Shot an 8...need some help
10-20-2005, 07:03 AM
#22
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Nekoosa Wi USA
Posts: 6,066
RE: Shot an 8...need some help
Good luck to you. Hope ya find him.
Last night I had to let a 150+ class 9 pointer walk. I was in my climber about 18-20 feet and the nine pointer was walking right on the access road in our woods. Sure I could have went with a spine shot but Im not very comfortable with that shot, he did give me a nice quarting away shot op, but i passed due to the downward angle. He never knew I was there. Ill be honest, I have made some terrible shots in my hunting career, but have also made every possible attempt to find the deer. A few years ago I shot what would possibly have been a county record buck, and in the county I hunt in WI, there have been some pretty big deer taken out of. Some even bigger than thoes taken out of Buffalo County. Needless to say, right when I got down from the stand and began tracking, it began to rain, then it began to pour, no blood holds up to rain. So i went abck to the farm and waited the rain out, called a friend, he brought his game finder along, didnt work worth crap. Went out the next 2 days after that and litterly combed the woods with a group of people including a tracker. The buck was no longer on our property or on our side of the river. The buck survived...that was a relief. Untill word got out about someone hitting amonster buck on the other side of the river the night before gun seasonwith his truck. Never did hear anymore on it. The moral of the story is, make every possible effort to find the deer, search for 2-3 days or more if you have to. Sure the meat may not be good after that, but finding the deer will set your mind at ease.
Last night I had to let a 150+ class 9 pointer walk. I was in my climber about 18-20 feet and the nine pointer was walking right on the access road in our woods. Sure I could have went with a spine shot but Im not very comfortable with that shot, he did give me a nice quarting away shot op, but i passed due to the downward angle. He never knew I was there. Ill be honest, I have made some terrible shots in my hunting career, but have also made every possible attempt to find the deer. A few years ago I shot what would possibly have been a county record buck, and in the county I hunt in WI, there have been some pretty big deer taken out of. Some even bigger than thoes taken out of Buffalo County. Needless to say, right when I got down from the stand and began tracking, it began to rain, then it began to pour, no blood holds up to rain. So i went abck to the farm and waited the rain out, called a friend, he brought his game finder along, didnt work worth crap. Went out the next 2 days after that and litterly combed the woods with a group of people including a tracker. The buck was no longer on our property or on our side of the river. The buck survived...that was a relief. Untill word got out about someone hitting amonster buck on the other side of the river the night before gun seasonwith his truck. Never did hear anymore on it. The moral of the story is, make every possible effort to find the deer, search for 2-3 days or more if you have to. Sure the meat may not be good after that, but finding the deer will set your mind at ease.
10-20-2005, 07:10 AM
#23
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 2,107
RE: Shot an 8...need some help
wvbowhntr----sometimes things are done,and you cant turn things around,or pretend it didnt happen.You realize what you done and dont need to appologise to anyone.
Hitting the deer inbetween the shoulder blades can be very fatal.You said the arrow is sticking out a quite a bit.Wonder if it is lodged in the shoulder blade.?Did the deer seem to be favouring his one side as he was running away?Either way,he will be bleading internally.He will die,and giving him all night was the best thing to do.
Did you mark the last place you seen him?The direction he was going.First place I would be looking if there is no blood sign around is near the water if any in your area.Along field edges as well as they can lay down and watch for danger.
I know this may sound early but keep an eye on the birds as well.Prey birds may be circling around.
Gather up all the friends you have at school and do a search.You will be surprised on how much land can be covered .
Good luck on your search and recovery.Hopefully you find him.
Hitting the deer inbetween the shoulder blades can be very fatal.You said the arrow is sticking out a quite a bit.Wonder if it is lodged in the shoulder blade.?Did the deer seem to be favouring his one side as he was running away?Either way,he will be bleading internally.He will die,and giving him all night was the best thing to do.
Did you mark the last place you seen him?The direction he was going.First place I would be looking if there is no blood sign around is near the water if any in your area.Along field edges as well as they can lay down and watch for danger.
I know this may sound early but keep an eye on the birds as well.Prey birds may be circling around.
Gather up all the friends you have at school and do a search.You will be surprised on how much land can be covered .
Good luck on your search and recovery.Hopefully you find him.
10-20-2005, 07:27 AM
#24
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Shot an 8...need some help
Not to add to the piling on (at all)…..but I think one thing is being overlooked in this discussion (wvbowhunter…..this just happens to be your thread….I’m not addressing you, personally).
Part of being a true hunter (a HUGE part) is being ethical. That not only entails taking an ethical shot (One that will produce a fatal wound), but one that will be fatal QUICKLY. At best…..a front on shot is fatal…..but at what time interval? If you told me the county record buck was in front of me and I could kill him with a front on shot…..but he’d take 14 hrs to expire…….I’m passing (for that reason, alone). I won’t begin to lecture anyone, I promise, and I’m a HUGE lover of animals……if I wasn’t…I wouldn’t be a hunter. Let’s all remember that each animal should be harvested in a dignified, humane manner, though. Shot selection is a big part of this. I won’t speak for others, but I think this may be part of the angst that threads like this bring out. Just my opinion, though.
Have a great day
Jeff
Part of being a true hunter (a HUGE part) is being ethical. That not only entails taking an ethical shot (One that will produce a fatal wound), but one that will be fatal QUICKLY. At best…..a front on shot is fatal…..but at what time interval? If you told me the county record buck was in front of me and I could kill him with a front on shot…..but he’d take 14 hrs to expire…….I’m passing (for that reason, alone). I won’t begin to lecture anyone, I promise, and I’m a HUGE lover of animals……if I wasn’t…I wouldn’t be a hunter. Let’s all remember that each animal should be harvested in a dignified, humane manner, though. Shot selection is a big part of this. I won’t speak for others, but I think this may be part of the angst that threads like this bring out. Just my opinion, though.
Have a great day
Jeff
10-20-2005, 08:12 AM
#25
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 7,208
RE: Shot an 8...need some help
I am usually one to jump all over a knowingly bad shot that is still taken. Others have done that for me.
However, now that the shot is done, and pretty much likely fatal, it comes down to perserverance to make up for it and find your deer. You seem to have that desire and I wish you well in finding him. Reread the tracking thread, don't get ahead of yourself, follow the blood, don't be suprised at weird turns that the deer may make.
And just for next time, if the only shot you have is a bad one, then you don't have a shot. Good luck.
However, now that the shot is done, and pretty much likely fatal, it comes down to perserverance to make up for it and find your deer. You seem to have that desire and I wish you well in finding him. Reread the tracking thread, don't get ahead of yourself, follow the blood, don't be suprised at weird turns that the deer may make.
And just for next time, if the only shot you have is a bad one, then you don't have a shot. Good luck.
10-20-2005, 08:15 AM
#26
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Jackson, Missouri
Posts: 7,051
RE: Shot an 8...need some help
wvbowhntr, I do want to take the time to applaud the attitude with which you bring to the table... I can't remember who said it above, but we all learn from less-than-optimal shots (well, at least some of us, [:@]).
Good luck in finding your trophy. You sound like a stand-up guy.I wish I lived closer; I would come and help you look.
Good luck in finding your trophy. You sound like a stand-up guy.I wish I lived closer; I would come and help you look.
10-20-2005, 09:20 AM
#27
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Iowa
Posts: 1,179
RE: Shot an 8...need some help
Jhalfhill I hope I never run into you looking for a wounded deer you took a bad shot on after the post you made. You are what give huinters a bad name. At least wv knows it wasn't the best shot to take but for you to condone it, that is just downright ignorant.
10-20-2005, 09:21 AM
#28
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 913
RE: Shot an 8...need some help
Yeah good luck finding him. But to those that don't think this is a good shot to take with ANY weapon...I have killed several deer with my RIFLE using the same shot and without exception they dropped in their tracks. But I would NEVER attempt this shot with a bow, and I'm sure you won't again. Part of life is learning from our mistakes and I think this will make you a better hunter in the long run. Again good luck finding him and let us know either way.
