I use a climbing stand and was wondering what some of you guys did to finish off a spined deer. I'm not talking about a stand that you can just jump down the ladder. I'm talking about a stand that would take you some time to get down. Did you climb down or shoot it again from the stand? It takes me 5 minutes to get down so I would probably take the shot from the stand. I wouldn't want it to suffer. I hope I never have to though. What would you do?

If it is still in range and shows a vitals shot I would take it soon as possible before climbing down. The sooner the better.

I hope you don't have to either. Keep shooting and you should have nothing to worry about.

I learned the hard way years ago if you can finish a deer from the stand you do it. Granted it was when I was using a shot gun but I was sure I spined a nice buck. He tried for ten minutes to get up and move. He crawled a good thirty- forty feet all the while struggling and looking around. I didn't want to take another shot because I was at that time both meat hunting and use to collect racks before I wised up to how useless they where. I didn't want to mess up either.

Aften ten minutes I was sure he was spined and was getting ready to lower my gun and that sun of gun finally located me when he heard a tap from the gun and the stand. He jumped up and took off. Wow, I got burned big time.

Now, I never hand anything like that happen with a bow, but I won't take the chance again.

what ever your comfortable with. I've made a couple of spine shots in the past couple of years and no one was the same as the others. Use your best judgment. React to soon and the deer could run off. Wait for the deer to weaken( which is hard) then go in for the final kill. Something to always remember is; killing is not easy.

[quote]ORIGINAL: buckmister

Yea and sometimes you have to do the nasty and cut the throat with the knife.

[quote]ORIGINAL: Fieldmouse

You're right! My first and only deer so far was spined. It was an awful feeling, especially for my first bow-buck expectations. Though I was in a ground blind, I did take the second shot right thru the ribs to where the vitals, and my first arrow, should've been. Somehow, my second arrow didn't finish him off.(at least not quick enough for me) After about ten minutes, I couldn't take any more, I carefully walked over and cut his throat. It was over in about 20 seconds.
Almost forgot to answer your question, IF it ever happened again, yes I would take the second shot.
I hope it never does,.......for any of us!

That is the hardest thing do, I spined a doe last year, she jumped the string and when she lowerd her self my arrow cought her in the spine,, I use a climber too and I know it takes a bit of time to get down, I took my second shot from my stand, put it right through her heart, nice and quick.
I only hope you never have to make that second shot, its alot harder than the first one. now when I shot I always aim just a touch low.

Every situation is different. I spined a deer one time from a stand. I had tree steps to get up and down so after I shot this deer, I raced down the steps to slice its throat, this deer just about whopped my arse, but I finally won after being hoofed and beaten.
I think you just got to make the decession when it comes up, maybe an arrow, maybe a knife, good luck, Bobby