Hit deer...opinions.
10-09-2007, 06:34 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cogan Station, PA
Posts: 2,298
Hit deer...opinions.
Ok, really, I'm sick to my stomach right now. About 5:52pm this evening I shot a nice sized doe broadside at approx 20yds. Arrow was a complete passthrough. Initially I thought it was back a ways (not too far back but back enough for me to want to give her a ton of time). She ran and I never heard her fall, although she somewhat slowed down right after she went out of sight. Gave her about an hour and I just wanted to get down and see the arrow. The arrow has no signs of guts or slime. The front half off the arrow is pretty much bare (with some random hairs) the back half is dark red blood (no bubbles), and the fletching is pretty saturated. There is a fairly sparse blood trail 20-30yards out (mostly bright red), then we lost the trail as it was getting dark. We pushed a little further then decided to back off for the night (I'm worried about the temps tonight), but my dad is going out tomorrow morning to search everywhere and try to pick up the trail (we're not giving up). My dad initially thought I hit too low, but now he thinks liver after seeing the arrow. I'm seriously not even sure what to think other than I'm sick right now and really have no clue where she could be or if she's just fatally wounded but still moving. What do you guys think? I could have sworn I saw the arrow go in midway up about 5 inches behing the shoulder. The fact that there's very little blood trail with a passthrough has me worried. What are my chances of finding her tomorrow? If we don't find her, it's going to be very tough for me to get back out there again, it seriously is.
10-09-2007, 06:45 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SOUTH Carolina--I've moved!
Posts: 2,760
RE: Hit deer...opinions.
Matt, I would give her a few hours and go back and look tonight. It's hard to say exactly where you hit her. It sounds like you and GMMAT have the exact same situation going on. Wait a couple hours and get some GOOD flashlights and help and try and get back on her so you don't lose the meat. Good luck man.
10-09-2007, 06:52 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Indiana PA USA
Posts: 3,656
RE: Hit deer...opinions.
Sounds like a liver shot to me as well. Liver shots can be hit or miss on how quickly the deer dies. I have hit deer in the liver that have went less than 30 yards and piled up, but I have heard stories of deer going several hundred yards from a liver shot. The blood trail sounds typical of a liver shot deer, I have seen that they don't give the best blood trail, but the deer really bleed internally. The deer will be dead, and if possible I would wait a few more hours, get a lantern, and go back to look tonight, if she isn't found tonight then your dad can always go out in the morning. Good luck
10-09-2007, 06:55 PM
#6
Host of Hosts
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,780
RE: Hit deer...opinions.
Get a gas lantern and go back out tonight. Take your time and mark the trail with reflective tie wraps. You'll find her. I understand your feelings right now, but you'll get her.
10-09-2007, 09:45 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cogan Station, PA
Posts: 2,298
RE: Hit deer...opinions.
Just got in and cleaned up. Took all the advice from you guys (Which was great btw, thank you), and went back out at 8:30 and just slowly worked our way around...10 minutes later I found her not more than 50 yards from my stand!!! I seriously believe the fact that we stepped off early on and waited those few extra hours is what allowed us to find her so close. You guys don't know how happy I am that we found her, and now we have her cleaned and quartered sitting in our extra fridge for the night (to be further processed tomorrow). I'm glad I didn't wait until morning as the temps wouldn't have permitted saving the meat in my opinion. So thanks so much for the advice and the boost in confidence to make me go back out and try even harder to find her. I'm so happy!!
That and this is actually my second ever bow kill, so it's also very special in that respect. Well off too bed, I'm beat. Thanks again guys!!
That and this is actually my second ever bow kill, so it's also very special in that respect. Well off too bed, I'm beat. Thanks again guys!!
10-09-2007, 09:54 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Hughesville, PA
Posts: 2,590
RE: Hit deer...opinions.
Great man, If ya ever need help with finding one again. Let me know, I grew up in Cogan Station and now live in Hughesville. Still hunt at my mom and dads up there sometimes.
