NH 2015 Struggles... New sets

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Spent the morning tuning up my lifted golf cart I use to get back into my hunting locations. While out checking around a cornfield near the Connecticut River I noticed a ton of crows in one small area. Went over to see what was going on and I believe I found my doe from the other night. It was picked pretty clean but I found what I believe is my entrance hole mid body of the hide. I feel bad about my shot but am glad I can rest easy she is not just severely wounded.





So I guess in a round about way I am successful but have learned many things for the next time so that I may harvest the correct way.... This journey has been a roller coaster and I'm excited to get back out there.

[DanielB89]

how far away was this from the shot?

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Probably around 1/2 mile

[VA Elite]

told you nothing goes to waste in nature. It is bitter sweet I am sure. But at least you have closure. was the shot low/back?

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

I don't have much to go on... Definitely back is all I can gather... I believe height was good just hit mid paunch.

[Mint]

I'll bet something pushed that deer, maybe coyotes. She shouldn't have been farther than 200 yards away.

Get yourself a copy of John Trout's book Tracking Wounded Deer and read it several times. That book has helped me greatly and my group has not lost a gut shot deer since we have read the book.

[Bill Carlsen]

Just wondering if you practice with your broad heads. They can be very sensitive if mounted a tad off center. Bowhunting is truly a game of inches and details can make or break a hunt.

[jkm97]

Originally posted by Mint:
I'll bet something pushed that deer, maybe coyotes. She shouldn't have been farther than 200 yards away.

Get yourself a copy of John Trout's book Tracking Wounded Deer and read it several times. That book has helped me greatly and my group has not lost a gut shot deer since we have read the book.

Yep. If a gut shot deer is not pushed, they are actually easy to find. That's why you always take great care to get out as quietly as possible. But we can't control wildcards like coyotes, that can get one up and run them to who know's where.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Yes I practice quite often with broad heads and field points. I noticed that I have been shooting to the right quite often. So I'm going to limit myself to 16 yards and hang lower in the tree. I think it will be more of a success with limiting myself.


Broad head and field point today

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

10/15/2015... Well today I went out and took all of your guys suggestions on hanging tree stands. I fixed a few and attempted to locate a new stand location with no luck. Here are my new stand set ups...
This one is where I posted those trail cam pics.... This spot will be great for a south or west wind... Nothing out of the north or east



My view from my stand....



The longest shot now is around 15 yards. I am tucked into the shadows and I lined my tree with hemlock branches that I had to remove to get into the tree. Instead of letting them just hit the ground I lined the platform of the tree stand to help break up everything even more.

And this is the new stand location for where I shot my doe the other night. I moved it about 30 yards to the north where she was under some other oaks for about 30 minutes. The spot offers more cover and the shots again will be well within 15 yards.




Both these new stands are no higher than 15 feet. Hopefully I can make it happen at one of these stands. I also have two more to hang but the ridges I checked out are wide open and I need to figure the movement out.

[VA Elite]

can't get any better than that broadhead shot right there buddy  

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Finally back out on stand after being gone for 8 days. Got some practice in today and really feeling comfident with my abilities now.



Checked a camera 50 yards or so away from my stand where a giant scrape was last year. Hung it on the 16th and the same night 4 different bucks checked it out. Got a great stud of a buck coming through as well!!!



Hoping for a productive night!!!!

[John146]

That's great shooting right there!!! Good Hunting!!

[Guru]

Stick with it bud, it'll happen!

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Been a while since I checked in. The struggle still continues but I am sticking with it. Rifle season started yesterday and the woods are loaded with people now. Thank god I am hunting private property where only six of us are hunting. It's a huge piece of woods so it's been hard figuring out where the deer are this year.

Yesterday I walked a large area of thick cover. I mean hands and knees thick cover. I ended up jumping a deer but couldn't tell what it was other than it had a white tail lol. Hung a camera on the edge of the thicket where I found a rub line came out into some large pine area. It's only a travel area where they would be coming from the bedding area. Hopefully with the rut coming up the bucks and does will be running around the area.

First time in a long time that I have had daylight pictures from this morning.





Forgot to set my time back on my camera so everything is an hour earlier than the time stamp.

Ended up hanging a tree stand in the pines right where the deer walked through.



You can see that the stand faces the north with the thicket right in front of me. Hoping that this may be the ticket with the best part of the season coming up.



It's been a month since I have even seen a deer on stand. This has to be my worst year for seeing activity from my stands but I am determined to get it done with my longbow.

I'll check in during the weekend. I am off Friday through Sunday and plan on hunting hard over the three days.

[Guru]