After work I got settled into my Northern Mo stand at 3:45. I immediately saw a small buck working a couple of does off in the distance. 4:35 I saw a descent 8 coming straight to me. I passed him because he was just an 8 and let him go underneath of my stand unaware of anything. He got 10 yards past me and I changed my mind -- he got BIGGER. At around 7-10 yards I pulled and stopped him with a " baa" from the old mouth. he turned slightly and I released.

The angle of the deer was about 1:30 to 2' oclock position. I aimed for the last rib wich would of put the arrow coming out in front of the front opposite shoulder. Right through the boiler room. Having everything " burned" into my mind, I hit the last rib, but about 1/3rd of the way up, vs. 2/3rds. The deer bolted, through semi-grown up brush about 70 yards and stopped, hunched his back, and stood there looking straight or in my direction for 37 minutes. He then jumped the fence and slowly moved into " to thick to see anything" territory.

I shoot 72 pounds, 30 1/4" 2315' s w/ 125 spitfires. The arrow only penetrated about 5-7 inches and remained lodged solid in the deer until he dissappeared. My only guess is that at the deer' s angle, and shot placement, my arrow had to " try" and bust through anywhere from 3-6 ribs. My set-up has alot of K/E, but that is a mighty task for any set-up. And I am hoping that my heads held together and did thier job. Since he hunched up, he' s telling me that I got mainly stomach. He' s as good as on the wall, but I am choosing to pursue him in the morning. The temp is supposed to get to 28 or so tonight. I stayed in my stand until dark looking for signs and saw a doe get 50 yards downwind from where I last saw him and BOLT. I also saw 2 screech owls perch directly over top of the last known position at last light. I think I am doing the right thing by waiting ' til first light tomorrow. It will be one hell of a gutting job, but the meat should be good -- right?

Let me know what you all think.

BOB

Your doing the right thing! The deer didn' t fall after that long of standing there than right on, waight till morning. The meat will be fine! It sounds like you did hit some gut but probably got some liver and maybe a lung. Good luck and post the picks!

28 degrees tonite he will be fine. Your doing the right thing by not pushing him. He will probably bed down close to were you last saw him. I have a feeling he will be close in the morning. Get in early the meat will be fine. I switched for spitfires last year because of penetration problems. I went with Rock Mountain Gator XP' s. In my opinion best mechanical on the market.

You definitetly got guts with a hunch up like that. And you are doing right by not going till tomorrow. I had a similar shot on my buck. 10 yds, sharp quatrter away. I hit between the last 2 ribs and exited the breastbone. I shoot 70 #, it didn' t pass thru stick in the ground, but was about 5" of arrow sticking out of the deer. Good luck tomorrow, I' m confident he' ll be bedded and dead not far.

I' m with wimp on that one, he shouldn' t be far. You did the right thing by waiting, the meat should be fine.

good that you waited - Its a bad hit alright - maybe not even a lethal one. If so - you' ll know in the morning - post back & let us know.

Sometimes - the arrow goes in a little further than it seems

good luck!

Just got done reading most of the spitfire thread, and am wondering if anyone can figure out my KE. 30 1/4 XX78 2315' s @ 72# w/ 125 gr. heads. I do not know my fps. I shoot an 80% Hoyt, ultra-nock, release. Estimates? Is it enough for spitfires though I have had no problems putting deer down in the past?

I WILL post my pics soon WHEN I find him -- TOMORROW!!

BOB

I think you made the right decision as well. Hopefully you will find him this morning.

As for the KE question on Spitfires...their modest cutting diameter would require somewhere in the neighborhood of at least 55 ft. lbs to get them to work most efficiently. If you could list your draw length and the specific Hoyt bow that you are using then maybe I could take a guess at your speed and subsequently your KE level.

Smart call letting him lay over night. I like the factyour honest about letting a good shot go and taking a more difficult shot after he" grew" . It' s funny how if you watch a deer long enough he will go from a non shooter to a shooter.
I hope all works out. Keep us posted.

Good decision on the wait and the meat should be fine. Good luck finding him this morning.