snapper Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Well it seemed like it was going to be a great day to hunt. Cool, calm and the bucks are starting to chase. Me and Pete were in the stand before day break with high hopes. We decided after a few hard weeks of hunting, today was a meat day! We were going take some does if the shot was there. Around 10am and not seeing ANY deer, we were both a little bored and decided to take a walk. I was never the one to still hunt with a bow, but Pete was using a crossbow this year (due to his motorcycle accident) and thought we maybe able to still hunt towards a bedding area. Well the plan worked, we got within 40 yards of 4 does bedded. The prob. was there were no clear shots and was going to be tough to get closer. With the wind in our faces and the deer bedded facing us, we decided to wait 'em out for a bit. After some time sitting behind a pile of logs and Pete about 10 yards behind and up the hill to my left of me, the deer suddenly jumped out of their beds (something spooked them) and ran straight towards us. I came to full draw and had a doe standing just 10 yards broadside. The prob. was the thick sapplings, I canted my bow just a little for a clear shot and WHACK! I was sick to see the deer running away with what looked to be her guts hanging out! The WHACK sound was the string hitting my coat sleve (from canting the bow). Everything happened so fast, I just kept replaying everything in my head and got more upset at myself for rushing the shot. We backed out of there after looking at my arrow. Came back to the house for a break and then went looking for her. I would prob. gave her more time if it was just a gutshot, however, I felt with the amount of blood and guts actually falling out, she wasn't going to go far. So after about 2 hours, we went looking. We were finding lots (surpringly) of blood and pieces of guts, we went about 30 yards and found her lying near a log. She was still alive, but not moving, I drew my bow, and she bolted up the hill, crashing to the ground and stumbling. We waited a little bit and continued to sneak up the hill. I knew she wasn't going far before laying up again. After we got to the top of the hill (about 20 yards) she was bedded again, this time with her head up! I drew again but she was lying facing away looking down the hill. Only good shot I had was a head shot. She was only about 15 yards, so I took the shot and the arrow hit the mark and that ended hunt. I was happy to get the deer, but had a different feeling about this harvest I felt bad for the deer for suffering longer than it should have had to. I was mad at myself for rushing the "chip" shot. I was however glad to recover the deer and end her misery. I didn't take any pictures because of the head shot, it wouldn't been easy to take a nice looking pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Sat. hunt Congrats on the doe! It may not of been pretty but the bottom line is......you found the deer. Most gut shot deer are never found. Congrats again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Sat. hunt I know how you feel. Exactly! I shot at a small doe, in my front yard, at 47 yards (measured afterwards) one after noon after I had just pulled in from work. I was actually on the phone looking out of the living room window when I saw her 30 yards off my front porch. Between my pond and the house. I snuck out into the garage and grabbed my gear and by that time she had wandered around the far side of the pond but was still on my lawn. I kerpt to a large rock thats in one of our landscaping planters a knelt down. I had no range finder at this time so I guessed at it based on the size of my 3D target and knowledge of the distances in my backyard. Bad calls, both. It was breezy so I even compensated for the cross wind when aiming. I assumed it was a 40 yard shot. When I pulled the trigger she was dead nuts broadside. When the arrow hit her she was not. The arrow entered right in front of her left hind leg, slit her belly open, went threw the rear of the right lung, and exited. Then cut her front right leg 99% off at her knee with only the front of her knee skin holding it together and kept going. I basically hit everything except the heart and left lung. I saw her run about 50 yards and stop. Still out in the front field and at 60 yards (measured later). I took another shot guessing it at 50 yards and missed, but this drove her into another run up and into the thick cedars I have on both sides of my house. If I would of not shot the 2nd time she most likely would of just bed right there. At the time I saw stuff hanging from her during her 1st flight but though it was my arrow, and even more so when I could not find it at the shot area. (I did not know the extent of the arrows destruction and poor placement until I found her. I had though it was a decent shot hitting a bit far back but a hard 1/4 away, I should of gotten lung.) I waited 30 minutes and then looked for her and pushed her as soon as I entered the wood line. Backed out and went to get my neighbor (also named Pete) and went in 20 minute after the 1st push and pushed her again. We kept finding her bed and massive blood loss but when she jumped it was hardly any blood. Not even specs which started to worry me. We pushed her 3 times before backing out a 2nd time. I went for supper and waited over an hour and went back out myself. I found her 45 minutes later and she too was still alive. I found her by sound of she attemps to struggle to her feet, not blood trailing. It was extremely thick cedars and brush and some of it was crawling on all 4's to get threw. When I actually found her I was witness to her last 4 breaths. The look in her eyes were of total terror. I felt mortified. Sick. I can only imagine the suffering she went threw over a 3.5 hours between the shot and her death. That is when I saw her guts were hanging out and full of dirt, sticks, and leave, its when I saw the dirt packed into the knee joint as she tried to run on 1/2 a leg, and the other 1/2 was still attached.... It was truely a horrible experience and something I wish I never saw it or took the shot... I was glad to of found her and that she did not go to waste but the suffering she experienced and the way it made me felt almost caused me to not bow hunt any more. I was that effected by this... Oh and when I say small, I mean 54# field dressed small. It taught me to really judge the deer and choose closer shots for quick humain kills. This "hunt" was none of those... It also was 2 years ago so I can not blame it on inexperience. Just plain ole poor judgement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Sat. hunt Congratulations on the doe snapper and your persistance at finishing her off. We all make bad shots at one time or other. I'm not too happy with my shooting this year either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Sat. hunt Congratulations on the doe. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinoisbowhunter Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Sat. hunt Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Sat. hunt Unfortunately bad shots happen. You did the right thing by backing out and ultimately recovering your deer. Nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanH Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Sat. hunt Congrats bud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Sat. hunt well, you got her Snap, that's the important part. congrats on the freezer meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Sat. hunt Congratulations on the doe Snap. Ive made bad shots too...it happens. Im glad you found her. A gut shot deer has a low percentage of recovery.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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