What the???

[horst]

Last night I went out to a farm where theres a lotta deer damage, they figured out 84 acres 6 had been lost to deer damage.The guy wanted some deer shot, the DNR gave him tags to use on them and anyone can fill them.So I vlounteeered my services LOL.

About dark a real big doe came walking down the edge of the field, by herself.She got behind a tree and I drew back.Took my time, noticed a little cluster of twigs in the way when she stepped into the open, let her get past them, more twigs, let her come closer and soon she was right in front of me at about 15 yrds.She stops to feed a little and is broadside, her bodys twisted slightly so the heads angling towards me but I can see the vitals.I settle the pin behind her shoulder, I thought anyway, and let it go.She wirls around and I cant believe what Im seeing, the arrows barely in her, its in the right spot but didnt penetrate at all.She whips around and takes off, Ive never seen a deer run this fast.Back down the fenceline to corner of the field, arrow still hanging out her side, she doesnt try to jump the fence but runs up the other fenceline to an opening, goes through it and dissapears into the slough, all the sudden I hear a real loud crash.She was running full out so I didnt know if she piled up in the cattails or just hit them running full out and made that noise.

I sit in the stand and run through what just happened in my mind, the arrow was in the right spot, but the angle of her body was kinda funny when i shot.I think now what happened was her front end was turned just a little bit towards me, her shoulder blade musta been back further than it appeared and i hit it, but the way her body was twisted instead of going straight in the arrow caught the shoulder and angled into it.

i waited a few minutes and walked to the spot she was standing, no blood, no hair, no nothing.I left, told the landowner Id be back in a few hours and not to be suprised if a truck was out in his field after dark, and came home.Called my brother in law and we went back 2 hours later.Since she followed the fenceline closely around both sides of the field we started walking where she had run.No blood anywhere, never found the arrow, again nothing.We started over and again nothing. 1 1/2 hrs we looked and found no sign she was even bleeding.She musta ran 200 yrds in sight of me and never stoped, stumbled, anything to indicate she was seriously hit.The arrow by all appearances was lodged in something, probably bone, and never fell out.

Thinking back the shot still felt good, the arrow still appeared to be in the right spot when she ran, and she appeared very much broadside except that one front leg than was slightly turned in while she was eating.Im not sure how I got the shoulder, if thats what happened, even when she ran off it didnt apear to be in the shoulder blade but the arrow was angled in kinda funny, so Im still thinking it slid along the shoulder blade into the deer and lost most of its momentum.Im gonna go back and take one more look in the daylight but its not looking good, Im not even sure shes seriously hurt the way she acted.but I cant believe in 200 yrds she didnt lose any blood, the arrow didnt fall out, or something

[RyanH]

Re: What the???

Sounds like you may have hit the shoulder bone!!! I just hope shes gonna man it!!! Thats if the arrow didnt do and damage!!! Either that or i hope you find her!

[buckee]

Re: What the???

I had the same thing happen to me on a nice buck, at 30 yrds, broadside once. The arrow was in a good spot, a bit high, but still good. It just happened to hit the shoulder blade in the wrong spot and got little penetration.

Unlike you though, I did get some blood for about 100 yrds, then lost all sign.

Like Forest Gump said " IT HAPPENS"