Dropped some doe on Black Friday (with pics)

[GingivitisKahn]

Not sure whether you consider today (26-Nov-10) a really good day hunting or a really bad one. I'm known for having a great time in the field almost all the time. Usually, I'll see game (or not, whatever) but rarely do I get a shot - and that's fun for me.

Today, instead of just having fun the whole time, I actually had to work - what's up with that? Probably it was a good day but work?! Bleah.

Spent the morning hunting our primary spot. Saw one doe by the power line - no shot. Stillhunted the horse trail and saw a couple of squirrels - no shot. Finished and it was still a bit too early to head home, so I went to one of the public areas a bit south of this one.

Stillhunted quite a way around there and saw no game and few tracks. On my way out, I spotted a nice old doe bedded about 20 yards away in some very thick cover. In fact, all I could see of her was her face and neck. Normally I wouldn't consider a neck shot (especially on an animal quartering towards me as she was) but given the cover she was in, it seemed unlikely that I could hit her badly.

She gave me a target about the size of a tennis ball - figured I'd either kill her or miss her entirely. The arrow went right where I was looking. She ran 200 yards and dropped in some of the thickest brush I've ever tried to move through.

The blood trail to her was great - she gave me an arterial spray about every five yards or so.  Later inspection showed entry wound drilled an artery on the left side of her neck, boadhead passed through one lung and clipped her heart before exiting the far side.

Found her and it took me another hour or so to prune my way through grape vines, blackberry bushes, random poky things and annoying little saplings to actually get to her.

Walked back to the car (right at a mile) to shed lots of wool clothes and gear and to get my water and the deer cart. Walked back to the deer (right at a mile). Nearly had an infarction dragging her out of the HEAVY brush (getting turned around only three or four times) back out to the trail. Got her cleaned up and on the cart for the walk back to the car (did I mention this was a mile away?).

Deer is at the butchers, gear is cleaned (but for the arrow - may leave that as is), knife is sharpened and my bod is showered. I'm pooped.

Here are some pics...

Got hungry (before seeing much for the day)...
 

First bit of blood (close to the bow - not a great pic)...
 

Ooooh - goopy arrow!
 

See her?  This is after the underbrush cleared out a lot - you should have seen the nasty bit...
 

Aaaaaaand the money shot...
 

[iawoody2]

Hard work, but a great way to spend black Friday. Bob

[Bonebuster]

"Red Friday"...formerly known as "Black Friday"

On the ground, and sneaking...pure awesome!  

[Jerry Jeffer]

Nice work. The kind of work I like. Congrats on the meat.

[rastaman]

Way to go sir!      

[DannyBows]

Well Done! I've got one of those Becker BK-2's myself. Great knife, and an excellent bang for the buck. I've also got a BK-9 for big jobs, and a BK-11 necker.
Congrats on some fine shooting!  

[frassettor]

Congrats, I like the last pic..VERY NICE.. You should frame that one          

[Huntschool]

Cool... congrats

[Bjorn]

Nice!!      

[Day Dreamer]

Way to go!!! Nice longbow and deer. I hope to spot and stalk a deer someday.

[landman]

Khan, I have to assume that you're a relatively young guy.   I know how much work your experience entailed and as an oldster, i don't think I could do it.    You did a great job.

[kennyb]

nice deer, jim! congratulations!

[Mudd]

Congratulations!! What are the specs on your Hill?

God bless,Mudd

[Benny Nganabbarru]

[maineac]

Nice job!  And still made it to work?

[ozarkcherrybow1]

[Wannabe1]

Congratulations Jim! That's doing it the Howard way!!      

[jcar315]

Congrats GK!!

[dirtguy]

       

[Hooper]

Good eye spotting that doe in her bed Jim....Congrats on a nice doe!!!