Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

Atnoon today I was ready to post " I hit one now what".
Tuesday night I went out and it was a great night to hunt. At 6pm I had 7 deer come in and start eating acorns. One of them was a pretty nice doe and I decided that if she gave me a shot I would take it. When she final gave me a shot I pulled back. By the time I got the bow pulled pack the shot was gone and there I was holding at full draw. I held it for what seemed for 5 mins but I am sure it wasn't. Well finally she turned broadside and I let it go. Just as I let it go she tuned slightly quartering to me. Not good. My arrow hit and angled back but I was sure I got at least one lung. She took off fast and I watched my lumenoc disappear into the thick woods. Igot out of my stand just to check for blood. I had blood right away and I checked about another 20 yards and had great blood. I was feeling better about the shot. So I went home and got the latern ready and had some dinner with the family and took a nap. I gave her about 3 hours. I got out there and went to where I had followed the blood and started again. It wasn't 2mins andit started to pour. The blood was disappearing right in front of my eyes.My heart sunk. I was on my hands and knees in the pouring rain. I was out there until midnight when I couldn't take the wet and the cold anymore. I woke up and called into work and as soon as it was light I was out there again.But again it started to rain not long after. I looked for a few hours and then head back home to dry the cloths and grab some lunch. I went back out in hopes of finding anything. I retraced my steps and just started looking for trails that she may have gone down. I then looked under a branch on a tree and found a small drop of blood. I was on the right trail. After going down numerous other trails I lucked out again and this this time found a pile of blood under a tall fern. She had went a different direction then I had thought. I starting following that trail and there she was.To be honest I was ready to give up. I am really glad I didn't. I was able to snap a couple pics and I will postasap. Sorry it is so long but just wanted to share a poor shot, poor weather, with a good out come. By the way I ended up getting a part of one lung the liver and the guts. The shot went in high above the shoulder and angled back and exited out by the oppisite back leg. Not a great shot. I would never take this shot intentionally. The pic is down a few posts.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Congratulatioins and that shows us all that giving up is not the answer, a little perseverance and a great outcome. You've done good and I can't wait to see the pictures. Kudos Copper31, well done.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

congrats!! thats a dang good job. glad to hear the success at the end of the trail!!

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

goodjob buddy, post the pics in the team forum too.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Way to hang in there and do the right thing Copper. How far did she go all together. Got you a turkey and a doe now huh. Time for some horns. Things can happen fast in the woods. Glad it worked out this way.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

I learned something a few years back when I shot what may have been a new Clark County Wi, possibly state record buck. Dont shoot anything if they are calling for rain!!!!!!!! I went out the other nite and sure enough in came a buck. Not a very big buck but a nice buck non the less. I could have plugged him right there, but due to eventhe small amount of rain we had on and off I decided not to take the shot. Im glad I didnt cause as soon as I got out of my stand that nite, it started comming down harder. I still feel sick to my stomach about losing that monster buck. But I did search for 3 or 4days for it. Even if it was half gone by coyotes and other critters, I just wanted to find him. I think hes still out there somewhere alive and well.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

WBH you are correct on that. I checked the weather on monday and it was calling for rain late on Wednesday. I would have never went out if I thought it was going to rain. My mistake for not looking at an update before going out. Lesson learned.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Persistance payed huge dividends there, awesome job...way to not give up. More importantly, glad you learned a valuable lesson and were smart enough to realize it.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Here is a pic.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Nice deer and nice track job. Pays not to give up, seems there is always a clue somewhere.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Congrats again Copper! Man, you're on a roll this season. :)

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Way to stay with it! Congrats!

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Well from the pic that looks like a big doe. Congrats!!!!

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

I had the same story pretty much last year. I shot a doe at least light and hit the liver. I only waited about 30 minutes cause I had good blood. Stupid me! I jumped her and she ran at least 200 yards with no blood! I came back the next morning and all blood was gone from a heavy dew. I started zig zaging the area and on the last go around, I found her. Makes you feel so much better! This year again, I shot a doe opening day and hit the liver. I knew to back out and that I did. Found her the next morning, no 50 yards from where I had shot. Congrats...that doe is huge!

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

Hey well done, way to stick with it and that's a good looking doe!

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

In regards to not hunting if rain is expected......I thought a good time to hunt was just prior to a front moving through the area, in that deer sense that and are going to move or move earlier......a front moving through means an increased chance of rain...how do you balance the two. I have always tried to head out if rain is expected that night.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

Yeah, I have noticed they move more when there is a front coming in too. I had the same scenario Tuesday night, it was the first cool day in a week and I had hunted the two nights before it, but hadn't seen much it was sooo hot. I saw rain predicted for the entire week so I opted not to go. I hate that because I always wonder what walked by my stand that night, but what can you do... I am only in my 3rd year of bowhunting and I don't like to take chances like that. Plus, hubby works 3rd shift, so if I got one in the evening, he would have to either call in or wait until he got off in the morning to track it, so I am more inclined to do my heavy hunting on the weekends.

Way to hang in there, lots of people would've given up hope.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

Copper31.....Congratulations on your recovery.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

I have say I was ready to post a "I hit one now what" thread. I did however look at the recovery post and I looked long and hard at the anatomy chart. It helped a lot. Thanks for all the kind posts.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

Congrats on the big doe. Really good job on the perserverance in tracking with little or no sign.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

way to go copper, congrats;)
.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

congrats on the deer! and nice job with the tracking. now its time to put some more points on the board for the team

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

Congratulations!! It sounds like you were determined to recover that doe and we're proud of you for that. Your persistance paid off. Nice!!

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

copper....hmm...way to get im copper ..see .....hmmm

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

good job in finding her, my buddy just got a doe like this with a similar shot, lethal, but you want to give them a good 6 hours to expire.

Shane

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. w/ a pic
 

Conrats on your doe and your persistence!!!!!!

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Way to go! sounds like our shots were similar and both were recovered.

RE: Tracking a Doe in the rain. Its a book
 

Nice job. I had a tough recovery with a friend of mine last nite also. Never ever give up!