CaitlinMccart Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 I shot a doe this evening with my crossbow at about 55 yards. When I shot, she tucked her tail and ran like she had been hit but when I went to the spot she was standing when I shot her, there was no arrow and no blood. I searched for blood but could not find any trace. I decided to wait until the next morning but now it's storming out and the rain will wash away any trace of her blood or tracks. Is it possible that I could have missed the doe and the arrow drove into the ground but if that's the case then why did she run like she had been hit? Any advice or answered would be greatly helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bug House Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 .........Any advice or answered would be greatly helpful. Keep looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Sounds like a hit, but certainly no way to know for sure. If the weather is cold enough to preserve the meat, I would get a couple friends and do a grid search of the area and maybe you'll find her. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 55 yards is a very long shot....myself I dont go over 30 so I know the shot is good and the kill will be fast....hope you find her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 Do you know anyone who has a tracking dog? If not, I'd go the route that redkneck suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 Tail down or tucked? Could have been a gut hit. Don't know about the effective range of a crossbow, but that sounds like it is pushing it out. Good luck finding her, would try a grid search, might pick up blood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 55 yards is a very long shot....myself I dont go over 30 so I know the shot is good and the kill will be fast....hope you find her. You will probably find it in a couple weeks or so if you watch for buzzards flying around within a mile radius where the wounded deer died. Shame! 55 yards with a crossbow? Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 Come on, really? She came asking for advice and this is what she gets? What's a shame is people thinking just because they don't do it or wouldn't do it a certain way it makes it wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 Depending on the setup I don't think that is a super long shot with a cross bow, long no doubt, but not that far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 Come on, really? She came asking for advice and this is what she gets? What's a shame is people thinking just because they don't do it or wouldn't do it a certain way it makes it wrong. Yes, really. Advice would be to not take a shot at an unrealistic range again. The buzzards will find it. I'm sorry she lost the deer but she may learn a lesson from this. Instead of criticizing responders, what good advice do you have for the gal? Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhunter97 Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 I wouldnt say that is too far for a cross bow. it is a long shot but it can still easily kill a deer. My buddy shot a deer at 60 with a 60 lb bow the deer only went yards so i wouldnt say it is too far. And that was with a mechanical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 I wouldnt say that is too far for a cross bow. it is a long shot but it can still easily kill a deer. My buddy shot a deer at 60 with a 60 lb bow the deer only went yards so i wouldnt say it is too far. And that was with a mechanical. I'd say someone probably just plain got lucky. It is not an impossible shot but kind of foolhardy unless the shooter is really experienced and skilled. I'd want to know alot more about someone's skill level and equipment before I could ever say 60 yards with a crossbow is an ethical shot. These aren't shotguns or rifles just because they resemble one somewhat. From the gal's original post I'd say it was a poorly placed shot and the wounded deer ran off. I'm not even going to say it was a lucky hit. Who would it be lucky for? Certainly not the deer. Lynn Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhunter97 Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 Granted my buddy is a fantastic shot and has won numerous state competitions for archery. So all i can tell Caitlin is dont let it get her down, it happens to all of us maybe it wasnt the best decision but it all comes with hunting and knowing your limitations and if she doesnt already practice out to 60 then she needs to so she can make that shot she has to. Also set a barrier that you wont shoot past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 whether it is a good shot or bad, too far or just right, it's done. the question is how to find the deer. dogs are the best answer here, because of the rain. or, a team doing a grid search within 90 degrees of the angle the deer left running. heavy concentration within 1/4 mile and after 1 mile, forget it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Yes, really. Advice would be to not take a shot at an unrealistic range again. The buzzards will find it. I'm sorry she lost the deer but she may learn a lesson from this. Instead of criticizing responders, what good advice do you have for the gal? Lynn See post #5. So it's ok for you to criticize her because you don't agree with what she did but it's not ok for me to criticize your response because I don't agree with it? Ok, gotcha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 See post #5. So it's ok for you to criticize her because you don't agree with what she did but it's not ok for me to criticize your response because I don't agree with it? Ok, gotcha! It's taken you this long to figure that out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Don't think it can be said if it's irresponsible or not, if the girl can stack them at 55 and feels comfortable, then I'd say no. Fast x-box setups these days with a good rest and optics is a killer at that range. If you can't group at that range worth a flip, then I'd say no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Don't think it can be said if it's irresponsible or not, if the girl can stack them at 55 and feels comfortable, then I'd say no. Fast x-box setups these days with a good rest and optics is a killer at that range. If you can't group at that range worth a flip, then I'd say no. But but, that's not ethical! I dont know you, dont know how you shoot, what you shoot, what your parents, grandparents or hunting mentor taught you about hunting and shooting, but I can tell you what you do is not ethical!!!! You should be ashamed of what you do, all of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 You should be ashamed of what you do, all of it! Sometimes I am, then I take another xanax. :turned: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Sometimes I am, then I take another xanax. :turned: Yeah, that's not ethical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Yeah, that's not ethical. Only the 1mg are unethical, the 0.5mgs are ethical. 1mg is just too much to be ethical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Only the 1mg are unethical, the 0.5mgs are ethical. 1mg is just too much to be ethical. You could be on to something here. Taking 2 .5 mgs sounds like the ethical thing to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Keep looking...sounds like a gut shot....I would not have taken that long of a shot but that is just me....I lost 2 deer with my bow this year, bad shots do happen, I'm positive EVERYONE on here has not recovered deer. The "moment" got the best of me....Learn what went wrong and how to correct it. Give the recovery effort your best so at least you know you gave it your all. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Xanax are so early 2000. Get with the times John Boy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Do tell Corey, lol. guess I wouldn't know really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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