My First Deer -5 years of hunting.
10-09-2002, 11:00 AM
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Free Union, VA
Posts: 750
My First Deer -5 years of hunting.
I'll Put the pictures in here later.don't know how to get them in, but will figure it out tonight after I finish butchering her. First of all, I use a crossbow. I used to bow hunt, but havn't hunted for several years because I had my shoulder rebuilt after an accident. I moved my stand yesterday afternoon after the second morning of hearing them walk just out of site, past me. I also hung the store bought stand my wife bought me a couple weeks back. That was the one I sat in last night. (I went home and showered and washed my clothes after hanging the stands, because I sweated so much). set up 20 yards from a small creek bed where there is a fresh spring pool. The funnel brings the deer from three or four different directions. This is on 15 acres behind my house, and there are a couple houses, just barely in sight and hearing. I got back in the stand at 4, and around 630 it was starting to get dark again, and I figured that just wasn't gonna be the day I get my deer. So I was going to head back when I started to hear footsteps coming in from me far left. I turned that way in my seat and then I heard some footsteps behind me and closer. I very carefully turned my head back to my right and saw a small doe coming over the rise, into the funnel. She was within shooting range, but I couldn't move because she was facing me. She inched her way down to the water....all the time, it's getting darker and darker. Now, I'm afraid to stand, because I can har footsteps in the brush not far from my left. I cautiously raised my crossbow and flicked on the reddot sight.....and found out that while it's great for lowlight at dawn....it sucks for dusk. I don't know what the difference is, but I could see the thing with the naked eye, but couldn't see anything but the redlight thru the scope. So I had to make a quick decision. I took a couple seconds of staring along the side of the scope and then moving the whole bow over till the red dot was right where the deer had been in my sight. back and forth a couple times, then I shot.Sparks flew up from the creek bed, and She jumped at the sound of the bow. I thought I had missed, and she took off like a bat out of hell. I heard her run for 5 -10 seconds (and other deer scattering in several different directions) then a hellacious crash, then more running in what seemed aturn to the right. ( started thinking maybe I had hit her and she was doing that big G formation I read about on here) then another big crash then some more running.and it sounded like she ran off into the night. So now I don't know what to do. I cocked my bow again while she was running ( don't know why)and now I was starting to shake. it was in the mid 60's and I was dressed fine, so I guess it was the excitement. then I hear more footsteps behind me. I look and it's another deer, bigger than the first. It stopped about 20 yrds away, facing me, and just stood there. I wanted it to go away so I could relax....I waited...and waited. Finally I grunted real loud and aggressive and the other deer just walked away.and a full 30 minutes after the shot I climbed down.Get out the flashlight...the one I pulled off one of the mountainbikes on the way out of the house... I found the arrow all bloody. Then found a spot of blood with some funny yellow stuff in it. So I looked again at the arrow, and it was thick jelly like dark blood. Gut shot?? took a while to find any more blood but when I did, it was a huge pile. then dropps, then a huge spot, then drops. then huge spot. every ten feet a huge area of blood. I'm starting to think lung shot. After about 100 yards, I stop. Look back and realize this is a straight run, and that has been a lot of blood. That animal can't be too far away with that much blood missing. I shine the light ahead and about 15 yards away I see her. So I raise my bow and ease up. Not breathing. She fell on the left side so I can't see the entry wound. but the exit wound is way backand there are some entrails sticking thru in a ball. I felt bad. Kind of bad for this beautiful creature and the pain. and that I maybe shouldn't have taken that shot. But there she was. the arrow went in high on one side and exited low on the other. I think I must have hit an artery to make her go down that fast. She's quartered and in 30 lbs of ice, some water, and 4 lbs of salt. I think I am going to rig some kind of open sight along with the scope. I don't want that to happen again. sorry for such a longwinded description. By the way. The "Allen" mechanical's I bought for 9.95 at wal-mart worked likee a dream. opened fully cut a star shape on the entry wound and even though I hip rocks and shot up a bunch of sparks, I can file away the slightly marred steel chizel tip and use them again. I'll try to figure out how to get a picture on here tonight.
David
David
10-09-2002, 11:23 AM
#4
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Free Union, VA
Posts: 750
RE: My First Deer -5 years of hunting.
That's my first Deer ever. Have 5 years previous hunting under my belt. Glad I found out they would let someone with a gimp shoulder get a crossbow permit.
David
David
10-09-2002, 11:34 AM
#6
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Chagrin Falls Ohio USA
Posts: 304
RE: My First Deer -5 years of hunting.
Congrats. As for the red dot being too dark to see through, they this. I trust that you have a target to practice shooting into. Go out to the target at your normal shooting distance and stuff a cotton ball in the end of your red dot. You can not see through it right? Now hold the bow up as if you were going to shoot it, but keep both eyes open. The view of the red dot in your right eye should superimpose itself to the view of the target with your left eye. Try it and see what happens. Place the dot on the target using this method and squeeze a shot off. It will work.
10-09-2002, 11:39 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Columbus Ohio USA
Posts: 4
RE: My First Deer -5 years of hunting.
Wow, congrats on the kill. I am glad for you!
Personally If I can't see through the sight, I don't shoot. They'll be back another day.
I used to use a x-box with a red dot (now I'm hunting with a compound). I absolutely loved that combo. I as wondering as I read your account if you had both eyes open?? I found that at last light with the red dot, if I opened both eyes I could see, but with only one eye open the dot was too bright. If you are shooting with one eye closed try opening the other eye, you will be amazed!!!
I always feel a little sad after killing something. I think that is normal. We are hunters not unconscionable killers. I even felt a little sad about the mouse that I had to wack over the head. It was caught in a glue trap in my basement. OK…It was only for a moment, but sad I felt, now if I could just catch the rest of those...
From the description of the trail, I would say you made a good shot, the deer didn’t go far with a good blood trail to follow!
Happy Hunting
Kestrel
Personally If I can't see through the sight, I don't shoot. They'll be back another day.
I used to use a x-box with a red dot (now I'm hunting with a compound). I absolutely loved that combo. I as wondering as I read your account if you had both eyes open?? I found that at last light with the red dot, if I opened both eyes I could see, but with only one eye open the dot was too bright. If you are shooting with one eye closed try opening the other eye, you will be amazed!!!
I always feel a little sad after killing something. I think that is normal. We are hunters not unconscionable killers. I even felt a little sad about the mouse that I had to wack over the head. It was caught in a glue trap in my basement. OK…It was only for a moment, but sad I felt, now if I could just catch the rest of those...
From the description of the trail, I would say you made a good shot, the deer didn’t go far with a good blood trail to follow!
Happy Hunting
Kestrel