PotashRLS Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Scenario:Oh, btw--Mathews vs. Hoyt comments and the like will be deleted. Hey, you could have at least let one of us say it first.....sheesh! You take all the fun out of it:D I agree as said earlier, tomorrow is another day. Any branch is a bad branch. Why take the chance. Its not worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Simple answer is, no shot opportunity. I have seen way too many poor shot choices and the mostly poor results. Oh, you could get lucky, but unless there is a clean miss, the critter is unlucky no matter where it's hit. When you are so "good" that you think you can shoot through brush it is time for a reality check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 (edited) This discussion has brought back memories of my first Bow Buck. While at the time it seemed like the thing to do I've since changed my mind with good reason...I'll explain: Exact distance was unknown with first shot and a horizontal branch from a fallen tree. I aimed at the vitals assuming my geusstimation on yardage was correct and the arrow would just clear the branch and land perfectly. First arrow exploded on impact with the branch(I geussed 25yds and the deer was at just over 30) and it sounded like a .22 round going off! Luckily for me the deer was suicidal and did not run away but turned slightly towards me. I leaned back behind the tree and reloaded another arrow. I now was sure of the distance and leaned back out to see him staring me down. I aimed dead center for the white patch on his throat and released...Twack! He wheeled away and ran 35yds from where I shot him. I followed him immediately after the shot because it was raining and watched him lay down. After 20-25 minutes I approached because he looked Dead...got to within 10 yds of him and he stood up and bolted off. As he ran he was bouncing off the small trees. He laid down/plopped/fell over again so I waited another 20-25 minutes to make sure he was dead this time. I approached again...he ran off again out of site using the afterburners this time. I found him dead 400 yds later in the rain by using a Grid Search pattern. I never found a drop of blood. I'll never take another neck shot with a Bow again in my lifetime. Did the shot kill the deer...Yes Was I extremely lucky to ever find him...Definitely He could have just fallen over...but the fact is he did not...why I'll never know and never have to be concerned about it again! Edited January 26, 2009 by GWSmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Think I'd wait Chris given that a lot of deflection can happen in 7-8 yards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Heck Chris...I smoked her out around the 25 yard line when the vitals were in that pie plate size hole. Somebody else waited for a chip shot that never happened. With the obstructions that far from the deer I'd have to pass too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 NO! can not stand the thought of an injured animal out there. Been there and done that one time and learned better. ETHICS. the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidd Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 i would pass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 I have had two noteable deflection misses over the years. The first was a 10 yard shot with a 50# recurve. The arrow hit a goldenrod stalk and delected straight down into the ground before it got half-way to the deer. So, it doesn't really take much to deflect an arrow completely off course. A simple goldenrod stem did the job that time. The second deflection miss had a happier ending. At 25 yards shooting a 70# compound, my arrow struck something too small to even see from where I was standing. Just before getting to the deer, the arrow took a heck of a course change. It really looked like it missed completely. I was convinced that I had actually seen the arrow miss cleanly so I stayed on stand another 1/2 hour. When I was ready to quit, I went out to retrieve my arrow and found it covered with blood and fat. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a buck's head slowly rise from the ground about 15 yards away. Of course things got a bit crazy at that point a I fumbled around trying to load an arrow and get off a shot before the deer jumped to its feet and took off. It was a bit like a Keystone Cops movie. Naturally, I completely missed that shot and the deer did indeed struggle to its feet and staggered off over the rise and out of sight. I followed and did find the deer. That deflected arrow that was heading straight for the lung area of the deer had been moved to the right and struck the deer right through the neck. It went in and out so quick that it looked like a complete miss that wasn't even close. Over where the deer first layed was an awesome puddle of blood and a huge dark clot. Inside of a few feet, the arrow had deflected more than a foot, enough to move it from the lung area to way out on the neck. Whatever it deflected off of was so small that I never did find it. So, I never count on being able to power my way through any kind of obstruction no matter how small, or no matter how high I've got the poundage cranked up. Yes, there's a lot of luck in bowhunting, but there is no point in purposely trying to defeat odds that you know are heavily stacked against you. That nice buck that I neck-shot could just as easily resulted in some ugly hit that could have left him running through the woods with an arrow sticking out of him, like some anti-hunting billboard. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 I appreciate all your thoughts folks. Like I told my buddy Tom, "it's easy to second guess after that arrow is gone..." A lot of factors are running around in your mind. "It's January 24th, not many more chances and I really want some backstrap, she keeps moving, stupid branches, full draw for a long time, bulky clothes, keep your elbow out, 15 yards, that's close, first arrow on that big buck got deflected........" But man, I wanted that deer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 (edited) I had the only buck I wanted to shoot show up only to have a tiny vine deflect the shot into the guts of a doe. Made for a long day..."You certainly can't call the arrow back." The spot where I was hunting was one of those places where you had to make a decision to shoot and just hope you can get away with the draw. My bad was not getting in there to clear the lane. Live and learn. Should have known better. Every situation is totally different despite the notion by some that its all the same. There is a lot going on at crunch time. I lost a big Missouri buck the same way Doc... A piece of poison oak deflected the shot to a meaty part of the neck, apparently . The arrow fletching laid across the vitals giving me the impression I hit him good.... Edited January 26, 2009 by ruttinbuc because I am old and forgetful... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 let it fly I say, take me to vegas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 I'd pass. I've wounded and lost a few doe over the years. Once it was really dark so I didn't make a good shot and the other was taking too long of a shot. I don't like that feeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhuntMN Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 i'd say no go on this one. you owe it to the deer to make a clean shot on the vitals. plus you most likely would have another chance at that doe later in the season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbuckchaser Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 hold out for another shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob LeBlanc Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Any time you loose an arrow...KNOW that it will get to your target...NEVER spray and pray !! If you have a multi-pin sight, take a quick look at all the pins, and if any of them are touching an obstruction...yer arrow ain't getting there ! Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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