats
:thumbsup: :archer:
Congrats Steve. The smile tells it all.
Bob
Awesome late season deer !
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :archer:
Great buck and even a better shot. Thats a big deer for that part of the country isn't it.
Nice buck Steve congrats...