Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

I have never thought this scenario would ever occur to me this afternoon's bow hunt. I had 2 fawns, mid size doe, and big mama doe come in. I had big mama 8 yards to my left with my pin right on here head waiting of her to take few more steps so I could shoot. Well she smelled right where I walked and turned around. Well I turned with her waiting for her to come around the bush when I seen to my left that the mid sized doe was perfect 12 yards away broadside. So I slowly swung back to my left and got that pin right on her and let it fly. I could see a great hit just behind the shoulder and she bolted.( I will borrow that posts pic of where you would hit from yesterday and show you all). I waited until dark due to my brother and his son were in another stand about 60 yards away.
It was my nephews first bow hunt and he got to pull 4 times but no shot.

Well anyways it was a complete pass through with nice blood until I got to one of the vanes. It had this darker green gut type stuff and my heart sank a bit. I had to hit one of the stomachs but for the life of me cannot figure out how. Well my brother came over and told me he heard all the snorting going on and thought they winded me and I told him I shot one.
Well we following the blood trail a bit and he says you know a doe came running almost to his stand then went up the oak hill and he heard something that sounded like a snort but not quite. I said thats what I call the death fart. Usually last thing is that air coming out. So by this time its about 8 pm and we go look where he heard the sound and my nephews is scanning the woods and I seen just a faint shine of eyes. So he gives me the light and sure enough its my doe but she is still alive and laying down about 30 yards away. We kept the lights on her and she wouldnt move or nothing. We heard some deer to the east snort and she cupped her ears towards that but she wouldnt budge. Since it was night we couldnt have our bows out anymore and I made the decision to back out and wait until morning. This has got to be the hardest thing in hunting for me to ever do knowing that doe is laying there. I will be off of work at 8 am and heading right up there. I can tell you this she was laying the same way I shot her and I could not see any gut shot hole. Her left leg appeared to be pretty limp and kind of scrawled out. I will keep you all posted later today, it will be a long morning for me. (at work) Right now it is 56 F and suppose to get down to 51F. This is not good for me.
In the pic the red dot is where the whole was and I was 15 feet up shooting her at 12 yards and she was facing me just like this buck.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

One other really strange thing is this doe we found to me looks bigger then the one I shot so that is also driving the mind nuts.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

I'm not telling you what you should have done. I'm telling you what I would have done.

I'd have stuck that doe with another arrow.....if I had to hold the flashlight with my teeth. I'll pay the fine.

Sorry you had this happen. I really am.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Jeff looking back now you are 100% correct. The area she was in would of been so difficult but I believe I could of done it.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Hey, good luck with the situation Fraley, they (deer) can be down right tough sometimes.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

I say this knowing that I could be faced with the same position some day. That deer was yours after you shot it. You should have left with it. I have had to finish deer before after they were down not an easy task buthad to be done.

Good luck with the rest of the season.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Get out there this morning and find her Captain.;) Is there a chance that maybe she was quartering to you just a little? Let us know what happens.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

That's too bad Fraley. But she will be there this a.m. Really no reason to do something illegal by shooting after dark and putting yer season on the line. I remember reading a post yesterday that someone was getting bashed for something not that he didn't deserve it but everyone kept sating if it's not legal then it is unethical. I know there are certain situations where ethical things may still be illegal but they are still illegal. well anyway good luck this a.m.

Hey one other thing weren't you giving me some crap about making a crappy shot uhuh you were. Well now I amm gonna be the bigger man and just leave this one alone.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Frustrating, but you'll find her this am. Sounds lik eshe was hit hard enough to stay put and expire.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Sounds like you did the right thing to me. Your still not 100% sure it's the same deer. The last thing you wanted was to shoot another! If it's the same deer and she's hit that hard, she'll be waiting for you this morning.


Now if you were 100% sure it wasyour wounded deer than yes it would be a tough decision. A decision I couldn't make until the situation was actually happening to me.

Good luck bud!

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

For me, leaving one overnight really isn’t a difficult decision unless the temps were too warm. In your case it just sounds like the right decision. Good luck.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

I'm with GMMAT with this one.If I were in your situation I would have let another arrow fly.Knowing the doe was just lying there would have been so much easier to finish the job.
Have you thought about going up to her and finishing the job with a knife?

Good luck this morning.
PS--Yes,it would be a hard decision to make,legally you done the right thing,but ethically-hmm--I would have just finished the job when I had a chance.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

You were right to do what you did IMO. ;)

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Like I told you on the phone last night I still think you did the right thing. You will find your deer this morning.

And remember when you run out of room in your freezer call me and I will take some off your hands!!

Give me aring later today to let me know what happened!

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Sorry to hear about that, I hope you find her and let us know. Good luck:)

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

my guess is your arrow deflected off her shoulder blade. It's happened to me before. Stay off the shoulder a little bit! Mine was the same exact deal but she was quartering to just a tiny bit. Shot her right where I was aiming but got gut. Walked up and found her still alive. It was getting dark, may not have been legal shooting anymore, I'm just not sure. I took the second shot.

I guess in that case the ethical thing to do is not the legal one.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

You did the best with a bad situation at the time you had to make the decision. Hind sight is always 20/20.

I am 95% sure that she jumped the sting on you. They are so fast you can't even see them move, but I guarantee that she heard the bow and turned toward you to see what was going on and although you hit her behind the shoulder it exited way back.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Fraley,
That is when you finish the job with a knife. It is legal and ethical, but it’s not pretty. But, neither is leaving them there, as you know.
Good luck bud,
KP

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

You'll find your deer. Good Luck.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Hang in there, you'll find her. You did the right thing.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

You'll be OK, don't beat yourself up over this. Since she wasn't moving, I would've went back an hou or two later to check. Legal or not I can't understand the rationale of leaving her and not finishing her off,to me this is one case where ethical is right and legal is not!

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

I typed out a well written reponse last night but the modem timed out. Not HNI, my wireless. Every now and again I have to reset it and at 2:00 am, it wasn't going to be then so I turned off the puter and feel asleep.

Can't say anything more than whats been said but to sum what I wrote last night that I didn't read here was, could someone had stayed behind and waited her out? She let you get that close, if you could have back off and listened?

I was hoping to log on this morning and read of the recovery. I'm still pulling for you my friend.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Well updates?? You were here reading thought a reply was coming??

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

I would have shot her last night also. I've had to finish one off after dark. The green crap on the arrow could also have been from the arrow passing through her food pipe. It's happened to me. Perfect shot from above through a lung the food pipe and out under the off side shoulder. The arrow was covered with green gook, but since I saw the hole appear in the deer when I shot(only about8 feet up in another guys stand) I was sure of the hit. Terrible blood trail but he only made it about 85 yards.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

What i was thinking. I would say just going on what you said 20% chance deflection on shoulder (or even rib) lead to gutshot, and 80% chance of this. Either way 90% chance she is dead within 20 yards of where you saw her.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

I hate having to do that...
I don't think there is a right or wrong decision on this one. I understand why you did what you did. I can also see putting another "illegal" arrow in her (dumb law). That being said, I have had that situation and have used the arrow and knife trick in the past.
Personally, I'd rather put 'em out. I feel we owe it to the deer.
Good luck. Please keep us posted.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Just spoke with Fraley and he did find his doe. Ended up not 50 yards from where he shot it. He will be back online tonight to give more details!

Congrats buddy!

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Good... I am very happy for him.
Tough situation.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

All that I can add is Good Luck Captain.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Sorry to hear about your situation, Fraley. Sounds like it was a good shot, so don't beat yourself up for it.

I understand your decision to back out and wait until morning andI respect it and do not fault you at all for it.But for me, when ethical conflicts with legal, ethical wins, especially if I think that Istand little chance ofgetting caught and I think the illegal thing is the right thing to do. But that's part of my ethics and not necessarily yours. Other people may put legalities higher on the ethics scale than I do, and I respect that, too.

Don't lose any sleep over it. You made a good shot and you did what you thought was right.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

She has been recovered and everything is good. I am going to bed I am pooped. One last thing a great big THANK YOU to all you for the encouragement. I will have a pic posted in our team thread.
*This 3rd shift kicks my butt sometimes*

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Congratulations!

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Great job sunshine..way to finish the job! Proud of ya!

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Congrats! I bet 1/2 the reason you are exhausted is from all the emotion involved in the situation. I'm glad it worked out well for you. Rest well.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

That's great news Tony, and I'm glad it all worked out. See ya when you get up.

Now you can accept your decision as the right one.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Congrats, glad all worked out well.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

I am sorry this happened to you.. I peronsally haven't had to leave one out overnite but my ol' man has. Very frustrating. I hope you find her.

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Javabird, he found her, see post top of this page. Pictures in his team thread. ;)

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

I probably would have stuck her again myself. But you did what you thought was right and nobody should hound you about it. We all face decisions like this at some point. The meat should be good as far what I have been told and that is "In 60 degree weather meat will maintain for 4 hours." Im not sure if that is right but I havent seen that put to use yet. Hope everything works out.

RE: Toughtest Hunting decision of my life
 

Some of you need to read the responses or look for the thread starter to return and post, look above at my response to Java or look at the top of the page of your post, he found her. It worked out. ;)