Lifetime Buck + Lost blood trail= Worst two days of my life!
11-28-2010, 06:43 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,583
Lifetime Buck + Lost blood trail= Worst two days of my life!
Some of you may recall this buck I posted this summer... and a few weeks ago of me missing him...
Well lastnight me and my girlfriend were walking around and I killed a doe and we were heading back to the cabin to get knives and stuff and we got to the field behind our cabin and their was like 10-15 does and 3 or 4 bucks in there and they all saw me and took off except for this big guy... He just stayed there and kept eating. Well he was along this new fenceline that my grandpa and neighbors put in so I crawled along the fenceline real low to get closer and he was probably 70-80 yards away just getting ready to jump the fence when I accidently broke a small twig that made a loud noise and that buck got curious and started walking that fenceline straight for me! I had 0 cover.. I was hiding behind a wooden fence post. The only cover I did have was the low light... Well im hiding behind the post with my bow ready to pull back and he walks in front of me 20 yards out and I pulled back and he never even sees me. I stop him and let my arrow fly and I dont know what happend or why I did it but I didn't even watch where the arrow hit him. I aimed at 20 yards right in his vitals, pulled my trigger on the release, and all I could see was my arrow flying out the other side of him... And then my eyes went straight to his rack!!!! He was a monster! The picture of him above doesn't even justify it.. That picture was during the first week of july! He still had growing. I found my arrow and their was some blood on it and hair and me and my girlfriend went to get my doe cleaned out and then we went to go look for the buck. I had a decent blood trail but then it stopped... Nothing. For 5 hours that night and about all day today 7 of us guys looked for that buck in probably a 2 mile radius. No sign of him at all.
When I shot him, you probably would have never seen a more happy teenager in his life! I was jumping up and down not even able to talk, shaking with excitement, voice raised up high, everything! I was like that all night until we went to look for him. Then once we lost the blood trail I felt miserable! I couldn't even sleep at all that night.
I dont know what else we can do.. we looked everywhere possible for him.. and it sucks because shotgun season is next weekend and if he did die some where some guy will end up finding him and taking him.
Well lastnight me and my girlfriend were walking around and I killed a doe and we were heading back to the cabin to get knives and stuff and we got to the field behind our cabin and their was like 10-15 does and 3 or 4 bucks in there and they all saw me and took off except for this big guy... He just stayed there and kept eating. Well he was along this new fenceline that my grandpa and neighbors put in so I crawled along the fenceline real low to get closer and he was probably 70-80 yards away just getting ready to jump the fence when I accidently broke a small twig that made a loud noise and that buck got curious and started walking that fenceline straight for me! I had 0 cover.. I was hiding behind a wooden fence post. The only cover I did have was the low light... Well im hiding behind the post with my bow ready to pull back and he walks in front of me 20 yards out and I pulled back and he never even sees me. I stop him and let my arrow fly and I dont know what happend or why I did it but I didn't even watch where the arrow hit him. I aimed at 20 yards right in his vitals, pulled my trigger on the release, and all I could see was my arrow flying out the other side of him... And then my eyes went straight to his rack!!!! He was a monster! The picture of him above doesn't even justify it.. That picture was during the first week of july! He still had growing. I found my arrow and their was some blood on it and hair and me and my girlfriend went to get my doe cleaned out and then we went to go look for the buck. I had a decent blood trail but then it stopped... Nothing. For 5 hours that night and about all day today 7 of us guys looked for that buck in probably a 2 mile radius. No sign of him at all.
When I shot him, you probably would have never seen a more happy teenager in his life! I was jumping up and down not even able to talk, shaking with excitement, voice raised up high, everything! I was like that all night until we went to look for him. Then once we lost the blood trail I felt miserable! I couldn't even sleep at all that night.
I dont know what else we can do.. we looked everywhere possible for him.. and it sucks because shotgun season is next weekend and if he did die some where some guy will end up finding him and taking him.
11-28-2010, 07:00 PM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Middleton, Wisconsin
Posts: 979
it happens, it's too bad that it had to be that buck that you lost, i also lost the biggest buck i've ever had a chance at shooting yet, i followed the trail for about a mile and found where he bedded then nothing... it sucks, but i got over it, i still hate thinking about it, and always wonder "what if/where did it hit?, did i jump him?" i'll never know...
11-28-2010, 07:10 PM
#3
Spike
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 66
I don't know if it is legal in your state but there are guys/gals out there that have blood tracking dogs for hire. Check the net. It may be worth a shot on a buck that big. If it has not rained they may still be able to pick up the blood/scent. It is the worst feeling in the world and yes it does happen to the best of us. It just stings a little more when they are sporting head gear like that. What kind of blood were you getting? Deep red? Watery? Alot at first and then drops suddenly?
11-28-2010, 07:13 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,583
I don't know if it is legal in your state but there are guys/gals out there that have blood tracking dogs for hire. Check the net. It may be worth a shot on a buck that big. If it has not rained they may still be able to pick up the blood/scent. It is the worst feeling in the world and yes it does happen to the best of us. It just stings a little more when they are sporting head gear like that. What kind of blood were you getting? Deep red? Watery? Alot at first and then drops suddenly?
11-29-2010, 07:30 AM
#7
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location:
Posts: 11,472
Keep looking,
Someone may have missed it in the excitement.
Start over and keep looking.
Know some that have recovered game days after, and after several attempts to trail it.
Someone may have missed it in the excitement.
Start over and keep looking.
Know some that have recovered game days after, and after several attempts to trail it.
Keep at it man. Buck of a lifetime pull out all stops. I'd be calling for a dog asap too. A good dog is amazing at picking up a trail.
11-29-2010, 10:58 AM
#9
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SOLDOTNA, ALASKA
Posts: 832
http://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/i...&id=3&Itemid=6
DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY HANDLERS LISTED :-( for Iowa. ? close enough to bordering state.
look for birds. go to thickest brushiest area esp near water and search every inch ( after reading state regs and making sure you comply) any hunting breed dog on long leash (30-40 foot rope) would be better than not trying a dog at all. let the dog lead you around after you get it started. some breeds ground scent others air scent. worth a shot.....GOOD LUCK
DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY HANDLERS LISTED :-( for Iowa. ? close enough to bordering state.
look for birds. go to thickest brushiest area esp near water and search every inch ( after reading state regs and making sure you comply) any hunting breed dog on long leash (30-40 foot rope) would be better than not trying a dog at all. let the dog lead you around after you get it started. some breeds ground scent others air scent. worth a shot.....GOOD LUCK