Last night we got a brief break from all the rain and it was just a beautiful evening to be in the stand.
I was sitting in a big burr oak on the edge of a soybean field.
This is my panoramic view...
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_7174_zps735ebf4b.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_7174_zps735ebf4b.jpg.html)
It's a great tree. I killed a doe out of it last year and was expectant as it was the first time in that stand this year. I had my Gopro on and was a little concerned that it might be reflective in the setting sun...
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_9195_zpsaf12d4a4.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_9195_zpsaf12d4a4.jpg.html)
That ended up not being an issue as the deer did not appear till just after sunset. A doe walked out of the woods to my south, trailed by two fawns and a second doe.
She followed the script perfectly, giving me a 20 yard quartering away shot and I muffed it! At first I though I completely missed low, but after the shot she ran into the field and stood there flicking her tail and hunching up a little. But then she trotted off and I figured she was fine.
As always, the arrow tells the tail... it was covered in green film. I had gut shot her for sure.
I slipped out and went home.... read a few articles on how to handle gut shot deer and that proved to be helpful. The next morning I stalked through the area I though she might be and sure enough, I spot her bedded next to a creek bank. She was still alive. I put another arrow in her...and then another to put her out of her suffering as quick as possible.
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_9203_zps37eff7fd.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_9203_zps37eff7fd.jpg.html)
I hate making anything but quick killing shots but it happens. I'm just glad I found her and once again have venison in the fridge. I learned from the video footage that I just didn't follow through on the shot... she was walking and I just didn't follow her movement.
I edited the GoPro footage of the initial shot and recovery shot. It's about a minute and a half clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTkkyzKEqZ4&feature=youtu.be
I was shooting my 58" Cari-bow Wolverine Long Bow, 53@28 (59# at my 30" draw). Beman arrows tipped with Woodsman Elite BH.
Great Job!! :thumbsup:
Wow, great story and doe! Congratulations my friend on a great job. :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
Good work Tim!
:campfire:
Good job glad you got her for the fridge
Congratulations, as hunters we accept the responsibility of not making a perfect shot all the time. Kudos to you for sticking with it and following up with the shot. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
That's the way to stick with it Brother!!! :thumbsup:
Way to hang in there!
Through the perspective of the lens of the GoPro it looked like a 50 yards shot. Way to hang in there on her.
:clapper: :clapper:
congrats
QuoteOriginally posted by reddogge:
Through the perspective of the lens of the GoPro it looked like a 50 yards shot. Way to hang in there on her.
Haha yeah I know! That wide angle fish-eye lens is not good for any distance.
Thanks for the comments everyone.
A bad hit is going to happen to everyone. Glad you waited until the next morning and found her. Congrats!
My hunting group always waits until the next morning now and we haven't lost a deer in a long time.
That is really neat. I need to get me one of those cameras. Great memories for sure!
Great job Tim!
Good stuff, congratulations!
It happens, but you ended it as quick as possible and have meat in the freezer. Congrats!
Well done Tim, I give you credit on not chasing her at night and waiting, to many times we rush the recovery and are not rewarded. Congrats on the doe and the great recovery
Congratulations! Smart move in waiting - things don't always go as planned. Nice recovery, and good luck with the rest of your season! Those GoPros are cool little cameras!
Bernie
QuoteOriginally posted by Caughtandhobble:
That's the way to stick with it Brother!!! :thumbsup:
+1
Outstanding example of perseverance. Hats off.
Well done!!!
Great job man
Excellent job in your follow up. You did everything right and it paid off!
To happy endings :thumbsup:
Congrats, she will make some good eating!
greAT follow-up...
KUDOS!
Good job! Glad you waited and pursued her the next day. Great call! Neet video too. Man those wide angle lenses make short shots look like long ones!
Nice recovery thanks for sharing
WAY TO STICK WITH IT!! So many give up too quickly on marginal hits. Happy you recovered her brother.
Great video as well. Been think'n about getting one of those GoPro's.
Congrats! Cool video. You did good!
I just hate making a bad shot! Glad it worked out for you and you were ae to recover her!
Congrats!
Bisch
Glad to hear it worked out for you, Tim. Good on ya, for not pushing and following through! Here's hoping the rest of this season's trails are shorter and the shots cleaner!
Good job
:thumbsup:
A long walking shot is not for me, but I'm glad you were able to recover it.
A good recovery makes up for an errant shot, congrats on a fine doe! :thumbsup:
Thanks for all the comments guys. Honestly I can't imagine not putting all of ones effort into recovering a deer. I love every aspect of hunting and while I certainly regret the poor shot, I enjoyed the follow-up as part of the hunt. And the rewards are tasty!
She managed the make her way from the fridge to the grill tonight...
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/6450F9CB-0508-458F-9ACF-5A64B9E64DF1_zpss4wiwbim.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/6450F9CB-0508-458F-9ACF-5A64B9E64DF1_zpss4wiwbim.jpg.html)
Backstrap!
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/5EE23746-53CF-44D9-899D-FFA5992D315A_zpsuokrivnn.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/5EE23746-53CF-44D9-899D-FFA5992D315A_zpsuokrivnn.jpg.html)
Nice! :bigsmyl:
Nice follow up on that deer, congratulations :thumbsup:
Good work. Love those Burr oaks!
Nice tracking and care in recovering an animal Tim!
Congrats on the deer in the freezer!
Congratulations on your doe. I also want to say outstanding on your dedication to recover this deer. Sounds like you made all the right moves and the results speak for themself. Congrats again.
I'm glad you got your deer! I'm a bit worried that videos like this on YouTube can help convert non hunters into anti hunters.
You done good. So, she crossed that creek and then layed down? The most incredible part of the video was you walking down that slippery log to cross, why did you edit that out? Inquiring minds want to know. :bigsmyl:
QuoteOriginally posted by Owlgrowler:
You done good. So, she crossed that creek and then layed down? The most incredible part of the video was you walking down that slippery log to cross, why did you edit that out? Inquiring minds want to know. :bigsmyl:
Haha because it took forever cause I was scooching across on my butt. I figured it would be boring video. I actually crossed back on it walking... Guess my nerves hardened.
Congrats, way to go. You have to always follow-up. Great job
Great vid Tim, so much fun to watch home grown films like that, can't get enough!
I'm wearing my Gopro on headstrap from time to time too. What settings do you like to use? Instant one push recording? I'm kinda liking the looping feature, and I have it rigged to an external battery brick via a cable, it can run nonstop for 12 hours I guess. I usually use this when stalking hogs, never know when the action starts or have time to turn it on.
Mark - Thanks bud. On the settings, I just start it when I see deer but I can see when stalking or hog hunting that the loop feature would be cool. I let it roll when I was looking for that doe but it wasn't a long enough time to loop it.
Congratulations and great job following up on your shot :thumbsup: