Let me preface this episode by saying that it is with a good deal of shame and embarrassment that I even share it...it was definitely not the image I strive for as a traditional bow hunter. The only positive takeaway is that I royally screwed up, but was able to mitigate some of the disaster with unwavering determination. After having my season ruined last year due to the need for a knee replacement, I had the hip done in May to avoid the same outcome this year. The Saturday morning opener was washout by rain. The evening, though breezy, looked promising with a cold front coming in. At 6PM I had a big doe underneath me, but didn't realize that junior was behind me and saw me stand for what would have been a 10 yd. broadside chip shot. It never blew, but started the hoof stomp routine which got momma on edge. For the next 15 mins. they circled and neither gave me a decent shot. I had already made up my mind to shoot seated in my tree stand when the cow horn came in 45 mins later. I practice that shot, but it's not quite the same as being able to bend at the waist. Let's just say I blew it badly and spined the spike. Its rear legs were mostly immobilized but it was with horror that I realized it was going to try to make the river on its front legs with an occasional push from both rear legs together. I'd thought it would stop and rest and allow me to finish it, but that wasn't to be the case. It was going to go off a fairly sheer cliff to get there. I got out of my harness and down and started after him in "not so hot" pursuit. It wasn't even close. The deer had two good legs to my two bad ones and it was willing to roll, slide, skid, etc. to get to the bottom. I heard it hit the water and was overcome by the sickening feeling of watching that pitiful animal drag itself across and pull itself up on a sandbar on the far side. I knew right then I'd do whatever it took to end that suffering, but I couldn't cross there. I had to go back to the shack, get my hip waders and go after it.
Even field dressed the deer was over 100 lbs. and by that time it was so dark I couldn't see to plant my feet. Needless to say, I swamped my waders a dozen times and had to stop to drain them repeatedly. I figured I'd rather have a heart attack than drown given the choice, but I finally got it down the river only to discover I couldn't get it up the bank and had to go get my 4-wheeler.
By the time I got the deer iced in the cooler it was 11:30 PM. I was so exhausted I just collapsed, so there are no pics. My learning from this ordeal? Practice more from a seated position, shoot smaller deer (the kind you can throw over your shoulder).....oh, and never give up!
Stick-to-it-iveness prevailed, way to see it through. :thumbsup:
The amazing thing is this has been one of my most productive stands for many years. In my younger (and more agile)days I installed a rope down said cliff and that is how I got to the stand, in order to minimize scent. I've taken a lot of deer there and in all that time I've never had a single one try to take the "direct route" to the river. I was just lucky the deer was more exhausted than I was in the end, because if not it would've tore my old arse up!
Sometimes it is ugly. I have had a couple of those. You might have made a bad shot but the determination you showed in recovering that deer is commendable.
Glad you got him! It sucks when things don't go as planned, but it happens occasionally. At least you did not lose him to the yotes and buzzards!!!
And IMO, you have no need to feel shame and embarrassment! You might have jacked up the shot, but that happens, and you put out maximum effort after that to make sure you got the deer in the freezer!
Bisch
Thanks for sharing and there is nothing to have concerns about. The shot wasn't perfect but you did the ethical thing and finished the job. They call it hunting for a reason.
have no shame at all. Many people would have quit when he crossed the river. You did what you had to.
Agree with the others-great effort to finish what you started. Bad shots,unfortunately happen,but you brought home the venison. Well done-sound of loud clapping!
An excellent tale , Brother Richard! Anybody who hasn't had a shot that hit a bit differently than intended hasn't been bow hunting very long and spine shots are much more likely from a treestand because of the compressed vertical arrangement of the vitals. I've had to finish 2 off with a knife, myself, that were spinning or dragging their hind end. You got the worst combination of complications, just enough retained mobility, a slope, a river and a slowed set of hindquarters on the hunter as well as the hunted, but you stuck with it for HOURS and got it done. Young/ new hunters need to know that it almost never happens like they see on the TV shows and sometimes it's FUBAR and get's a lot worse before it's done. :notworthy:
Congratulations! You did good. Thats awesome.
If we where truthful, it has happened to all of us. Congrats
Jeff
Things happen and you take care of business. Just sounds like you did what you had to do to me.I commend you for your effort, not condemn you for it.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congratulations, Rib! Great job on puilling it together.
Several years ago I spine shot a deer and learned that day to immediately put another good arrow in it. Spined deer can very often manage to get moving again.
You have no reason to be either ashamed or embarrassed, IMO. I'd bet that a bunch of us could tell similar tales. I know I could. You did what you had to do as an ethical hunter to rectify the situation, and I commend you for it.
Bob
It sounds as if you did the best you could given the circumstances. Congrats on your deer and Bravo for trying to minimize the suffering of the animal.
Congrats on the deer and never giving up!!!!
I'm thinking it's a great story, in contrast to things going perfect. It just shows the real world, in my opinion.
Thanks for sharing !
Way to see it through, and nice effort!
QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
Glad you got him! It sucks when things don't go as planned, but it happens occasionally. At least you did not lose him to the yotes and buzzards!!!
And IMO, you have no need to feel shame and embarrassment! You might have jacked up the shot, but that happens, and you put out maximum effort after that to make sure you got the deer in the freezer!
Bisch
Well said sir.
Way to get it done. We started back up today here in MO, and while I didn't get to hunt, it feels good to be back in season!
IMO there shouldn't be a bit of shame in the entire ordeal. We all strive for a fast, painless, clean kill; we also know the odds of not getting just that are exceptionally high, using the gear that we do. I'll take a spine shot over a gut-punch any day of the season. Pitiful seeing him drag himself along, no doubt - but there are more prolonged and painful alternitives that are possible, even likely. You risked your own safety to see things through to an honorable end, no one living could expect or ask more of you. Congrats on an early season buck and a winter of a full stomach!
I agree with the above. You got it done under very trying circumstances to say the least.
Staying with it speaks volumes. Way to go.
That's the way to stick with it my friend!!!
I appreciate the kind words of support. What many of you don't realize is that for some reason the mods saw fit to edit a chunk of this story. I'm a bit at a loss as to why, as it clarifies a great deal. Perhaps it was because I carried a .22 pistol when I went back, but that is legal in NC when recovering wounded deer. I knew it would be too dark to carry my bow. As I stated, I was determined to do whatever was necessary at that point. At any rate, it was ineffective as the red dot sight was totally useless in low light and as far as I know I missed every shot. I ended up having to end the deer's life by more primitive means and maybe that's what they found offensive. If so, this will probably get deleted also. But in my opinion the story is disjointed without the additional information...an explanation for the edit would have been nice, but it's not my site!
Ohhh.. Sounds violent, but thats the way it goes sometimes. No one (in their right mind) sets out to club a deer to death. The group of people who have made the last act with a bloody knife is large as well. We do our best. But thats all it is, our best.
I have finished off a bunch of deer with my knife, throat cutting isn't necessary, a couple of quick jabs to the ribs and they are done pretty quickly.
better a pistol than a rock. i have seen a very stupid individual kill a pet dog after several years of service using a staff/ cudgel rather than take a gun to it.
animals deserve a quick end regardless of type.
not all people though ...
Whatever it takes to end suffering is the least one can do for those animals we respect.
As they used to say in Montana when I live there, "if you ain't been bucked off a horse, you ain't rid much!"
I'd say that analogy of a bad shot comes to all who have been out there enough...
Doing what it takes, even at risk of personal comfort or safety is the mark of a true outdoorsman!
Hi Doc,
Either that or one whose mental capacities and judgement are starting to decline right along with his joints, lol!
Way to hang with it Richard. I have shot two while seated in the stand. I practice it alot when days end without a shot on game by picking a leaf or something to target, and during the off season when I can.
QuoteOriginally posted by olddogrib:
The amazing thing is this has been one of my most productive stands for many years. In my younger (and more agile)days I installed a rope down said cliff and that is how I got to the stand, in order to minimize scent. I've taken a lot of deer there and in all that time I've never had a single one try to take the "direct route" to the river. I was just lucky the deer was more exhausted than I was in the end, because if not it would've tore my old arse up!
Richard,
In what part of NC do you live/hunt? My son-in-law took the pastorate of a church in Southern Randolph/northern Moore county the end of June. We'll be going to visit theem next week and I hope to be able to hunt one one of the farmers land Saturday morning!
Bill
Bill,
I live in Winston-Salem (central piedmont), but hunt in Ashe county (northwest Blue Ridge mtns), God's Country, USA!
Richard,
I think my son-inlaw's church is about an hour and 15 minutes, or so, from Winston-Salem. The address for the church is Seagrove, NC and the address for the parsonage is Robbins, NC. The parsonage is about 50 yards from the church, so go figure why the addresses are for two different towns. The church is probably a couple of miles closer to Robbins.
Bill
There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said.
I appreciate that you shared your story with us because there are several things we can learn and apply if we find ourselves in a similar situation.
First and foremost is....never, never, ever give up!
Thank you!
God bless,Mudd
I'm in Seagrove/Robbins, NC visiting my daughter, son-in-law (DJ) and their family. DJ and I went out yesterday evening and scouted a farm with the landowner. In the morning, Lord willing, I'll be sitting on the grond in a natural ground blind overlooking a logging road that comes off a field, has another branch of the logging road that drops straight away from me and down to another field about 50 yards away. There are two heavily used trails that cross the logging road about 20 yards in front of me. I'm looking forward to my first hunt of the year in the morning and my first ever in NC.
Bill
Good luck Bill. Be careful, it's Youth Gun Day...don't get me started (see my rant in the legislative forum instead). Wear flo-orange.
Nice work finishing the job.
Nothing to be ashamed that of in my book. Nice hunt and nice animal!
Admitting mistakes are the best way to bless yourself with another opportuity....I believe. Honesty is always the best policy. It relieves pressure from the soul and helps to install confidence.
If we realize that we're not perfect, you'll fight less with your conscience at the moment of the next opportunity.
Congrats on fine eats.
Bigjim
QuoteOriginally posted by olddogrib:
Good luck Bill. Be careful, it's Youth Gun Day...don't get me started (see my rant in the legislative forum instead). Wear flo-orange [/QUOTE
Richard,
Thanks! I got very wet yesterday. I sat in the morning until I heard a call from my Grandson telling me he had killed a doe, his first deer. We had a great time praying with him, blooding him and helping him clean his first deer.
His Dad and I went back out for a late afternoon and evening hunt. It was still raining but the wind was blowing from a different direction and I stayed dry sitting in the same location. We were hunting private land and were the only ones hunting. Youth day didn't impact us.
Bill