fly Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 I know exactly how you feel. I too have had to let deer lay over night after not finding it after the shot. That gut wrenching feeling really stinks, not to mention the loss of sleep(me anyway) and the possibility(how our minds play with us) of not making such a great shot. I have done my fair share of asking God to help with my recovery. Both times...God gave me the skills necessary to find my deer. My sons were also great help in blood trailing. Wish I could hop in a car and help ya look for it. I'll put you you in my prayers tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 God answers ALL prayers! Yes, NO, and Wait..thats what Ive always been told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Well, if the man upstaris says its meant to be, then its meant to be... Good luck with that Frank. Wish i could also jump in the truck and help with the search party. You'll find him. good luck, and keep us posted. dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Guess it doesn't hurt to ask. I hope you find him. Take it slow. Look at everything...Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 One thing I've learned about bow-hunting is that it is rare to get blood, right at the shot sight. You usually start finding it around 20 yrds or beyond. God does answer prayers about hunting. That last buck I shot, was standing right at the neighbours fence the last time I saw it, and all I could do was pray that it went down right there. Well, it started moving downhill along the fence, until it disappeared in the dim light where the blackberries were beside the creek. God must have a sense of humor too, because the next morning, when I found it, it wasn't down by the blackberries at all, but right back up to the exact spot, beside the fence where I started praying. God doesn't want to see us waste any good meals or kill needlessly either. All the best in the morning..eh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkV Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Good luck on the recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Got to agree with Martin, I do believe God answers prayers, sometimes the answers are not so obvious at the time, others it seems pretty clear. Good luck on the recovery Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Good luck with recovery Frank. I do agree with William, things work out for a reason, though it may not appear that way at the time. Take a friend with you to help if you can. Not sure how you guys track deer, but the most effective way me and my buddies do it is for one of us to stay on the trail looking for any speck of blood, hair, etc.. while the other cirlces out looking for blood out farther. Of course there's nothing more aggravating than somebody that doesnt know what they're doing tromping all over everything. Hope you find your deer soon Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 For sure God does! I pray all the time for me to make a good lethal shot...to help me recover the deer...for the deer to die quickly, etc.. etc.. He answers our prayers, sometimes in a small way...sometimes in a big way. Good luck and take your time tracking and hopefully the deer is laying not too far away. Glad you have some snow to track in. Keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodtrails Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 YES!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooresville Rocket Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 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. Next time use a 300 Winchester Magnum, they don't run far when you poke a hole in them big enough to throw a cat through. God must answer deer prayers - because without his help, I never would have been able to shoot my first buck or doe. I prayed and prayed for years that he would send one little old deer my way. I never prayed for a trophy, just some freezer meat. Now here I am 32 years later, a Mean, lean, killing machine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Next time use a 300 Winchester Magnum, they don't run far when you poke a hole in them big enough to throw a cat through. God must answer deer prayers - because without his help, I never would have been able to shoot my first buck or doe. I prayed and prayed for years that he would send one little old deer my way. I never prayed for a trophy, just some freezer meat. Now here I am 32 years later, a Mean, lean, killing machine! Nothing wrong with using a bow...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Not sure how you guys track deer, but the most effective way me and my buddies do it is for one of us to stay on the trail looking for any speck of blood, hair, etc.. while the other cirlces out looking for blood out farther. Yep, this is how my daughter and I look too. We lost blood on the deer I shot Saturday when he ran down hill. Kind of went on instinct and eliminated areas going back up hill. Walked the edge of the river where he would have to jump a fence and there we picked the blood up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Nothing wrong with using a bow...... +1! Still pullin' for ya Frank. Hope YOU find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 (edited) 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. Edited December 22, 2009 by fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 5 Hours looking...I'd say you gave it a heck of a search. Sorry you didn't find it. Yotes can do a good job on a deer, but I do not think they can devour one over night. Keep yer head up Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Yotes can do a good job on a deer, but I do not think they can devour one over night. Yep, pretty amazing just how much damage they can do in a couple hours. Sorry you did not find the deer you just shot Frank. Hope you still find him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Well Frank, for what its worth, you gave it heck - no lack of effort there my friend. Sorry to hear you didn't find it. On the other hand, you didn't go home empty handed. I'd say from your description of the "November Buck", that the remains you found were from him...Good luck in your continued search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Next time use a 300 Winchester Magnum, they don't run far when you poke a hole in them big enough to throw a cat through. God must answer deer prayers - because without his help, I never would have been able to shoot my first buck or doe. I prayed and prayed for years that he would send one little old deer my way. I never prayed for a trophy, just some freezer meat. Now here I am 32 years later, a Mean, lean, killing machine![/QUote] :fish: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Sorry about that Frank. Tough break again, but it happens. Sounds like a shoulder bone shot, and I wouldn't be too quick to blame your broadheads, I don't know anyone that's bowhunted for a long time that hasn't made that shoulder shot with the poor penetration and no blood. It just happens, and I don't think there's a BH out there that will eliminate that risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted December 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Sorry about that Frank. Tough break again, but it happens. Sounds like a shoulder bone shot, and I wouldn't be too quick to blame your broadheads, I don't know anyone that's bowhunted for a long time that hasn't made that shoulder shot with the poor penetration and no blood. It just happens, and I don't think there's a BH out there that will eliminate that risk. So other than upping the poundage on my bow (60 right now) what will decrease the risk of getting stuck in the shoulder blade? Do you all think a deer can live with 4.5 inches of broadhead and arrow in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Do you all think a deer can live with 4.5 inches of broadhead and arrow in it? Don't know Frank, I would have to think it would depend on where exactly the arrow hit. If 4.5 inches went into lung and the broadhead was stuck in there especially if it was churning as the deer was moving I would have to think he would eventually die. Kinda curious, were you by chance shooting mechanicals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Frank...check out this pic. It is from a guy here on this forum. He hasn't been on in a while. PASpike King( Eric). His Dad sent me this pic of a buck he shot, with a muzzzleloader. Way after bow season and look what he found while butchering it. Yes, a deer can live with 4.5" of arrow in him. Depending on where it is hit. This shot was a fixed blade(muzzy) in a non vital area. I have helped a friend butcher a buck 2 years ago that when he cut open the shoulder, a green sack ruptured, and when it emptied a broken bladed cheap mechanical head was visible. It wasn't a Rage. Deer are tough critters and their willingness to live is incredible. Keep your head up. Keep swinging. We have all been there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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