Regrets to relief buck. Lessons learned.

rbcorbitt · November 25, 2013, 06:14:00 PM

JR,

Not what I expected either. We have a terrible coyote problem in Western NC and have had deer that were left until the next morning literally stripped down to the skeleton.

I was positive that this one would never be found.

bofish-IL · November 25, 2013, 06:16:00 PM

Sometimes you can not tell by seeing your arrow shaft how much penetration you get. I shot a ten point this year and the shot placement looked real good. It hit the deer and made a loud crack as the deer spun and took off I swear there was 20 inches of arrow hanging out the entrance side. All night I thought from the sound of the crack and lack of penetration that I hit the front shoulder.

Since I lost sight in one eye this year I left to return when it was daylight. After following the trail I found my broken arrow about 20 inches long but blood was half way up the shaft. Then I started noticing the trail had blood on both sides. Found the deer 150 yards and it had an entrance and exit wound but as I field dressed the deer the broad head and 8 inches of the shaft were inside. Only thing I can figure is the opposite leg hit the arrow and shoved it back out

Friend · November 25, 2013, 08:54:00 PM

Sounds to be a most fortunate ending.

VictoryHunter · November 25, 2013, 08:57:00 PM

Congrats!

mwosborn · November 25, 2013, 09:03:00 PM

They certainly are a tuff critter - hope you get another chance at him and hit him in the sweet spot.

tarponnut · November 25, 2013, 09:30:00 PM

Good deal! Just looks like a non-vital scapula hit. We've gotten several hogs on trail cameras later that we though were dead; shoulder hits, low gut shots, back leg hit,etc. Wild animals are tough critters.Here's hoping you get another crack at him! (cool stand by the way)

SAM E. STEPHENS · November 25, 2013, 11:47:00 PM

Good deal , I want a pic of you with him dead now that we know he is ok and ready to be hunted....

,,,Sam,,,

November 26, 2013, 12:00:00 AM

Good to know he is still OK! I shot a doe high about 3 weeks ago and never found anything. Two week later I was hunting a diffrent stand and in she walks. I did not get another shot at her but it was a big relief knowing that she was OK and had not become coyote scat!

Bisch

rbcorbitt · November 26, 2013, 06:42:00 AM

Thanks, guys!

Yes, Bisch, it amazes me the fortitude that these critters have!

Sam,
I'm hoping for a return date with him late season, and I'm going to do my best to meet your request

! He's definitely a resident buck on this 400 acres (he's got food, plenty of does, and water).

We shall see! No matter what, he will always provide a memory!

Marc B. · November 26, 2013, 06:54:00 AM

I love the outcome for the buck. Maybe y'all can meet again and I can love the outcome for you

KellyG · November 26, 2013, 07:36:00 AM

Glad it did have a happy ending not the best out come but a good one none the less.

kbetts · November 26, 2013, 08:36:00 AM

I know you have to feel better. I shot a little broke up scrub buck last Saturday evening with my longbow. I was excited as heck as it was the last day of the gun season. He walked to five yards from my stand where I plugged him good with a Razorcap. I watched him scamper off, watching my bright blue Nockturnal the entire time. An hour later I picked up the blood trail....no deer, no lighted nock, nothing. Came back in the morning and nothing again. I'm still sick over it. My shot placement looked exactly like yours. I hope he made it.

rbcorbitt · November 26, 2013, 05:25:00 PM

Thanks, Kyle, for sharing your story! We hear more about the hits - the successes, that is - then the misses, etc.

Believe me, I am in no way trying to take pretend to be an "expert" on either Fred Bear or Howard Hill - but I believe that they both commented in print about the arrows that they wished they could have taken back.

Any ethical hunter realizes that, (unfortunately) it is going to happen - whether by arrow or bullet. The fact that it bothers us tremendously is what sets us as hunters apart from others.

I, personally, "love" the animals that I hunt - deer especially.
FEW things bring a smile to my face faster than seeing a deer - any deer - whether I am driving to work, or sitting in a stand.

Non-hunters have a hard time understanding this concept.