Unloading your quiver
 

Is there anyone who can give me a valid reason NOT to unload your quiver on a spine shot deer?

I'm assuming the deer is still moving after the initial shot.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Nope. I emptied mine on one last year. First of all, not KNOWING it was a spine shot, I didn't want him to regain his composure and break out of there. And, if it was a spine shot, there was NO WAY I was gonna sit there for however long and watch that deer die. So I put 2 more into his lungs, and it was over soon enough. In retrospect..........I would empty it again.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I'm not proud of this Mo.....but I've spined 3 deer in my days. I've shot 2 of them 3 times each,and one of them 4 times (hitting it 3 times.....with the last being from 50yds in the belly). I just see so many guys/gals on TV spine one and put their bow back on the hook while it lies there. Makes me sick.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I spined one back in 1994 and had to take 1 more shot.(Doe)
I was up about 22 feet and that angle down I pulled up on the shot.
It was about 7 yards out from the tree.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Unloading your quiver - I think that's what your supposed to do,that's about the only choice.

I spine shot a doe but she had enough movement left to get behind a tree and it was getting dark fast. I sent my remaining three arrows her way but couldn't connect so I climbed down, walkedover and finished the deal with my knife.That was my last resort but I did what I had todo.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I would unload my quiver. This is pretty much the same as your dispatching thread.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I practically unloaded mine on my 06 buck. I was unaware that I had to however, first shot, it dropped and was kicking, second shot was in the chest, third shot was in the chest and it never got up once and I wanted to dispatch it quickly. The first shot however was lungs and it hit the opposite shoulder knocking the deer off his feet. We owe it to the game we hunt and to ourselves to unload the quiver if necessary. Even if we have on arrow in the animal, if a second shot presents itself, take it!

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I hit one in the spine last year, she dropped like a rock and layed there looking at me.. :(
I put another arrow through the vitals and within probably 20 sec or so she was done..

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I wouldn't unload my quiver into a spine shot deer, but I would put 1 more arrow thru the lungs, thats all it would take to kill it!

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

You're missing the point. Rarely (as in never.....in my circumstances) will you have an unencumbered, "sure-thing" shot at the vitals. In this case.....I feel like it's MORE ethical to throw caution to the wind and shoot anyways. A vitals follow up is "ideal" but ANY arrow hitting the deer is better than one NOT sent.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I'm not missing anything! Let me put it in your terms. If I spine shot a deer, I would put a second arrow thru the lungs, thats all it would take to kill it! "If" the second arrow "didn't" go thru the lungs, I would send another arrow thru the lungs. "and so on".... Is that the answer you want????:D:D:D:D I would not keep shooting arrows into the lungs, "one" arrow is enough!

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

You're awesome. I've tried it on several occasions and hit the lungs on a follow up (deer was moving) ONCE.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I'm assuming that the deer has lost any movement of it's back legs and that I am in a treestand. If I could get a clean shoot at it from whereI was I would take it within my limitations. If not, I would get down and walk up to itthen take a clean shot.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I don't know if I'd keep flinging arrows or "unloading my quiver" trying to just hit the deer. I'd get as close as I could to the deer and put as much importance on the follow up shot that I did on my first shot.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Did you unload your quiver into its lungs, or..... just the one arrow?:eek:

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I'm just having trouble, Bob, understanding why we would worry about "limitations" or whether or not we could get a sure vitals shot on a deer that is most likley mortally wounded and in need of being dispatched, quickly.

I'd throw shot selection ethics out the window if I thought there was a "chance" I could put one in the deer. OF COURSE I'd try to make the shot as lethal as possible.....but waiting for a clean shot......or even a "high percentage" shot wouldn't be in my mind.

50-70 yds? Sure. Every time.Shot facing straight away? Most definitely. Quartering to? Yep. See a pattern?

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

BHF....If you're THAT good....this thread doesn't apply to you....as you'd never miss the vitals on a still deer in the first place.;)

This thread is for those who've made physical errors in their initial attempts.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Personally I think limitations are still importantmainly because I know he is not going anywhere and it may actually be quicker for me to take him out after getting down, then flinging arrows, missing or further wounding him non-fatally, retrieving missed arrows, and then putting him down for good.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I'm not Bob but I'd like to give my .02. Actually you answered it yourself...........


Seems like the best way to dispatch it quickly is to do everything in your power to hit the vitals rather than hit the deer.

How many arrows do you carry?[8D]

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Why so defensive? :eek:Instead of the cheap shot you should of just answered the simple question! Your not awesome!;):D

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

The one doe I did spine went down like a bag of rocks and couldn't get up. I saw her struggle to get up several times and she couldn't moved, so I climbed out of my blind and slowly walked up to her bow drawn and aimed the entire time and released one more arrow at nearly point blank range. I wouldn't reccomend that if you weren't sure but I knew she wasn't getting up from watching her for about 30 seconds and wanted to make one final and quick shot. I would empty the quiver, though, if I had to. In fact, spined or not, I'd keep sending arrows as long as the deer was still standing and in range.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Bob...and NY:

You both make valid points. Conceded. If you think the chances of you even hitting the deer are slim....I concede getting down may be the best bet.

NY I carried 4 arrows for the last 3 seasons....and unloaded my quiver twice, to date. When I shot my '07 8 pointer.....I spined him from 20yds. He dropped and started dragging himself with his front legs. My second arrow missed him, totally. The third was a shot into his left ham. The fourth was a shot into his belly from 50yds. If I'd needed to I could have gotten down and retrieved a previously shot arrow to finish him with. He was "done" before I could think about that.

No wrong answer Minnesota....but in that amount of time my quiver would have been empty.....or she'd have stopped moving.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Understand GMMAT. This was my second deer and she did a face plant from my shooting lane behind a tree that made it difficult to send arrows from the blind.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

The only deer I've ever spined, I put3 arrows in. I followed up w/ 2 in the vitals. He expired quickly after that.

I only had 4 arrows that day (now i carry more) but I kept one to have on the bow as I approached the animal.

I grew up under the ideology that if it was still moving, and still w/in range, you keep shooting. Even w/ a gun, and even if I know the first shot was good. I've had "sure-things" get away, and dont take chances now. Additionally I like the animals to expire as quickly as possible...

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Again Minnesota.....extenuating circumstances....and I'm sure you did what you thought was right. Kudos. You were the only one there.

Ed.....Love that post. Thanks for posting it. I feel the same way.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Once an arrow is sent into the heart/lungs, I see no reason to put another one in there. Now if the person keeps missing the heart/lungs either keep shooting or move closer. Only once have I been able to make a 2nd shot from my stand, I always have to get down and go over to the deer.
I’ve been involved in some other situations, but I don’t feel it necessary to air it out here.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Ryan....

I've gotten a follow up shot on a vitals hit deer, once. I don't think that happens very often....and I agree with your opening sentence 100%.

THE reason I posted this.....is threefold, and relate to "mostly" spine hit deer:

1. I think we need to do everything we can to end the animal's suffering in record time.
2. Deer CAN get up from a temporary incapacitation.
3. I've seen SO many people lately on TV spine a deer and "seemingly" (though we never really know what occurs off camera) hang their bow back up and pan away (panning away for obvious reasons - public viewing).

I just wanted to tll maybe some of the newer guys OR those who haven't experienced this that there are options at our disposal....and that shot selection need not be so stringent at these times (IMO).

That is all.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I've noticed that also. The educated hunter (viewer) knows that the deer is more then likely still alive while someone is chatting away (and often high fiving the cameraman) to the camera. That's just not right. [:@]

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Don't you think that a good portion of those scenes are simply shown with any follow up edited out? I know if we had a spine shot, I would not show the follow up(s). There is just no value to the viewing experience to see arrows shot into a struggling deer, IMO. In fact, it most likely is against the OC and Pursuit network's producer guidelines to show such a follow up. Same policy that keeps shows from showing the impact in slow-mo...which I do think adds to the viewing experience.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I would hope so, but I'm not always sure. If that was the case, why not just mention something so viewers are not left in the dark?

I don't think you would have to show it. But whena viewersees a spine shot and everyone starts hooting and high fiving immediately after the shot, wouldn't you think it may be a little deceptive if you didn't at least mentioning something?

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I agree with Robin. Most of those conversations are edited in after the fact when more arrows have already been sent dispatching the animal. While the educated hunter might think that the deer is still alive, the educated editor knows most likely otherwise.

As far as the original question goes, I have emptied my quiver in an attemt to get an arrow into the vitals of a spine shot deer that was moving. That was not my intent though. I will get out of my stand and try to get an angle to get a solid vitals shot if one is not available from the stand. I don't want to put any more arrows than necessary into that animal to kill it so I take each shot carefully. If more are needed more are taken.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Bob answered this well. I see it SO much when the hunter spines the deer....then sits down (after said high-5's and gives a dissertaion of the hunt. What's that animal doing while he's doing this?

Pan away.....and pan back to hunter....who SHOULD be in a "little" more somber mood......

"After a follow-up shot.....the deer was dispatched and we had our buck". Then.....go about the show....

I've never seen this done....and I watch a lot of hunting shows.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

My first year bowhunting3 years ago I had two spine shots. The first one was about 25 yards away. I didn't have a good angle from where I was for a second shot from the tree. I climbed down and got behind it and put a second one through the top of the spine down thought the vitals. The second one I shot was pretty close to my stand where it fell and I didn't want to climb down. I had a good view for a second shot but it wasn't as good as I would have liked so I took a third.I didn't get anythingmy new bow two years ago, but last yearsot a doe. Made a better shot though the shoulder and front of the lungs. It took a while to find and the arrow burried the opposite shoulder and there was barely any blood until she broke the arrow off after a ways.One things nice about the spine shot is not having to track.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I thinkthe post you used the quote fromdealt withpanning out directly after the spine shot. I'm not a cameraman or editor by any means, but I believe if you are panning out it would be difficult to insert an edit. Could be wrong though.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

I've spined 2 and luckily both allowed an easy follow up shot to the vitals. There isn't much worse that watching a spine shot deer suffering. I hope to never see it again.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

One of the first things you are taught as a cameraman is to establish the kill and not show needless suffering of the animal. Those quick pans back to the hunter are done so the animal isn't shown thrashing on the ground. From an editing standpoint I would take that and the first quick reaction from the hunter and then edit in the later conversation that was filmed from the same position and perspective after the finishing shots were made. A dither dissolve can make the transition from the first pan away to the later taped interview very seamless.

If someone were to carry on and hoot and holler while a deer is writhing on the ground I would have the same reaction as you and be disgusted with those "hunters" but in most cases things are being handled the proper way without showing the gruesome follow ups.

I do agree that a moment of explanation of what happened would be appropriate in a lot of cases to fill the audience in on what they assume happened, but sometimes egos won't allow for that. Other times it is a conscious decision not to mention it because we are under the microscope and don't want to provide any fodder for our detractors. I'm of the opinion that telling the whole story, good or bad, is the best policy though.

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Ive only spined one deer and I followed it up with two shots. The last one hit the lungs. No need to keep shooting after that Especially when an arrow and broadhead total $25

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Thanks for the explaination and a lot of it make sense to me. I do know of the egos sinceI have been in the same camp as a few. Not metioning names though.

FWIW though if they think they are fooling everyone, they are wrong.

Even I, as a somewhat experienced hunter watches something like what has menn mentioned, I am left with a FW% type of feeling. I question whether the actual kill was very accurate. Assumptions by the viewer aside, the viewer is left to believe he took the spinned animal with one shot if not even an explaination is given.

The makers of the show mayassume that everyone knows what happened, however, this may not be the case.

On a side note, I watched a show the other day where an indivual took a hard quartering to shot on an elk. There was no way that believe he even hit one lung let alone two which was whatwas seemed to be portrayed. [:@]

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

It's funny that you say if they think they are fooling everyone, because those egos in some cases cloud their judgement into thinking they are fooling everyone.

As far as the hard quartering to shot, I have seen far too much of that lately on TV and it really hurts everyone in the industry and all hunters in general.

What I would like to do in a perfect world is to show everything as it happens and what cannot be shown is explained so that the viewer has an accurate picture of what is going on. If the footage is good enough to be aired, it should be good enough to be portrayed accurately regardless of how I end up looking. I believe if you do that you will be more respected than if you try to pull the wool over someone's eyes. If the footage is so bad that you feel you have to manipulate it or lie, then you shouldn't try to air it.

Bad shots happen, and we owe it to the animals to do our best to make up for those shots as quickly and efficiently as possible. If it is being taped we owe to the animal to own up to our mistakes as hunters. JMHO

RE: Unloading your quiver
 

Good post HuntingBry!