HuntingNet.com Forums - last deer of the season, pic, story & disclaimer

This was my last deer of the season and number 3 with a bow, overall that made two bucks and one doe. I had a really fun season. I roughly figure I went out at least 30 times. A few morning hunts but most where in the evening. I would spend 3 to 4 hours on stand. Some stands had no seats so I would have to stand for the whole hunt. That in its self was sometimes a challenge. The story is out of my journal that I have been keeping the last few years to leave my grandkids and hopefully future generations.
I really enjoy the responses I get from my fellow hunters. This is really a great site. I'm glad I found it. I learn something new every time I visit.
** I found it necessary to post this disclaimer after a couple of responses. It was the Iowa DNR that made the decision to issue multiple deer licenses for deer hunting. They wanted Iowa hunters to shot bucks with antlers less than 7 inches long and does. This is due to an overpopulation of deer all over the state. I can guarantee you that none of the deer goes to waste. I have jerky drying has I write this.

That afternoon November 11th I decided to hunt my stand because it had a bucket to sit on. I was to tired to stand up for a couple of hours having hunted ducks for most of the morning. Bob(my son-in-law) had gone back to the pond and Rick was around the corner along the river. I'm not sure where Larry was hunting. I was watching a shoot able doe down the center of the old slough about 50 yards away. I thought she was going to just fed away from me. However two smaller does came out of the woods to my right and where just down below and a little to the front of my stand. These two were on the small side. Then the first doe I had seen started showing some interest in the smaller two does and looked like she might start coming my way.
Then something drew my attention to the woods just off to my right. Standing there at the edge about 20 yards away was a nice bodied spike. He was a little bigger than the biggest doe. The spike started towards me and looked like he was going to cross right in front of the stand. I had the bow pulled back from a sitting position on the bucket. As the spike got within 10 yards of the stand he saw the does standing a little further down the center trail. At that time he started to turn to his right. He was about a quarter way into his turn when I let the arrow fly. Wack, the arrow hit center shoulder. The spike went running down the center trail of the old slough. About 40 yards down I heard a bunch of crashing as the spike came around in a circle. Then there was silence. After a few seconds I heard what must have been the death throws of the stricken young buck. One of the does started heading toward the noise, but then wandered off into the woods. I waited another five minutes and lowered my bow to the ground.
The blood trail was easy to follow, there was heavy blood everywhere. I found the buck about 40 yards away in heavy brush. Due to the downward angle of the shot and since the deer was turning the arrow had hit center shoulder and came out about center chest. The arrow was no where to be found. I was pretty sure it hadn't gone thru him, because I saw the quill end sticking out from his shoulder as he ran.
I drug the deer back toward my stand and then went for help. I had to go back to my truck to get a flashlight as it was getting dark. Going back down the road I ran into Rick and he helped me drag the deer out to the clearing. By that time Bob had shown up and I started field dressing the deer. At first I thought I had made another heart shot, because the lungs where undamaged, but so was the heart. With the amount of blood along the trail and the short distance the deer had gone I must have hit the main artery coming off the heart.
The drag up to the road was made easier with the assistance from Bob. It was another warm night so Bob and I had to skin and quarter the deer that night. I was still on vacation so it wasn't that bad. I deboned the deer the next day and took the meat to Mortensens on Tuesday. Then it was back to work Thursday but only for a week. Then another weeks vacation and hunting madness. The spirt is there but the body is lacking.

Doug Fields

Edited by - buckmister on 01/22/2002 10:13:45

Edited by - buckmister on 01/22/2002 13:45:35

Edited by - buckmister on 01/22/2002 14:07:46