My WV doe (long story pic at bottom)
11-20-2002 | 08:40 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 567
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From: Buford GA USA
My WV doe (long story pic at bottom)
After 6 years of going to WV, I finally connected.
I was sitting about 50 yards from the NW corner of a field on the edge of a ridge that dropped fairly steeply into a fir thicket (these would have made picture perfect Christmas trees) about 200 yards away. About 500 yards past the thickets are a series of beaver ponds.
At 645am I saw a 4 point working towards me scrounging for acorns that did not exist. I kept seeing him looking behind me into the field checking something out. For whatever reason, he went down the ridge, into the fir thickets and continued on below me heading into the NE corner of the field.
At 7am I saw what he was looking at in the field, a very nice doe feeding her way from the NE corner of the field, along the edge towards the corner I was in. At 750, she finally stepped into the woods 50 yards away. She was on a trail that would take her 12 yards behind my stand and down the ridge into the thickets. It took her 15 minutes to cover that 30 yards, but she finally came into my shooting lane at 12 yards. I drew back, and let the arrow go.
Now, I must say that I am embarrased by this, but the arrow struck her in the back hip, and she bolted down into the firs. The arrow was still in her hip and I knew, even though potentially fatal, the hit was at best marginal. I went through the shot in my mind trying to figure out what went wrong. I knocked another arrow, and drew back, got to full anchor and then realized what had gone wrong. I have never shot with my wool ski mask on before, and the extra bulk around my cheeks exerted pressure on the cock feather, causing the fron of the arrow to push to the right. I shoot a MZE, so it did not fall of the rest due to the scoop arm. While I was at full draw on the doe, i was so focused on the hair I wanted to hit I never bothered to check to see if the arrow was in place. Lesson learned, shoot with heavy clothing prior to going out. Normally I just wear the mask over the ears to keep my head warm and wear a light half-mask to cover my face. However, with the wind blowing like it was I opted to pull the mask down.
After waiting an hour I climed down to look for signs of blood and try to locate the arrow. I went to the point of impact and found nothing. I went to where I last saw her and found a few drops of blood. I trailed the drops that soon faded to nothing and began following the kicked up leaves and tracks in the soft ground. She quit going downhill and began going back to the NE, paralleling the field from where she came, 200 yards out and 200 feet below. She hopped a small ditch and when she landed on the other side she began bleeding profusely. I trailed the blood towards a fir thicket when she jumped from her bed, ran about 150 yards and appeared to be bedding down again.
At this point it was 930, so I crawled back up the mountain and headed back to camp to retrieve my game cart and bottles of hydrogen peroxide.
I returned at 1130 and got my dad and we picked up the trail again and headed into another fir thicket. We followed the trail into a group of firs growing in the shape of a horseshoe and found where she bedded down. I went around the outside of the trees and found no blood leaving the bedding area. At this point I fugured she would head down to the water about 150 yards below us, so I began to look. Finding no blood I look back to my dad and said I can't believe she is still alive with the amount of blood in that bed. He said, well let's start doing a grid search in every direction and see if we can pick up the trail again. As I was walking back up to meet him near the last bed he said, "what is that under the tree limbs." My response "a rock I think." Well, that rock just moved.
I was standing about 18 inches from her, but never saw her. The old saying is true, sometimes you can not see the forest for the trees. I was looking for blood and never saw the doe, strange how that happens. I got my bow and put a finishing shot on her and she expired about 10 minutes later.
After 6 years of going up there and not getting anything I finally connected on a mature doe and could not be happier. Some of the locals in the area saw her and all said the same thing, "you can tell there are no acorns around anywhere, look how skinny she is." Well, if she was skinny I don't want a fat one, that was enough work getting her out as it was.
All in all, she went about 500 yards from where I shot her. Even though the original shot was marginal, I am also extremely proud I found her. The tough tracking job made the event even more special, at least in my book.
I was sitting about 50 yards from the NW corner of a field on the edge of a ridge that dropped fairly steeply into a fir thicket (these would have made picture perfect Christmas trees) about 200 yards away. About 500 yards past the thickets are a series of beaver ponds.
At 645am I saw a 4 point working towards me scrounging for acorns that did not exist. I kept seeing him looking behind me into the field checking something out. For whatever reason, he went down the ridge, into the fir thickets and continued on below me heading into the NE corner of the field.
At 7am I saw what he was looking at in the field, a very nice doe feeding her way from the NE corner of the field, along the edge towards the corner I was in. At 750, she finally stepped into the woods 50 yards away. She was on a trail that would take her 12 yards behind my stand and down the ridge into the thickets. It took her 15 minutes to cover that 30 yards, but she finally came into my shooting lane at 12 yards. I drew back, and let the arrow go.
Now, I must say that I am embarrased by this, but the arrow struck her in the back hip, and she bolted down into the firs. The arrow was still in her hip and I knew, even though potentially fatal, the hit was at best marginal. I went through the shot in my mind trying to figure out what went wrong. I knocked another arrow, and drew back, got to full anchor and then realized what had gone wrong. I have never shot with my wool ski mask on before, and the extra bulk around my cheeks exerted pressure on the cock feather, causing the fron of the arrow to push to the right. I shoot a MZE, so it did not fall of the rest due to the scoop arm. While I was at full draw on the doe, i was so focused on the hair I wanted to hit I never bothered to check to see if the arrow was in place. Lesson learned, shoot with heavy clothing prior to going out. Normally I just wear the mask over the ears to keep my head warm and wear a light half-mask to cover my face. However, with the wind blowing like it was I opted to pull the mask down.
After waiting an hour I climed down to look for signs of blood and try to locate the arrow. I went to the point of impact and found nothing. I went to where I last saw her and found a few drops of blood. I trailed the drops that soon faded to nothing and began following the kicked up leaves and tracks in the soft ground. She quit going downhill and began going back to the NE, paralleling the field from where she came, 200 yards out and 200 feet below. She hopped a small ditch and when she landed on the other side she began bleeding profusely. I trailed the blood towards a fir thicket when she jumped from her bed, ran about 150 yards and appeared to be bedding down again.
At this point it was 930, so I crawled back up the mountain and headed back to camp to retrieve my game cart and bottles of hydrogen peroxide.
I returned at 1130 and got my dad and we picked up the trail again and headed into another fir thicket. We followed the trail into a group of firs growing in the shape of a horseshoe and found where she bedded down. I went around the outside of the trees and found no blood leaving the bedding area. At this point I fugured she would head down to the water about 150 yards below us, so I began to look. Finding no blood I look back to my dad and said I can't believe she is still alive with the amount of blood in that bed. He said, well let's start doing a grid search in every direction and see if we can pick up the trail again. As I was walking back up to meet him near the last bed he said, "what is that under the tree limbs." My response "a rock I think." Well, that rock just moved.
I was standing about 18 inches from her, but never saw her. The old saying is true, sometimes you can not see the forest for the trees. I was looking for blood and never saw the doe, strange how that happens. I got my bow and put a finishing shot on her and she expired about 10 minutes later.
After 6 years of going up there and not getting anything I finally connected on a mature doe and could not be happier. Some of the locals in the area saw her and all said the same thing, "you can tell there are no acorns around anywhere, look how skinny she is." Well, if she was skinny I don't want a fat one, that was enough work getting her out as it was.
All in all, she went about 500 yards from where I shot her. Even though the original shot was marginal, I am also extremely proud I found her. The tough tracking job made the event even more special, at least in my book.
11-20-2002 | 09:05 AM
#2
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Hico, WV USA
RE: My WV doe (long story pic at bottom)
Rey-
Congratulations! Great story and great recovery on the deer....you should be proud.
Where in WV did you get her? If you come back next year, let me know....I have a farm that needs does removed!
Again, congratulations...enjoy the venison!
Pat in WV
Congratulations! Great story and great recovery on the deer....you should be proud.
Where in WV did you get her? If you come back next year, let me know....I have a farm that needs does removed!
Again, congratulations...enjoy the venison!
Pat in WV
11-20-2002 | 09:27 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: Buford GA USA
RE: My WV doe (long story pic at bottom)
I got her off the second field on the right off Rich Mountain Fire Trail. We hunt the Kumbrabow area near Monterville, actually our cabin is in Monterville off Turkeybone Road.
I am definitely coming back next year, and I love eating does. Anything to help.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>
I am definitely coming back next year, and I love eating does. Anything to help.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>
11-20-2002 | 11:46 AM
#5
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,012
Likes: 0
From: Chatsworth IL USA
RE: My WV doe (long story pic at bottom)
11-20-2002 | 04:57 PM
#9
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
From: Butler, Pa (back home after all these years)
RE: My WV doe (long story pic at bottom)
Great story! That is what we need more of here. SUCCESSFUL follow ups. It helps add to the ethics of the sport. It shows the dedication it takes to pick up a bow. Once again congrats.
LIFE MEMBER: United Bowhunters of PA, NAHC
Frank
LIFE MEMBER: United Bowhunters of PA, NAHC
Frank