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Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: Molson on January 12, 2009, 01:17:00 PM

Title: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Molson on January 12, 2009, 01:17:00 PM
Finally my recent case of "Over-the-Backitis" was cured this morning.  This past week my hunting partner's disease had apparently infected me as I shot over the back of two does, both under 20 yds.  He was all proud of himself thinking he had finally passed his bad mojo gene on to me.  Alas it was not meant to be.  Doug Campbell was kind enough to suggest I was probably just shooting at "short does" and said I should just aim lower.  Good advice Doug!

I was just getting ready to get down this morning when I saw a little spike coming my way.  Behind him was a little 8 pt, followed by what I thought was a doe but turned out to be a small buck who had dropped his horns.  I let the first two go by at about 25 yds and when the third stepped into my lane, I let a big 160 grain Snuffer go tight right above the elbow.  I heard the distinct "SWACK" of a hard bone hit and when he ran off, I saw alot of arrow sticking out.  You all know that's a sickening feeling.  

This was one of those times when you have to trust your experience and your instincts and mine told me to get right after him.  After about a hundred yards into it I knew I was going to catch up to him so I started moving faster.  Another hundred and I saw him trying to move out ahead of me in the deep snow and brush at about 30 yds.  I was able to move into position and send a Grizzly 190 through and finish him.

  (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/017.jpg)

Here's a pic of the Snuffer that smashed the shoulder and got one lung.  Now I swear I intended this to be a pro-Snuffer post, that's why I was using them.  And it did do it's job, but...

  (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/006.jpg)

The Grizzly went in just above the elbow and out the neck.

  (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/011.jpg)


Upon inspection I found an old wound high and back on that was pussed over.

  (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/010.jpg)

I found a Thunderhead 100 inside encased by rock hard tissue.  Turned out this deer was a spike in November when a crossbow hunter the next farm over shot and lost him.  They are amazing animals.

  (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/021.jpg)

The bow was my outstanding 67# Great Northern Ghost shooting Heritage 350 shafts loaded in an ultra-fine Kanati Angle quiver.  Two weeks and two doe tags left...
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: ISP 5353 on January 12, 2009, 01:26:00 PM
Very cool story and pictures!  Congrats on the doe.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: robtattoo on January 12, 2009, 01:40:00 PM
As they say, third one's the charm!  :clapper:
Congrats on a fine deer!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: BowHuntingFool on January 12, 2009, 01:47:00 PM
Congrats, what a tough beast! Pretty amazing animal to take the beating he did, once again congrats and way to follow up! Send that Snuffer into Magnus and they'll replace it for ya!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: LKH on January 12, 2009, 01:48:00 PM
That deer was doomed.  Pretty hard to make that into a pro-snuffer plug with that photo.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Raven on January 12, 2009, 02:09:00 PM
Nice deer!  :bigsmyl:    :thumbsup:

 Congrats again on a fine bow harvest!   :thumbsup:   Still trying to fill my last tag before the end of Jan.   :pray:    

 Raven >>>>>-------->
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Gaff on January 12, 2009, 03:14:00 PM
i was gonna say the same thing joe said. not only will they replace it, but they will send ya a t-shirt as well.
theres alot of people around here that shoot that head and swear by it. so i wouldnt let this instace leave a bad taste in your mouth.
now if it happens again, well thats another story..

jamie
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Molson on January 12, 2009, 03:30:00 PM
The Snuffer's a great head.  I've killed lots of deer with them and that's the first time I've ever had one destroyed. I was more than shocked to see it busted up like that. 'Course I've always shot them on wood before too.  That one was on a CX350 with 300 grains up front for an arrow weight around 700 gr. It probably wouldn't have hit near as hard had it been on a wood shaft. Looking at the head, it looks like the tip curled on impact and the rest of the head just crushed over on itself.  I'm going to butcher the deer tonight and we'll see just how much damage was done to the bone.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Pinecone on January 12, 2009, 03:32:00 PM
Gotta love those El Grande Grizzlies!  Congrats on a nice late season deer!

Claudia
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: britts on January 12, 2009, 03:32:00 PM
What weight Snuffer was that? I used to shoot the 160's and never saw anything like that.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: tradtusker on January 12, 2009, 03:39:00 PM
man that snuffer is wrecked! never seen one get that badly damaged.

 very nice deer, congrats   :thumbsup:    :clapper:    

you got anymore pics of that snuffer.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Orion on January 12, 2009, 03:42:00 PM
A lighter bow and arrow might not have crushed the point like that, but you're shooting some real pile driving equipment.  I'm surprised you didn't kill that one with shock.  Congrats.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: mwmwmb on January 12, 2009, 03:49:00 PM
nice harvest.  :clapper:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: pacopperhead on January 12, 2009, 04:25:00 PM
congrads
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: drewsbow on January 12, 2009, 05:50:00 PM
congrats  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Kip on January 12, 2009, 06:01:00 PM
:clapper:  Good job.Kip
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: pdk25 on January 12, 2009, 06:30:00 PM
Nice doe Tim.  Your rig ought to do a number on those hogs with Ray.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: bowhunterfrompast on January 12, 2009, 06:35:00 PM
Congrats  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on January 12, 2009, 06:55:00 PM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Fritz on January 12, 2009, 06:59:00 PM
Nice deer and follow-up!!!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Doug S on January 12, 2009, 07:51:00 PM
Good thinking on the follow up!    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Stan the bow man on January 12, 2009, 08:15:00 PM
GREAT JOB!!!!  :clapper:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: BRONZ on January 12, 2009, 08:17:00 PM
Way to go on the follow-up!  Gott'a love positive endings to good decisions!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Plumber on January 12, 2009, 08:34:00 PM
I LIKE SNUFFERS THEY FLY GOOD THEY KILL GOOD AND I USE THEM BUT THIS YEAR I NOTICE THE SIDES WERE COLLAPSING MOST DEER I SHOOT ARE JUST100LB DOES OR SO. NOTHING HUGE GOOD CALL ON RUNNING HIM DOWN. PS THEY DIDENT COLLAPS EVERYTIME JUST ONCE BUT I WAS STILL SURPRISED  SEEYA NICE STORY THANKS ED.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Shawn Leonard on January 12, 2009, 08:55:00 PM
Also if it was wood and weighed only around 550 or so, ya would not or may not have gotten to the lung. Congrats!! Shawn
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Doug Campbell on January 12, 2009, 09:03:00 PM
Way to go Tim!! Unbelievable on the Snuffer, I've put a few of em thru critters and never seen anything like that either... Think I'd put it up for a conversation piece.   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: cooncrazy on January 12, 2009, 09:04:00 PM
way to go man
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: vermonster13 on January 12, 2009, 09:23:00 PM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: 4runr on January 12, 2009, 09:26:00 PM
Nice job Tim.

Congrats!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Chad Duit on January 12, 2009, 09:31:00 PM
Congrats!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Molson on January 12, 2009, 09:48:00 PM
Here's another pic of the Snuffer 160 cleaned up.  Now in fairness to this Snuffer, first off, I should have hit further back.  Second, it hit right at the shoulder joint, destroying the joint and sliding inside, totally shredding the inside of the shoulder.  I'd say Shawn is right.  Had it been on a wood shaft, the shaft probably would have broke right at the taper and I highly doubt enough energy would have been there to crush that head, push through, and get into the lung.
 
 (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/022.jpg)

Here's the entrance.

 (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/024.jpg)

Massive damage on the inside.

 (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/023.jpg)


To top it all off, his right hind quarter was healing up from what was probably the result of being hit by a car sometime ago.  Now that's tough!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: tradtusker on January 12, 2009, 10:22:00 PM
Wow iv put snuffers into all kinds of things including iron and stones and never had one even get close to that damaged.

congrats again    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Gil on January 12, 2009, 10:23:00 PM
This is just a guess, but maybe the snuffer got lodged in the shoulder joint and was twisted by the scapula and the humerus as the deer made the dash after it was hit.Just maybe. That is one unlucky deer but tough deer there,with all the injuries and all in its short life.Congrats n getting it though!!

Gil
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Chris Surtees on January 12, 2009, 10:29:00 PM
:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :archer:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Molson on January 12, 2009, 10:33:00 PM
Anything's possible.  Heck the shaft might have got jammed up hard off a tree as he ran and caused that damage to the head.  No way of knowing for sure.  Those Heritage shafts are bomb proof!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: tradtusker on January 12, 2009, 10:43:00 PM
i was wondering the same thing Gil

ya for the money you can't beat the heritage shafts!! VERY tuff durable shafts
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Shaun on January 12, 2009, 11:25:00 PM
Grizzly, when you absolutely positively have to shoot clear through...

Good Hunting! Way to make a long one lung tracking job short by using woodsmanship and following your instincts on the quick follow up.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Bonebuster on January 13, 2009, 06:59:00 AM
Good old fashioned draw weight got that deer, and the decision to follow instincts. We all have a little hound dog in us.  :thumbsup:  

After impact, there was enough push to get the head into soft stuff(lung). In my opinion, a wood shaft would have left that buck carrying more iron.

Thats good bowhunting right there...it ain`t over until your trimming meat!

Two weeks, and two tags. The holidays are over, but still time to celebrate!

Good hunting!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Guru on January 13, 2009, 07:52:00 AM
Good stuff Tim, congrats bud    :thumbsup:

Nice to still be able to hunt at this time of year I bet    :clapper:   Well done!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Guru on January 13, 2009, 07:55:00 AM
Just for the sake of asking.....if those two arrows were shot in reverse order, do you think (in your opinion,cause we'll never really know)anything would have been different?
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: deadpool on January 13, 2009, 08:59:00 AM
amazing job!
and nows the time to appreciate magnus's lifetime warranty lol
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Raven on January 13, 2009, 09:28:00 AM
Well that shoulder looked like a train wreck!  :eek:  I would agree that a wood shaft would have not made it. Good following your instincts on the follow up.   :thumbsup:

 I think if your first shot was with the Grizzly, you would have had two busted shoulders if not a pass thur. Who knows for sure, "If peanuts and nuts were ifs and butts we could all have a party".   :p    :biglaugh:    :jumper:  

 Congrats again!!

 Raven >>>>-------->
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Mike Gerardi on January 13, 2009, 11:19:00 AM
Curt,
  This deer was pretty tuff. After we started boneing it out we saw damage from a car hit in the hind quarter, found someones elses boadhead, and Tim hit it twice.  The scene that mapped out in the snow when I got there, reminded me of a pick I saw in highschool of "Little Big Horn"  I think high shoulder on any deer should be avoided at all cost, no matter what the head is your using. I still love Snuffers and woodsmans.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Guru on January 13, 2009, 12:19:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Arrow k9:
Curt,
  This deer was pretty tuff. After we started boneing it out we saw damage from a car hit in the hind quarter, found someones elses boadhead, and Tim hit it twice.  The scene that mapped out in the snow when I got there, reminded me of a pick I saw in highschool of "Little Big Horn"  I think high shoulder on any deer should be avoided at all cost, no matter what the head is your using. I still love Snuffers and woodsmans.
Me too bud!!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Molson on January 13, 2009, 10:36:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Guru:
Just for the sake of asking.....if those two arrows were shot in reverse order, do you think (in your opinion,cause we'll never really know)anything would have been different?
It's hard to say.  I would like to think the Griz would have punched on through, but even shooting 67# and 700gr arrows, I can't say that for sure.  I have not hit one in the shoulder with a 190.

In the interest of education I'll tell this story.

Earlier last week, my hunting partner hit a nice buck in the shoulder.  He was shooting a 63# Robertson Montana Falcon, razor sharp Grizzly 160's with 100gr inserts, and AD's weighing in around 650 grains.  This same setup shot completely through two pigs with one shot back in June.  The arrow hit the buck so hard the nock shattered off the shaft on impact. Here's a couple pics of the blood trail.

    (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/004.jpg)


  (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/002.jpg)

In the second pic, it's kinda hard to see because the batteries were dying, but that bloodtrail leads out into that field constantly for about 60 yds and into a group of pines.  From the amount of sign, I felt pretty confident the arrow had got through enough that we'd be finding that deer.  

For those who don't know, this next pic is a pretty clear indication of a high shoulder hit.  Notice the blood centered right in the track.  Not sprayed out, or being pumped, or anything.  Just running down the leg and dripping off the shoulder.

  (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w49/molson410/001.jpg)

That's what ya call a false positive.  Not too much longer the blood was just a drop here and there followed by nothing.  He's still out there running around doing his thing.  We found the arrow the next day broke off about 5" above the head.

It's interesting that these two heads would each perform just the opposite of what you would expect under such similar conditions.  But that's hunting and those are the kind of things that happen sometimes.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Eric in FLA on January 14, 2009, 04:09:00 PM
Great post, very informative. Good detail in the photos.

Is the Irish Antiseptic used in case of cuts while butchering?
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: ishiwannabe on January 14, 2009, 04:31:00 PM
Been following this thread, and I am amazed at that deers ability and desire to live.
Great follow up too!
Congrats, well done.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Traditional-Archer on January 14, 2009, 09:22:00 PM
Quote
Finally my recent case of "Over-the-Backitis" was cured this morning. This past week my hunting partner's disease had apparently infected me as I shot over the back of two does, both under 20 yds. He was all proud of himself thinking he had finally passed his bad mojo gene on to me. Alas it was not meant to be. Doug Campbell was kind enough to suggest I was probably just shooting at "short does" and said I should just aim lower. Good advice Doug!  
He did say Does you shot a Buck, they are a little taller.
OH that Irish Whiskey looks like it would go good with butchering.
Congradulations.  :clapper:
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Shinken on January 15, 2009, 12:24:00 AM
Congratulations on that buck!  Way to follow up!  

Question:  The curl on the tip of that Snuffer is pretty amazing - was the tip left full length when sharpened or had the point been reduced with a file prior to sharpening?  I couldn't exactly tell from the photo.
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: madness522 on January 15, 2009, 08:40:00 AM
Nice Tim!!  Just remember we're gonna be shooting at short pigs come May!
Title: Re: Lots of Snow and What I Thought was a Doe (Pics)
Post by: Molson on January 15, 2009, 09:27:00 AM
The tip on that Snuffer was filed down and was not the needle point that comes on them.  I'm going to change the points now to more like I do on the Woodsmans.  Lift the rear and drag it across the file to make it more of a chisel like Charlie shows in his video.