I hunt a very small tract of private land in north carolina, 33 acres. It is bordered on 2 sides by neighborhoods (rural neighborhoods), one side by a creek and 10 acres of private on the other and one side by a semi busy road. It is 100% woods with some undergrowth. 1/2 is pine forest and the other half is hardwoods. I have persimmons and acorns on the property and you can use bait (corn) here so I do. I moved here a year ago from Missouri and will be leaving the area before next season so I am willing to shoot younger bucks later in the season as I won't benefit from giving them the 'extra year'.
I have had a rough couple of weeks in the woods thus far. I wounded a doe (hit her a little far back) and never found her. I asked the adjacent land owner if I could look for her. I shot her in the morning and it was gonna get hot so she didn't lay very long before I pursued her.
I shot a nice 6 point (wide and long tines and nice brows, had a huge body on him, horrible genetics from what it looked like) last saturday. I hit him good on a 15 yard shot (quartering away) and took out at least one lung and likely liver. Hit him w/ about 35-40 minutes before dark. I pursued immediately as he passed onto the same neighboring property. Had lung blood everywhere but pushed him too hard and ultimately ended up loosing him.
Now you are probably wondering why I pushed this second deer. Well, I am working a very delicate situation. In the neighborhood, there are a few anti's who pretty much hate me and the fact that I am hunting in 'their' woods and killing 'their' deer. The have called the police on me and left pissed off notes on my vehicle. I have permission here and have spoken with the cops about the residents. They used to use the land at their will because the landowner wasn't there to kick them off and now that I am here, they can't trespass anymore. Sorry, had to rant here.
Another reason was the temps, they were not dropping below 68 all night. The adjacent neighbor is not an anti, but his wife is and their house is very close to my property and where the deer ran. Thus I didn't want to have to use a light in the woods outside their window. It was also supposed to rain overnight. Anyway, I decided the best chance of recovery and being able to use the meat was to go after the deer soon after the shot.
Needless to say, I have been beating myself up and second guessing my decisions all week. Have had trouble getting back in the woods until it gets a little cooler. I have also moved my stand away from the neighbors property so the deer wont make it there after they are hit.
Ugh, sorry this update is so long, I have just been a little frustrated this past week and a half.