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I was sure pulling for you this season William. Way to come through at the end! With bucks like that you'll have to invite Randy to hunt your place next year.

Thanks for the prayers everyone.Strange the way things work out sometimes. My daughter and I spent 5 hard hours looking today. We found the arrow right away, only 20 yards from the shot spot. There was one drop of blood in the snow from where the arrow broke. I measured there to be only 4.5 inches of arrow inside the deer. There was ZERO blood after that spot. I followed the tracks in the snow to where they merged with a worn deer trail. The trail finally split and then split again so unsure of the trail it took I started grid searching. My 8 year old daughter was a trooper. Not complaining the entire time we searched. We made our way to the area I had shot the buck in November. Then I spotted horns. Unfortunatly it wasn't the deer from last night (unless coyotes can turn a deer into a skeleton in one night). A good portion of the hide was still on it, the head, the spine, the hip bone, and one leg and foot. As I looked closer it looked a lot like the deer I had shot in November. I looked at the hide for a broadhead wound, but the yotes had made too many slices in it to be certain. But then I looked at the ribs and one (and only one) was broke 2 inches down from the spine. That would have been the area I saw my arrow enter the buck from November. It was on a trail I had looked on back in November so either the yotes carried it to that area or it died there after I had looked. I can't be certain, but I'd say there is a very good chance that it was the buck I had shot in November. I have heard no reports of any other hunters in the area loosing a deer and it's way too far from any road to have been hit by a car. So although I did not find the deer I did not go home as depressed as I would have been. I'm discouraged that I only got 4.5 inches of penetration which means I'll be switching broadheads for next year. I'm not done looking. I don't have a chance to get back out there for a couple days due to work and Holiday schedules, but I'll be back out there as soon as possible.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I'm going to attempt to sleep now. Going to lay on the couch and put in an old Monsterbucks video I've seen a hundred times. That generally does the trick, but not sure about tonight. Update tomorrow.

Hey Frank good to hear from you! Merry Christmas to you to. Send me a pm some time and let me know how your hunting trip to IL went.

If so please send one my way! My stomach is a knot tonight as I'm extremely anxious about harvesting a deer I shot a few hours ago. In November I shot a nice buck at 25 yards (20 minutes before dark) and the shot looked perfect. I backed out and looked all the next day and never found him. At the shot spot was some hair, but not a drop of blood. The deer ran about 100 yards into a creek. All night I was so excited and couldn't wait to harvest him the following morning. Well after looking for over 6 hours the deer was simply not there! It was a major blow and I was very depressed. Well tonight I'm too worried to be excited. Too afraid of having a repeat of November. After taking the shot I got down and looked for my arrow or blood at the shot spot. As in Nov. I did not find my arrow or a drop of blood at the shot spot. I only looked at the shot spot. The shot was about a 45 degree angle and my best guess is that it hit high in the shoulder (broadside). There is a fresh 1 inch snow on the ground and no more snow expected tonight. Funny how your mind can mess with you the more you stress about something. I'm even wondering if it was a buck or if the thick massive antler I saw might have actually been a branch or something. Anyway, I've always wondered how God felt about answering prayers about hunting, right now I'm sure hoping He does. I'll be going out in the morning to look with my 8 year old daughter. I called my buddies to help, but they all have to work.

Shopping is done! Took the wife to the St Louis Symphony Christmas concert last night for her present. First time we had gone, pretty neat actually. Still need to wrap about half.

Thanks for sharing. In the late season I generally see a bunch and often get opportunities as you did or I don't see anything. I love the late season! I also like the middle season a lot. Come to think of it early season rocks too! Yea, pretty much the only season I don't like is the off season.

I knew people would bid on them at fund raisers and the prices would get that high, had no idea they might go for that on e-bay.

Love hunting in the snow ya know? Congrats on your doe, she's had some time to grow.

I guess we get one every 3-4 years. Forecast is calling for snow tonight (2 inches) Will be the first snow for us. Hope so I plan to bow hunt in the morning and I love hunting in the snow!

Thanks for the input everyone. I'll keep ya all posted if something works out.

The instructions for measuring are a little tough to follow the first time you do it, but I'd encourage you to give it a try if you're really interested. From the picture I'd say 130-135 gross score and 125-130 net score. If it was an archery kill I'd say it would make Pope and Young.

Really sorry to hear about this, but would you leave your stuff in the back of your truck on public ground? I don't mean to make you feel bad, but with a poor economy and high unemployment rate this type of thing is bound to happen. I'm surprised the thief only took your pack. When I hunt on public ground nothing stays in the back of my truck. On occasion when my deer dolly is muddy I may leave it in the back, but generally it goes in the cab. Even when hunting private ground the only thing I'll leave in the bed is the deer dolly.

Perhaps the intention is to drum up some business, but I do think it's informative to know the considerations of an African safari. I reviewed the site and my estimate seems a bit low. Airfare (I looked at one airline): 4,000.00 round trip Day fees (10 days): 4,000.00 if going alone Trophy fees: Variable depending on animal type (say 3,000.00 for 4, some cheap some middle range) Taxidermy: Mounting 4 - (guessing 2,000.00) Shipping of trophy and insurance: I don't know say (500.00)? Tips: 250.00 African Trinkets: 250.00 Total: $14,000.00 If one skimps on trinkets and tips, hunts cheaper animals and finds rock bottom airfare: perhaps 10,000.00 could do it. (If I'm wrong please show me where I'm off?) I hunted bear (not successfully) in Idaho (10 days) for about 2000.00 - all inclusive in 08. This spring since I have the gear now and gas prices are about half the trip won't even cost me 1,000.00 for 10 days. Granted, I hunt DIY, no outfitters and I pull my travel trailer from IL.

I know a ram hunt in the US for a non-resident will run over 10K easy so I imagine an African safari would be about the same. I'd say an all inclusive hunt (airfare, tags/legal stuff, lodging, meals, ground transportation, guide fees, tips, and then another kicker... the cost of mounting several trophies) would run around 10-12K for 10 days.

Great thread Gerhard! Unless I find a stack of money somewhere this is likely as close as I'll get to hunting Africa. Leo, great shot on that lope.

That's great news Randy! I'll bet Byron will be a real hoot to shoot with. Best of luck to you in 2010!

They are impressive for sure! Very noble looking animals. One can hunt a wild variety in New Zealand at a reasonable price. Getting there is the expense. I looked into it in the past.

He's a beauty! Congratulations.

Just can't get your spoon out huh?:poke::boxing:

What is the point to this thread? :wacko::D:clown:

Glad to see you're back into hunting and posting your point. No body is perfect, but I'll bet that there are several members on here that do not go against hunting regulations and are ethical. People can surprise you sometimes. I'm not in that category even though I do try hard to be legal. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to follow every rule all the time. Let's just say (Hypothetically)... I shot a deer once and trailed it to a neighboring farm (tresspassing) where it died 2-3 feet from the driveway. I went back, got my truck and drove to the house to ask permission to retrieve it. No one was home. Do I wait until they get home allowing the meat to possibly go bad? Or throw it in my truck on the way out? Drive through venison burgers for me please! I see just about everyone putting their better face forward in public. Ever watch a RT Monsterbucks video where the deer was gut shot and had intestines hanging out as it ran off? Nothing wrong with doing this, but a little less stone throwing would be nice to see.

No one wants to rate IL.????? Well our past Governors are or should be in prison. The state will not pay the public univerisites the taxpayer money they "borrowed" which means my monthly paycheck is on a month to month basis (honestly, no kidding here folks). The state will be increasing fees for permits and a ton of other stuff next year (likely the money payed by sportsmen will be "borrowed" for other stuff and the DNR will not see any of it). We have big whitetail deer and EVERYBODY knows about it making it near impossible to gain permission to hunt without a high dollar lease. No wild trout fishing. No big game other than deer. We do have the four seasons and the deciduous Shawnee National Forest. We also have some local DNR folks that I think a lot of so I'll give it a "2" currently.

Depends on the wind and size of the animal. A large buck has a larger vitals area so I'd take a 40 yard shot. A smaller deer 30 yards is my limit. Add a 10+mph wind and I'll reduce 5-10 yards. I have a 10, 20 and 30 yard pin.

Wonder if we'll ever get a point to this? Until we hear back the point as I see it... The poster feels the need to come clean about his hunting practices that have been against the law and or unethical (convenient timing given the fact he no longer hunts and does not have to worry about losing his hunting privileges). The poster has been exposed to a lot of illegal / unethical actions by people he knows and assumes that since himself and the hunters he knows (or has been exposed to) are illegal and unethical that all hunters are. He then reads posts here about people getting caught for illegal/unethical practices and the comments from forum members chastising these actions. He believes the forum members to be casting stones at others when they have no right to and is now asking the forum members to verify his assumptions. If the poster knew more of the forum members and less of the illegal / unethical hunters his unhealthy attitude might change and he may even get back into hunting. Sorry if this is too personal Chris, delete it if necessary.