Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Well it happened today. I know ill probably catch some flame but i did all i can for tonight. If your one of the guys who hates these posts then stop reading here, if you want to take a look at the video and give me some help then continue on.

Me and my brother (Hick442) went back to the spot i hunted this morning, where i had seen 5 does. Its a pinch point between 2 very large cornfields. We had been sitting for almost 2 hours without any luck when we saw antlers to the right. A small 5 point walked into a clearing at 20 yards, he then redirected himself and walked right in front and below us at 10 feet. Following behind him was an 8 point, not a big 8, but bigger then anything i had harvested before. By this time my brother had the camera on, and the 2nd buck followed the 1st ones path just 10 feet in front of us. He stopped and took a peak at us for a second, but then continued on. I drew back when he had passed and he stopped slightly quartering away at what i thought was 20 yards. I left the arrow fly and heard the smack, but as he ran off i could clearly see that i had hit him very high, and that the arrow was sticking out both sides.

After reviewing the tape and confirming that the shot was pretty high, we backed out for an hour and a half. We rounded up some buds and i made a phone call to my cousin who said i should wait at least an hour. After anhour and a half, we all headed back with lights to where i had shot. We found no blood in the clearing but quickly found the arrow where he had entered the woods. We then followed a sparse blood trail a few yards and it came to an end. We then started to circle and found the blood trail again about 25 yards away. This time it was coming out alot better and we followed it 50 yards to where it abruptly stopped. Me and 2 of my close friend stayed at that spot and looked for over an hour to see if it went anywhere, but we couldn't find any blood. My brother and dad circled the entire surrounding wood and found the same. We ended up marking the 1st and last found blood and left woods around 9. I plan on getting up and heading back out 1st thing in the morning, as my dad has work and everyone else has school.

The video is still uploading so i will post it when it gets done.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

It's gonna be a cool night. You will have a great chance of finding him tomorrow. Let's see that vid.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

i bet you find him, i wanna see the vid

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Thats one good theing i have going for me, temps in the lower 40's to upper 50's. The video should be done here in a few minutes.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Heres the video, its loading slow because its new on the site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q52u9ROoFnQ

Im beginning to think this is a case of "no-mans land" :(

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Things like that happen, I wouldn't get to down on yourself . I am sure you will find the buck. I know there are some guys that will nit pick about what happend but that is all a part of hunting. I am sure you and your friends will do your best in trying to find him. That all you can do!

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Resolution was to poor to really see anything...

Good luck in the morning.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

I might take some advice from Fran and load it onto a hunting film website that offers better quality. Thast the best i could do for youtube.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

We know you aren't a quitter and will do everything you can to recover that deer in the morning....I wouldn't stress over the video.

Again, good luck.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Siman...best of luck to you...cool vid.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

dont give up on that deer i think u will find him in the am he was really traveling quick check the 100 yrd circle real good.
what color blood and was the blood the full length of the arrow?
check the master video in slow mo to see if you can see exactly where the arrow hit
and check the opposite side when the deer turns in slow mo for pass threw

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Siman, that is a dead dee by morning. He has two holes in him. I am sure once you get to last blood and see it in the daylight you will recover him.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

I zoomed this thing in and got a multiple repeat of the impact. Simon08 was right. It was hit very high. Here's a zoomed shot and while it looks like there are two fletched ends, it's the lack of frame to frame quality. I could make out clearly where the arrow was protruding as the deer turned. The black arrow was the actual point of impact. When i was young, I shot a buck in almost that same spot with a rifle. He bled out quickly because I hit the artery. Have some faith!

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

I'm gonna go against the grain. I think that deer is alive, well and will be until he gets shot, again, or dies of other causes.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

I was actually just thinking about this type of hit today and how shooting from a treestand actually offsets the potentially negative effects of a high hit. It does this because the arrow impacts high but cuts through at an angle to potentially hit more surface area of vital organs. A high hit from the ground could be very bad because if you miss hit high, you miss hit high with no salvage as compared to an angled shot from a tree.

Just rambling.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

did you see how much that deer ducked

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Yep, and I've seen one do it to me. I didn't realize how much time they had to react if they're looking straight at you when you release andthey see the shot. I just never gave it much thought until I had a doe plain duck my arrow at 25 yards last year.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

I think that is very high and he's gonna live. I could see it well enough to say it wasn't near anything vital, even the exit. You may have hit the top of the shoulder blade, which is why the arrow stopped, but it didn't look to me like it was low enough to kill him. Then again, you may have hit his main artery up there, in which case you'll find him in the morning.

In your defense, he did duck it a bit, altho I think you still would have hit him high. That deer was on alert and although I know you might not want to hear this, it might have been a better choice to pass on him under those circumstances. That's alot easier for me to say sitting here at my desk than it would be sitting in the stand over him, I know.

This is just my .02 and I don't mean to criticize. I have to take those things into consideration before I shoot because my bow is old, slow and loud. If the deer is alert, I don't feel sure enough to shoot.

I do hope I'm wrong and I hope you find him, but I honestly wouldn't worry too much. I really feel he'll be fine.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Yes, after impact like 99% of all other deer.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

If the black arrow above is where you hit, most likely are above the spine - shot thru the backstraps.
Probably live.

Steve

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Looks like a tenderloin hit....too bad you weren't in a stand. I'd say the deer lives.;)

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Unless you got the artery, he probably is still alive. But I would make damn sure, as I know you will that he is dead.

Good luck tomorrow, I'm looking forward to hearing an update.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

How high are you off the ground there man ? I was just curious. The one thing I noticed is his tail. It keeps flopping up and down, compared to the other deer that ran away. You MAY, and I mean MAY of caught the top of the right lung on the exit hole. I can barely catch a glimpse of that arrow when he turns.

I don't know how many deer you taken with a bow, or how much experience you have, but taking a shot at an alert deer like that, while they are looking at you, is a tough shot to pull off. He knew something was wrong, and that didn't help you when you released the arrow. No bud, I ain't lecturing you, because everybody has had this happen before. But a deer's body language is important when getting ready to take that shot. Alert deer are tough, that's all there is to it.

Keep us posted, I'm curious to hear what happens. Best of luck to you, I know how you feel! Keep your chin up and keep hunting!

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

I have to agree that the hit was above the spine.

But you still have to go out and look like he is dead in the morning.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Either way, if you find him or not just learn from it. I have had an expeience like yours, it took me about 5 hours to find the deer I shot. My brother, who is an excellent tracker helped me, at one point we were on our hands and knees looking for a pencil lead sized blood drops, it paid off. I found the deer,which happened to be my first bowkill, but I learned alot about tracking, patience, and not giving up. Good luck!

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Thanks for all the positive input guys, i appreciate it. I would like to add that i thought he was farther then he really was, as i judged him at 18 or so yards when he was really in the 12-13 yard range. With or without the duck i would have hit him high. The black arrow is a pretty good indicator of where i hit, and the exit hole is about an inch lower the the entry. I will be out in he morning doing all that i can to recover him.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

You certainly hit him high, man. I have no advice to offer as far as whether he is dead or not. I don't have that much experiance to start telling you what to do.

All I can say is, stick with it. Exhaust all your options until youthink you have done all you can do. I know you will.

Good luck:D

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Best of luck bud. Just do the best you can. My gut tells me he will live, well at least longer than it will take to find him. Things happen and learn from it. Nice set up there, looks like you were just behind a make shift blind material. Anywhere to get up higher and in a brushed in full ground blind?

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

If you click on "watch in high quality" you can see much better, at least on my computer. I think this buck lives ut I still would do some more searching to be sure.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

After studying the video i am going to agree with most of these guys, you didn't hit the fabled "no mans land" you simply hit the buck above the spine. Unless you nicked an artery you are probably SOL on the recovery but stranger things have happened. I wouldn't get to torn up about it, the buck will probably survive and you and the buck both get a good education out of it.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Damn Caleb , I feel for ya bud.:) It looks to me like It's a high hit as well, plenty above the spine. Chances are this deer will live just fine but In saying that a guy has got to go out In the morning and do his best to make sure that he Isn't dead. You just never know though! You know that, there's no sense In saying anymore.

I wish you the best In the morning.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Thanks Steve,

I went to youtube and if you do click the "watch in high quality" option the video does shows up much clearer. Everytime i view the video it seems like the deer is running away perfectly fine, which would indicate he only has a flesh wound. Im only down because i know i can make better shots on deer and now i have this wounded buck that im going to have to live with until i find him or see him doing well. In my 7 years of deer hunting i have never wounded an animal and not found it. Both my bow kills went less then 70 yards and both my gun kills dropped on the spot. This is a first for me.

But it all comes around, i mentioned in 2 threads earlier today that we should learn from our mistakes and that everybody ends up with a bad shot every once in awhile. Just didnt think it would come full circle tonight.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

That's just It Caleb, It seems to happen when we least expect It to. I've been there before. My one and only wounded animal came about in my 6th year of bow hunting. I shot a bear In the foot. I was pissed, and I'm still ticked about it to this day even though the bear was just fine but that's bow hunting and that's how it goes sometimes. I've been bow hunting 23 years and I've only wounded one animal, the bear I just mentioned but I'm sure my time Is coming once again. One just never knows when It's going to happen. Like I said, this Is bow hunting and this Is what happens here and there.

Keep your head up!

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

id agree......hit one in the same place 3 years ago.....same deal...alert deer...i watched him duck as the arrow was sailing for his lungs....im 10000% confident the buck i shot didnt die from my broadhead. i looked for 4-5hrs that night and atleast the same the next day...with like 6 buddies...we covered some major ground...leaving no leaf unturned...


just to be sure, id agree with the others and say you aughta do the same(which you said your going back out)


not trying to bust your balls or sack punch you or sack kick you while your down or anything...just a couple things i wanted to point out....

he was 12-13yds and you shot him for 18 or so...not sure what bow you shoot or how fast it is....but, i know for me, 12-13yds is my 20yd pin...same with 22-23yds...not enough of a difference to compensate for....

and the alert deer deal....hard lesson to learn....and noone seems to tell you that till AFTER you live it....live and learn buddy...happened to me....just gotta learn from our mistakes and become better and more educated...

like i said, not throwng salt in the wound...i been there and feel for you....just feel that its gotta be said so you can learn....thats AWESOME you had it on video....really helps us look at it....


good luck next time!! pretty awesome video....hopefully we get to see him dead in the morning or see you smoke another one!! keep your head up!!!

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

x2

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

I agree .... it looks like you went just under the skin ..... Either way, if you hit an artery, he is dead and you'll get him, or if you did what I think you did, he will be absolutely fine ....

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

I'll go the other way ,I say you hit high all right but the exit side looks low enough to get the top of the lung on the right side.He could go a ways to bed but you will find him.
Your not going to find much blood,and what you do find will be up high on brush or even those corn stalks.Be careful and mark a line with toilet paper to keep you on line between blood spots.Take your time.
At that range if you had not hit something substantial that arrow would have zipped right through him . Finding that arrow might lead you to the answers you need.

Good luck,Jim

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

If you're shooting at an alert deer (which I don't think is a good idea), especially one that's looking at you, youMUST aim a bit low. That deer IS going to duck at least a little bit. You can take that to the bank!I don't think he's dead though. Good luck either way.

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Someone may have already mentioned this??
As you mentioned the deer was obviously alerted by something/someone was in the tree...

You can see this as he trots off, from in front of you, to where he stopped and you shot at him.
My experience is that I would have aimed a few inches lower, knowing he will jump to bound away, by his body actions in the video.

Good luck!

RE: Highs and lows of bowhunting
 

Let us know how it turns out. It happens to everyone. If they say they've never lost an animal they either haven't been hunting that long, or they are a liar. Good luck though man keep us updated.


Adam Bowman