I get a call from my 14 year old son on Wednesday at 5:00.
On the other end, an obviously flustered young man. "I shot a buck, but I made a bad shot"
Where did you hit him?
"Right in the middle of the guts"
You know what to do, right?
"Wait"
Yes, I will be home in a couple hours. We will discuss it then, and figure out what to do.
I arrive home an hour and a half later. Dig out the NBEF Whtietail shot placement guide.
Ian shows me where he saw the fletching disappear. Definitely pointing to guts.
What was the deer's position?
"broadside"
How much penetration did you get?
"pass through"
What did he do after the shot?
"Ran into the canyon"
How did he react to the shot?
"ran"
Did you see any blood?
"I think so, some off the backside"
Then he tells me that his brother got some video of the shot. Well let me see it.
Pretty crappy phone video, can't see the arrow. But you can see that the buck was quartering away, kicked and ran at the shot, tail was doing a death flop as he went over the edge into the canyon. Did not look like a classic gut shot with the deer hunching and then slowly walking away.
Things are looking up.
Ian asks if we can go look at 9:00PM, four plus hours after the shot. I told him that we should wait, cold night, private property, should be no issues.
I am thinking this deer is dead, but with a self proclaimed bad shot, you wait. Longer is better. No sense in possibly bumping this deer.
On to a restless night.
Good luck. Hope the young man finds his animal.
Good luck. Hope the best for your boy!!
in for the kill pics!
Bright and early the next morning, the family heads out to blood trail.
Hair at the shot site, pick up spots of blood five yards later. Dried overnight, but it is dark, not watery. No appreciable smell that I can tell.
Twenty yards from the start, a very bloody arrow. Right at the lip of the canyon. Dark, no bubbles, I am starting to think liver.
Struggling with the trail a little bit, and finally lose it. Three of us start circles, I send Ian over to check a steep cut. Historically the deer tend to end up in the bottoms of two cuts, running into the canyon.
First one came up empty, so I send him to the next one.....
A very happy young man with his FIRST archery buck.
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p20/cscholten67/Mobile%20Uploads/20151112_070808.jpg)
And a very proud Father that had to get into a pic, per Mom's orders.
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p20/cscholten67/Mobile%20Uploads/20151112_071639.jpg)
Bow is a Sarrel's Blueridge S/R purchased off the St. Judes auction a few years ago and promptly confiscated by my son. 48 @ 28. He is drawing 26", maybe a shade more as he keeps growing.
Arrows are Easton Traditionals, 27 1/4", Eclipse broadheads w/insert that weigh 200gr, with a total arrow weight of 514gr.
The buck ended up traveling about 100 yards. Upon autopsy, the liver was sliced open, and the back of one lung hit.
Entry was mid body, smack in between the hindquarters and ribs. Ian was spot on, but missed the quartering away angle. Exit was 3.5 ribs in from the back.
Did not spend a lot of time with pics and such as Mom and Dad had work, the boys had school.
:clapper: Very Cool
That's an awesome story. Quite the hunter you are raising. Great job and a huge congrats to your son.
That is awesome! Plus you are teaching some lessons to a lot others reading this
Outstanding and what a great deer.
Congrats
AWSOME! Congratulations. You all will never forget the thrill. Blessings.
Darren
Amazing story!! Look forward to making memories like that with my boy one day.
Doesn't get much better than that!! Beautiful buck!
Congrats Ian that is a beautiful buck that you will remember for a long time. I'm glad your whole family could be there to celebrate.
This is awesome. Always like when things work out. That smile says a lot.
QuoteOriginally posted by TIM B:
That is awesome! Plus you are teaching some lessons to a lot others reading this
With the two boys, it is always a learning experience, heck, I have been at this for three decades and am still learning! Sometimes I still learn the hard way! :knothead:
This site is fantastic for learning. Everyone sharing their experiences good or bad.
awesome congrats
That is awesome! Congrats to the whole family!!
Dude ! great deer. Ya done good ! Congrat's
ChuckC
Congrats! Great deer! :thumbsup:
He'll probably go a long while to try to top that, but any trad kill is a good one!
Congrats!!
Wonderful story and great ending, enjoy the smiles all around, and great deer. Congrats to both father and son-excellent experience.
CONGRATULATIONS! What a fantastic buck. Also, great job tracking/training goes to Dad.
Wow! Congrats Ian! Great buck! Great story as well! Way to go!
Congratulations young man! That is an awesome buck.
Wow Ian what a great deer! You and your Dad did everything right. Congratulations Brother. I'd say we will see your pic up top very soon.
Job well done. Great buck! :thumbsup:
Fantastic.
Beautiful beast, congrats to the hunter and family.
wow, that's a helluva first deer! congrats! and if you want to have the buck officially scored, I happen to know a P&Y scorer right here in the hills......
Wowza Ian, Incredible Buck. Congratulations young Man and family.
Dad, you are teaching your kids well.
Great follow-up. Awesome Buck, congratulations Ian. Well done.
Thank you for all the kind words. Pretty neat experience, Ian is still "basking in the glow" so to speak.
Cape is at the taxidermist. Have not had a chance to rough score it, but numbers are not that big a deal around this house.
Fine shooting, and the proper teaching paid off. -Mike
Great job! A lot of lessons learned in one very memorable experience. Excellent!
Congrats Ian! That's a great buck young man. :thumbsup:
Good on you to dad and mom.Nothing beats on the job training. :clapper:
Thats a great first buck. Congrats.
Jeff
Outstanding outing for a young hunter! Great learning experience and a buck of a lifetime for most of us. Both of you should be mighty proud. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Well done all around , Big CONGRATS ........
,,,Sam,,,
Congratulations on the buck,Great story,and Good family time!
Ernie