Yesterday afternoon, I was headed to my ground blind, where I had missed a big buck that I had been hunting all season that morning. I was kind of disgusted that after all the effort, I had not connected.
It was about 2:30 in the afternoon, and I was surprised to find a nice buck bedded very near my destination. About this time, the predatory instinct kicked in, and I decided to take a try on this deer. I don't remember the shot, but I do remember very well the arrow hitting the deer in the paunch. Oh no, I hate gut shooting anything.
He moved off slowly, humped up as they do when hit in the guts. He was at the edge of a pasture, and for the next two and a half hours I watched him as he stood uncomfortably in the middle of the open field. He didn't lay down until past dark, at which time I backed out and summoned assistance for the morning search. The night was about 24 degrees, so we figured that he would stiffen up and die, and little or no spoilage would occur.
After a night of very little sleep, I started the tracking job with a couple of buddies. Blood was sparse, but steady, and we tracked him for over an hour, a total of probably a quarter of a mile. He headed to water, as paunch shot animals often do, and followed a little creek. One of the group saw a couple of magpies, and the search came to a successful conclusion.
The arrow remained in him for almost the entire search, only coming out near his final resting place. Pretty well covered with blood and paunch material.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_0082_zps8b562ceb.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_0082_zps8b562ceb.jpg.html)
He is a handsome deer, fully in rut, and appeared to be about 4 years old.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_0083_zpsab6a2ed0.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_0083_zpsab6a2ed0.jpg.html)
I am not pleased with my shot, but I am very pleased that I recovered this deer. I have spent many days in pursuit, and have not seen very many deer in comparison to years past, but I am glad to have him.
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/IMG_0093_zps0123e000.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/IMG_0093_zps0123e000.jpg.html)
Another successful season, with another 4x4. Life is good.
Good for you Pat.....way to stick with it. Glad it came to a good end!! We all don't want a bad shot ...but it happens.
Great reward for hard work. Nice job.
Congrats on a great deer, and I commend you on sticking with the trail.
Nice buck. Sorry to hear abt the bad shot, glad u you could recover him.
Congrats on your hard earned buck! And looks like a Hill bow to boot. :thumbsup:
Great Deer and way to hang in there. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats Pat .... a good ending, I enjoy all your posts. Enjoy AZ and the break from the chills of WY in the coming months.
Very nice! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Way to stick with it. Congrats on a nice buck :clapper: :clapper:
Great looking buck! Congrats!
Congrats on a fine kill. Nice Buck.
Tom
Fine buck Sir. Shots sometimes go wrong as anyone that has slung a few at critters can tell you.Smart thinking after the shot and staying on them has yielded many to the freezer for me on a less than perfect shot as did for you this time. congrats.RC
Congrats on another fine 4x4
That's a great buck! It is always nice when the bad shots end up in a recovery.
Congrats again,
Bisch
Nice looking deer!
First, Congratulations on the fine deer. :thumbsup:
Next, Way to be patient with the follow up and tracking. There are a lot of critters that don't get recovered due to the lack of restraint and/or patience after the shoot is taken. Hopefully, others can learn from the good decisions you made.
Finally, As always, You Done Good.....Really Good!
QuoteOriginally posted by Walt Francis:
First, Congratulations on the fine deer. :thumbsup:
Next, Way to be patient with the follow up and tracking. There are a lot of critters that don't get recovered due to the lack of restraint and/or patience after the shoot is taken. Hopefully, others can learn from the good decisions you made.
Finally, As always, You Done Good.....Really Good!
X2!
Beautiful buck...congratulations and well done on the recovery!
So much of what defines a good hunter is how you follow through with what your delt. As I have known for so long you are amoung the very best pat.
Great buck and many congrats.
Good thinking and great recovery..
I know it's a real bummer to gut shoot one but you certainly made the best of it..
Looks to me like that buck would make two of ours, big bodied rascal...
Congrats on the good looking buck, and the successful recovery!
Congrats on a well earned buck!
Very nice indeed!
Way ta hang tuff on the track. Nice buck!
Great job! Beautiful buck!
Congrats!
Good effort and stick-to-it-iveness. Congrats on a nice deer.
Congrats,nice buck. :thumbsup:
Well done bud! Just think. Now you don't have to get up early and go out in the cold and sit around with nothing to do and.... ;)
Nice one,Congrats. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
due diligence paid off. good job...
Congratulations on a beautiful buck! I really like your pictures also! It's hard to beat the Bighorns for beauty! :thumbsup:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
I just had a similar experience with a doe so that sick feeling that follows a poor shot is fresh in my mind. Great job on the recovery. He is a great buck! Congrats!!
congrats
Glad to see you recovered way to stick with it!!
Congrats great deer. Nice wool too.
Very nice Pat! I've had my share of sleepless nights over the years. Way to stay with him. :thumbsup:
I always look forward to your game post Pat. A spot and stalk buck, not a easy thing to do with trad gear, vary impressive!!! Glad you recovered him. Congrats on a nice buck!
Glad you found him, congrats Brother!
Nice work! :thumbsup:
Congrats on recovering that fine buck.
Great buck, congrats!
Beautiful buck. He looks huge bodied.
Congrats
Nice job Pat. :thumbsup:
David
Less than ideal shot placement may facilitate a thwarted recovery.
Persistence of the endeavor is required to effectuate recovery, thus a possible triumphant celebration.
A ten man salute is in order.
Thanks to all for the nice comments. Next time, I hope to report a double lung shot and a short tracking job.
Way to go!
Good recovery and a very nice deer! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
congrats on a great deer, and great follow up work. nice!
Nice deer and smart recovery!
Great hunt and buck! (And thanks for saying you missed a big buck earlier... makes me feel better after missing one myself!)
Well done! Glad it all worked out for you! A prize animal for sure.
Ken
Nice, congrats! Way to stick with it.
Very nice, Congrats!
Nice Buck, Congrats.
Good job on the recovery Pat... nice deer!
Thats one fine looking buck. Zona must be calling to you now.
Izzy,
Light snow, 7 degrees, and a 20 to 30 mph wind here right now. Yes, the desert is sounding pretty good right about now.
The shot might not have been perfect, but you did an awful lot right beyond that. Congratulations on the fine buck.