For 6 years straight now, I've taken a deer with my bow during one of the gun seasons. Our modern firearms season started Saturday and that usually spells a very dry spell around here after opening morning -esp when you're armed with only a bow. I had not been out since the opener and wasn't too sure I'd see anything, but just before 4:30pm on Thursday, I saw a buck materialize. I noticed it was pretty wide and looked like a keeper - esp with my wife reminding me that we need additional deer for the freezer (I gave two does away earlier and kept a 12 point). He walked along the trail I set up on and then surprised me by turning to his right which meant I'd have to draw right then in order to escape being seen. Of course he stopped behind the tree and I stayed at full draw for a VERY, VERY long time! Just as I was starting to let down in slow motion, he stepped out and I reversed the motion to redraw.
I quickly set my sights and touched off the release. I saw the arrow strike right where I'd aimed, but I got terrible penetration![:@] The arrow broke off as he bolted. I watched him go over the rise in the field and then he disappeared from sight. A few minutes later, two very nervous does came running out of the woods where he was headed. I took that as a good sign. However, when I got down and recovered the back part of the arrow. It seemed as if I got about 8" or so of penetration if that and I decided that I'd better wait overnight to avoid pushing him if the shot didn't take out the far side lung. I'm used to pass-thrus and didn't want to push him -- especially with little to no blood trail and, at night. I passed up shots at some young bucks this morning and then watched them go over to where I'd seen him go the night before. Less than 5 minutes later, they ran out of there and I thought that was encouraging.
I got down earlier than usual because I wanted to look for him. Right after he had disappeared from my sight, he had entered the woods and obviously died right there. I found him immediately. An autopsy showed a double lung shot which passed though the near side shoulder blade and then nearly passed though the far side as well -- good ol' muzzys! The down side was that the critters found him the night before and the hindquarters were gone and they broke open the intestines and guts. It was messy, but I recovered what was usable.
The worst part of the whole affair was that I managed to stab myself in the thigh while butchering him[:@][:@] I penetrated my leg nearly an inch and needed stitches, a tetanus shot, a presciption for antibiotics and a week off from work. And if my leg swells much more, I was told to head to the ER because I might need surgery to stop deeper bleeding. I HOPE that's stopped though, because my wife is prepearing the tenderloins now! I guess I'll be watching football all weekend!
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Today' s small bucks are tomorrow' s trophies.
[image]http://www.whitetails.com/deer8.html[image]
I did get some pics of the deer. I also took a few pics of one of his feet--the hoof was completely gone. Right up to the dew claws - gone. It had healed over and he only showed a slight limp. He also had obviously broken that leg between the hoof and the "knee." The too, was healed, but somewhat misshapen and the ends of the bone pushed against the skin. It had grown together though and didn't seem to be causing him any trouble prior to getting shot.
__________________
Today' s small bucks are tomorrow' s trophies.
[image]http://www.whitetails.com/deer8.html[image]
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Yes this is a Tikka, No you can't try it!!
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6 years straight!
? Hope all heals up good. 
