wounded deer
11-13-2003, 07:31 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: pennsylvania
Posts: 10
wounded deer
this is my third season bowhunting following a ten year layoff--took a nice doe earlier in the season. had the day off yesterday, so i decided to head out to the woods for the day--a bit rainy in the morning, but cleared up by midday. nothing doing all day long, until about 3:45, a doe crossed my stand looking anxiously behind her. sure enough, about 2 minutes later, a nice 6-pt buck comes trailing her, nose to the ground, completely oblivious to my presence. here' s the setup:
i' m 15 ft high in my treestand, buck is 25 yards broadside, standing still. i drew back, and let it fly. as soon as i released, i knew i had pulled the shot and hit square in the shoulder. he went tearing off--i mentally marked his direction, but never heard him crash. after an hour, i climbed down from the tree and retrieved my arrow--the broken fletched end, anyway. no blood, tallow, entrails, hair, etc. on the arrow indicating anything other than the shoulder hit. with darkness approaching, rain beginning, and fog rolling in, i decided to hike my equipment back to the truck, then come back and start tracking (figuring about 2hrs from the shot).
the blood trail was scant at best, although i was able to follow it for about 75 yards when i lost it. by now it' s almost 8:30pm, and the fog is so thick i can' t see 10ft in front of me. knowing i had to work this morning, i scavenged the area for another hour, but with no success. around 9:30pm i abandoned the search. the earliest i (or my hunting partners) can make it back out (because of work/school obligations) is saturday. this evening i shot into my target with the spotlights on in the backyard. just as i suspected, the bow/arrow/sight are dead on. it was the archer to blame for the miss.
some questions for anyone who has left a wounded deer in the woods:
1. how long before that gnawing feeling leaves the pit of my stomach?
2. do you guys take time of day / weather conditions / occupational obligations into account before you release your arrow?
3. do you guys routinely practice DURING the archery season?
4. any idea on survival of a deer hit in the shoulder, with an obvious limp/instability to his gait?
for the record, my wife has been surprisingly supportive (for a non-hunter). she has said before that she could probably get over harvesting the animal, but couldn' t deal with wounding one. not so sure i can either after this week...
any advice on shooting, tracking, psychology, or spiritualality would be much appreciated.
i' m 15 ft high in my treestand, buck is 25 yards broadside, standing still. i drew back, and let it fly. as soon as i released, i knew i had pulled the shot and hit square in the shoulder. he went tearing off--i mentally marked his direction, but never heard him crash. after an hour, i climbed down from the tree and retrieved my arrow--the broken fletched end, anyway. no blood, tallow, entrails, hair, etc. on the arrow indicating anything other than the shoulder hit. with darkness approaching, rain beginning, and fog rolling in, i decided to hike my equipment back to the truck, then come back and start tracking (figuring about 2hrs from the shot).
the blood trail was scant at best, although i was able to follow it for about 75 yards when i lost it. by now it' s almost 8:30pm, and the fog is so thick i can' t see 10ft in front of me. knowing i had to work this morning, i scavenged the area for another hour, but with no success. around 9:30pm i abandoned the search. the earliest i (or my hunting partners) can make it back out (because of work/school obligations) is saturday. this evening i shot into my target with the spotlights on in the backyard. just as i suspected, the bow/arrow/sight are dead on. it was the archer to blame for the miss.
some questions for anyone who has left a wounded deer in the woods:
1. how long before that gnawing feeling leaves the pit of my stomach?
2. do you guys take time of day / weather conditions / occupational obligations into account before you release your arrow?
3. do you guys routinely practice DURING the archery season?
4. any idea on survival of a deer hit in the shoulder, with an obvious limp/instability to his gait?
for the record, my wife has been surprisingly supportive (for a non-hunter). she has said before that she could probably get over harvesting the animal, but couldn' t deal with wounding one. not so sure i can either after this week...
any advice on shooting, tracking, psychology, or spiritualality would be much appreciated.
11-13-2003, 07:39 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Owasso OK USA
Posts: 31
RE: wounded deer
you will probably always think about that shot. i still think about shots i have made like that . as bad as it is looseing a deer you still have to keep hunting thats where you get your tracking skills. how much of your arrow was sticking out of his shoulder ?
11-13-2003, 07:53 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Dodge Center MN USA
Posts: 105
RE: wounded deer
More than once I have thought about what if... and when I can get out to track. I would rather stay home if I do not feel confident that I can stay or come back the next day to follow up on things. That is just me.
11-13-2003, 08:14 PM
#4
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Durant Oklahoma Durant, OK
Posts: 109
RE: wounded deer
You will never get over the feeling of that feeling unless you see the deer later limping around.You should use this to your advantage to make yourself a more carefull and better hunter.And as far as practiceing I practice every day if not only two get in 5 or so shots just to see any differences weather makes.If you have ever shot in heavy fog or rain your arrow should shoot low practice this and you will be dead on.
I buy 6- 100 grain muzzy broadheads and mark 3 for practice and keep three unused and sharp.
And depending on how deep the arrow went in will determine if the deer lives or dies.Keep an eye out for coyotes or buzzards and keep your nose in the air .Deer are very resilliant and can take a heck of a beating and still come out strong.But every time you go out look for your deer for the next few days and don' t give up.Hope this helps[:-]
I buy 6- 100 grain muzzy broadheads and mark 3 for practice and keep three unused and sharp.
And depending on how deep the arrow went in will determine if the deer lives or dies.Keep an eye out for coyotes or buzzards and keep your nose in the air .Deer are very resilliant and can take a heck of a beating and still come out strong.But every time you go out look for your deer for the next few days and don' t give up.Hope this helps[:-]
11-13-2003, 08:19 PM
#5
RE: wounded deer
I still think of bad shots more that 10 years ago.
Since I' m retired I always make sure that I have plenty of tracking time available. Weather is always an important factor that mustr be considered . . . but it wouldn' t prevent me from taking a shot. Where in the shoulder the arrow hot and how much of the arrow is left in the deer are important factors.
Many, if not most meat/bone hit animals recover fully with no side affects. Also it is not uncommon for an animat to pull an arrow out themselves and return to normal from the event.
Since I' m retired I always make sure that I have plenty of tracking time available. Weather is always an important factor that mustr be considered . . . but it wouldn' t prevent me from taking a shot. Where in the shoulder the arrow hot and how much of the arrow is left in the deer are important factors.
Many, if not most meat/bone hit animals recover fully with no side affects. Also it is not uncommon for an animat to pull an arrow out themselves and return to normal from the event.
11-13-2003, 08:23 PM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Central PA
Posts: 2,299
RE: wounded deer
I know exactly how feel. Last year, I made perfect 30 yard broadside shot on my 10 pointer at 7:30 in the morning. He ran 50 yards and layed down for an hour, got up and ran off again. I left him go until about 11:00 and took up the trail. I found my arrow, complete passthrough. I followed blood for about 100 yards before loosing it. I searched the rest of the afternoon and night till about 8pm with no success. I found him the next day. Perfect lung shot, but for some reason he went forever. That night sucked at best. I didn' t sleep at all, and yeah, I was sick in the stomach. You do eventually get over it. Accept it and move on. If you hunt long enough, things like this will happen, no matter how good you are.
Sometimes I do take into consideration of what I have to do the next day before making the shot. If I have to work early, I wont shoot unless its a monster.
I shoot once or twice throught the week if I can. Sometimes I go to the area shop and shoot the video range for an hour just to keep sharp. It helps.
As far as the shoulder hit, it depends. I hit a doe in the should a few years back and only about 1" was stuck in her. The arrow fell out shortly after she took off running. I seen her about 2 week later. A little limp, but otherwise fine. Not to bother you, but the thing that worries me most is the deer getting gang green. We have killed a number of deer on our property that have been hit by archers and had a broadhead buried in there should and they were full of gang green.
Sometimes I do take into consideration of what I have to do the next day before making the shot. If I have to work early, I wont shoot unless its a monster.
I shoot once or twice throught the week if I can. Sometimes I go to the area shop and shoot the video range for an hour just to keep sharp. It helps.
As far as the shoulder hit, it depends. I hit a doe in the should a few years back and only about 1" was stuck in her. The arrow fell out shortly after she took off running. I seen her about 2 week later. A little limp, but otherwise fine. Not to bother you, but the thing that worries me most is the deer getting gang green. We have killed a number of deer on our property that have been hit by archers and had a broadhead buried in there should and they were full of gang green.
11-13-2003, 08:25 PM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: yonkers ny USA
Posts: 29
RE: wounded deer
hey sab,
I will not take a shot at a deer on a late afternoon hunt if I or my brother cant commit to tracking it the following day ( in the event it is wounded). That decision has to be made before you see any deer.The answer to your 2nd and 3rd questions yes for any ethical hunter. Sorry to say but your deer is most likely dead, depending on the amount of penitration.
hopeful they will remain w/ you for a long time,to teach you to be more responsible with your shots.That gnawing feeling is knowing that you did not do enough to recover that deer. Take the day off and get out there find your animal.
Wounded deer often travel towards water. Ravens or crows often gather at dead or dieing deer and they are very vocal. I gut shot a 7 pointer years ago, late afternoon. The following morning I was able to recover it by walking towards a bunch of crows the deer had bedded 5 yards from a stream.
Concider all hit deer as recoverable so to not give up so easily in tracking them.
You and all hunters should also read up on tracking wounded deer there are some good writeings on this matter that can be very helpful in times like this.
I dont mean to come off sounding like a prick but you owe it to that buck not to give up yet. CALL IN SICK! frieday and exaust all your energy into the recovery
keep us posted, good luck .
I will not take a shot at a deer on a late afternoon hunt if I or my brother cant commit to tracking it the following day ( in the event it is wounded). That decision has to be made before you see any deer.The answer to your 2nd and 3rd questions yes for any ethical hunter. Sorry to say but your deer is most likely dead, depending on the amount of penitration.
how long before that gnawing feeling leaves the pit of my stomach?
Wounded deer often travel towards water. Ravens or crows often gather at dead or dieing deer and they are very vocal. I gut shot a 7 pointer years ago, late afternoon. The following morning I was able to recover it by walking towards a bunch of crows the deer had bedded 5 yards from a stream.
Concider all hit deer as recoverable so to not give up so easily in tracking them.
You and all hunters should also read up on tracking wounded deer there are some good writeings on this matter that can be very helpful in times like this.
I dont mean to come off sounding like a prick but you owe it to that buck not to give up yet. CALL IN SICK! frieday and exaust all your energy into the recovery
keep us posted, good luck .
11-14-2003, 07:53 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 1,086
RE: wounded deer
1. It never leaves, nor should it. It is always there as a reminder of what can happen.
2. yes and no. I' ll stop the world if I can, to tend to a hit deer. If an event is unavoidable I' ll either really limit my shots to super easy ones, or not go.
3. A little yes. One shot here and there to make sure everything is shooting fine.
4. IF it only hit the shoulder he probably will recover...however I shot a doe a few years ago that got maybe 4" of penetration causeI thumped her in the shoulder. She travelled a good 300 yds but I found her. It poked in enough to kill her. Don' t dismiss it as a non-fatal so quickly.
2. yes and no. I' ll stop the world if I can, to tend to a hit deer. If an event is unavoidable I' ll either really limit my shots to super easy ones, or not go.
3. A little yes. One shot here and there to make sure everything is shooting fine.
4. IF it only hit the shoulder he probably will recover...however I shot a doe a few years ago that got maybe 4" of penetration causeI thumped her in the shoulder. She travelled a good 300 yds but I found her. It poked in enough to kill her. Don' t dismiss it as a non-fatal so quickly.
11-14-2003, 09:00 AM
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 368
RE: wounded deer
Like I tell my son, hitting one poorly shoud hurt. Just do better next time, we all do it once in a while. Shoulder hit deer, unless the arrow gets through the bone, will quickly recover. One I hit two years ago was chasing does four weeks after I hit him in the shoulder. He limped but was healing. Practice every day from start to finish. Does the football team stop practicing once they have a game every Saturday? If you don' t practice you get rusty. I don' t take personal obligations into account before shooting. I know if I start the ball rolling, I have to see it through even if I have to tick off the wife or the boss.
It sounds like you gave it a fair look. Don' t beat yourself up too much.
Do you use expandable heads? I' m just curious.
Greg
It sounds like you gave it a fair look. Don' t beat yourself up too much.
Do you use expandable heads? I' m just curious.
Greg