good times and bad in Ohio

[huntingarcher]

Great Story      Let's go get that doe!

[huntnmuleys]

and this is where my story takes a worse turn. after some thorough searching, i finally found where she had indeed crossed all the way onto the next property, and i wasn't allowed to go there to look. i still am dumbfounded by how that all went down.  my only thought is maybe i got one lung and she lived?  she seemed so out of it, but 7 hours is a LONG time. if she was going to pass, wouldn't she have by then?  guess ill never know.

ive reflected on this hunt so much now its scary. of course im happy with my deer, but i find myself thinking about the doe way more than the buck.  if i had known she was still alive, i would have just shot again. yes, it would have been a lengthwise shot, but at 10 feet?  im still sick about my decision not to shoot, but i didn't know she was alive.

anyway, that's how ya make a hunt for your best whitetail ever into a sore note as much as a good one.  i did bring all of the meat home and this buck is delicious!  ive prayed for that doe a time or two, and sure hope that ended up good for her. but i have my doubts.

ill leave ya with two trail cam pics Ron had of my buck. one from his neighbors property a month before at night, and one from the day before i got him also on the neighbors property.  he emailed me these after the fact.  






i still don't know if my level of excitement is even close to my level of distraught.   damn it.

[Tater]

Congratulations on taking a fine Buck..!  Something we all have to come to terms with and it is part of bowhunting sooner or later when you have been at this for a while, even with the best of efforts you can lose an animal.

I ain't saying it makes it easy, but you did all you could do.

[centaur]

Very nice buck!
It sucks to have lost the doe, but the reality is that it happens, be it trad bow, wheel bow, or gun. After you exhaust all options, just get back on the horse that throwed ya, which you obviously did with that good buck.

[Kevin Dill]

I've walked a mile in your boots. I'm sorry you lost the doe, and very happy you found success on a fine buck.

[Irish Archer]

Very good buck!  Congrats to you, for sure.

[rastaman]

Great story and awesome deer sir!      

[Ray Lyon]

       

Thanks for taking us along.  Congratulations on a very nice buck.

[pitbull]

Congrats on a fine hunt!    

[ISP 5353]

Wonderful story!  Thanks for sharing and congrats on a great buck!

[bruinman]

Great buck,congrats!!

[Owlgrowler]

As a landowner myself, I will never understand the mentality of people that won't let someone look for a wounded deer. Congrats on picking yourself back up and getting back in the game.

NICE buck.Gotta love it when they "grow" after the shot.

[Butchie]

Nice buck...congratulations!  Sorry about the doe, I know the feeling.  Thanks for sharing your hunt.

[Jmatt1957]

nice buck congrats....

[Mike Falkner]

Great pics and story.  Glad you told it, because it sure can happen to anyone.  Odds are either the doe recovered or the "no" landowner is snacking on some free backstraps...

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Sorry about the Doe, Congrats on a fine buck!

[Jayrod]

great buck and heck of a story fine job indeed!!

Great story! Sorry you lost the doe but you did get a dandy buck.

I had the exact same thinjg happen with a turkey a couple years ago. I shot it and it flopped over about 15-20yds and laid motionless where I could see it for over half an hour. I got out of the blind, walked up to the bird and it scared the living daylights out of me when , all of a sudden, it came back to life and flew off never to be recovered!

Congrats on your buck!

Bisch

[maineac]

Deer are amazingly tough animals.  You followed you gut and did everything that seemed the best course of action at the time. sometimes even doing everything right does not work out.  But you got it back together and took a great buck. The doe may very sell still be living, and if not, not a bit of her went to waste. congratulations on doing your best, enjoy the reward.

[tracker1]

Thanks for sharing your hunt. That is a nice looking buck. Sorry to hear about the Doe. Hopefully she will recover