<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I just have to ask---why in h#ll did you go back after him when you saw him bedded, after you thought he was hit in the guts??
You should have just waited 6 more hours and recovered the dead deer. More than likely, if you hadn't kept bumping him, he would have probably died right there in that first bed.
I'm also questioning how bad you felt, considering you starting shooting at another deer the same evening, before exhausting your efforts looking for one you wounded.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
The reason I went after him so soon is that I knew he was very much alive and felt that it would be better to try to put a second arrow in him to finish him. And I was not constantly bumping him. Until the last time that he got up, he never even had a clue I was there. I was coming up from behind him and downwind so he never knew I was there. The 2 other times that he got up, he was casually relocating to another bedding spot I assume because the wind shifted directions.
AS far as shooting at another deer that evening, I had already looked for this deer for about 7 hours and had exhausted every possibile place of locating him. It's not like I just gave up immediately and said oh well, I'll just go shoot another one. I disagree with you about waiting to shoot another deer if the opportunity presents itself, I think if anything it can be a confidence builder.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Check the closest watering hole, that's probably where you'll find him. I would suggest in the future not shooting at another deer the same day you have a bad hit---personally, I think it's not wise---but moreso, your mind is still replaying that first shot and that wounded deer. Give yourself a day or two to check the emotions, and take a few practice rounds to reassure your mental state.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
Been there, done that. The first place I checked was the thickest, knarliest places on the lease, second was the water holes. I have already taken the practice rounds, my bow is dead on accurate so I can't blame the equipment.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I'm also guessing that in 17 years you haven't had many gutshots, as you should wait at least 6-8 hours before even thinking about tracking these animals.
S&R<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
You are correct, this is the first animal that I have ever gut shot with a bow. I am familiar with the waiting that should be required with a gut shot animal, but I guess I made a judgement error by deciding to try finish him off with a second shot. My other concern was that it was over 90 degrees here this weekend. Had it been cold, I would have not thought twice about letting him lay for several hours before pursuing him.
Edited by - Mike from Texas on 10/07/2002 15:15:00