GReatest and worst hunt ever
I have debated whether I should tell you guys about my first hunt this year, but if we do not discuss our failures or mistakes with each other how will any of us learn.
This was the greatest hunt I have ever had, but it was also the worst hunt as well. I got to the stand at the right time and did not notice that I spooked any deer. The wind was perfect from the south to southeast. They were calling for a west by southwest wind which might have been bad. After about 4 hours of no sightings or anything I had to prepare to head out to go do some homework. I lowered my bag and bow down and took one last look around. There the largest doe I have seen stood. In fact she was the biggest deer I had since next to the 12 point I saw last year. She had a small doe with her no spots properly between ¾ TO 1 year I would guess. The bigger doe made my Glendale full rut look like a fork horn. I am guessing 200 to 250 pounds easy. She was staying back in a private lot/yard, but the younger one came down by me so she headed down with it. The bigger doe went behind me right by a tree I ranged at 35 yards. I drawled on her and she stepped behind a tree so I had to hold for a minute or two. When she stepped out I set my 30 yard pin a little high but not much. I let the arrow go and heard a loud whack. I thought she’s as good as dead, she ran 30 yards and laid down then got up and I noticed no wound on either said what so ever. I noticed there was a tree limb moving a lot and I am thinking I hit it. The younger doe was still standing perfect broadside at 30 yards. I figured she’s small but I have not got a deer in my 6 years of hunting so she’s getting an arrow. I let the arrow go and she did not move much. I knocked another arrow and noticed it. She was walking with a bad limb. Well I thought I must have hit her. Then I noticed the worst possible shot I hit her in the lower thigh just about the knee on the back leg. She was bleeding but not trouble. My first thought was see what she does. Well she laid down and I figured with a bad bleeding leg I might get close enough for a quick kill shot. I got down and moved in at about 30 yards from her I started walking a circle to get a side shot and she got up and ran across the private lot. I thought I need to go ask for permission but they were not home and I did not want to leave her there for hours if I did not need to. So I did something I thought I never would do. I trespassed just a little to move around to see where she had gone back in the woods at. My plan was to mark the spot go out and call the C.O I found my arrow with very little blood and no trail to speak of. I backed out and called the local pro shop the owner said if I had hit the artery she would be died in 5 to 15 minutes and she would be bleeding a ton. She was not, I feel bad knowing I wounded such a young deer. I am not sure what went wrong the shot seemed good no branches I could see that could have gotten in the way. Only thing I can think of is I was just shaking to much or the angle difference from being in the stand. I am going to double check and make sure my sight did not get knocked out of line or if the broad heads knocked it off. I doubt that they were shooting well the other day. I know you guys are going to give me a lashing. I honestly think I deserve it. This made me really think about my hunting and what I do from here. Every time I shoot until I either find her and put her out of her pain or kill a deer with a good shot I will set that arrow on my target to remind me just how important good practice is.