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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Whip on November 03, 2014, 01:46:00 PM
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I'm not proud to have to post this one. They say all's well that end well, but I still don't like it when things don't go as planned. But there are a couple of lessons to be taken from the story, so here goes.
I had spent the past 4 days at our hunting cabin in west central Wisconsin with my wife. I had been seeing deer, and the start of some good rutting action. But we had planned only on the 4 days so headed for home yesterday afternoon. The good news is that the deer hunting around my home is as good if not better than at the cabin.
A couple of hours before dark I headed to a favorite stand just a 100 yards or so from my back door. I have a small apple orchard there and the deer really love the treats.
Five minutes after settling in a small forkhorn appeared and gobbled up a few tasty apples. He wandered off, and I spotted another buck out across the marsh along my back ditch line.
He appeared to be a fairly wide buck, but only a six point assuming he had brow tines at all. Not one I wanted to shoot, but cool to see. Then a doe popped into the open near him and stood as he approached. He climbed on top and had his way with her. That was a first for me. After all the hours I had spent in a tree stand I had never witnessed an actual breeding take place. And this one seemed to be much earlier in the month than I would have expected. Maybe they were just practicing. :saywhat:
Shortly after than episode the small forky came back looking for more apples. Following directly behind him was another buck that brought my interest to a whole 'nother level.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/IMG_0332.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Jlasch/media/IMG_0332.jpg.html)
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AND....????
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Well I'm liking the way it's headed so far Joe
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:campfire:
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The picture above was taken by my trail camera. I was perched in another tree off to the left of the photo.
As if scripted, the bigger buck walked closer toward me before turning broadside, then slightly quatering away. Completely unaware at 15 yards, I couldn't ask for a better opportunity. After beginning my draw the rest of the shot seemed to be on autopilot. A very faulty autopilot as it turns out. I can't say I remember anchoring, aiming or pulling through. The next thing I remember was my arrow smacking the deer in the right rear leg!!!
What the heck??? I've never missed a shot so badly in my life!!!! Totally disgusted with myself I could only helplessly watch as he ran off with the arrow imbedded in his lower hip. He stopped and looked back for a bit before slowly walking off into the thick red willows of my marsh.
I was literally sick. Animals don't deserve that kind of treatment and I felt aweful to be the sole cause of it.
I had still only been in the stand for about 45 minutes, and headed back to the house to figure out what to do next. A phone call to a good friend venting my frustrations and berating myself led to a more calm discussion on the next best course of action. Even though the hit was horrible and the chance of recovery nil, I had the obligation to follow it up. My best hope was that when he got into the thick willow cover the arrow might pull out intact, the blood flow would clot, and he would live to see another season.
I have a Boykin Spaniel named Arlo that lives to blood trail deer. After dark I took him down to where I had last seen the buck. Blood sign was good, but of course everything I found was going to be all there was. There would be no body cavity filling up with blood.
Shortly after entering the willows I found my arrow. The broadhead itself was missing and had broken off at the adapter. Twenty five yards past that I heard the deer jump from its bed and crash off throught impossibly thick willows. We trailed to his bed, and the blood trail continued past it. Arlo was as hot on the trail as I have ever seen him and I struggled to hang on to his lead. I use a 30 length of rope for trailing and knew that I didn't dare let go of it for a second or he would be gone.
Everything I knew (which isn't much) about blood trailing a muscle hit deer is to keep them moving and hopefully the blood flowing. We continued on as fast as I could possibly go through the thick cover. The trail crossed a ditch and then a fenceline into a picked corn field. We could make better time out there and were nearly running on the track.
I shined my flashlight ahead and saw deers eyes reflected back to me maybe 150 yards across the stubble at the edge of a brushy fenceline. To far to identify if it might be the buck, but the blood was leading us toward the eyes. As we approached closer the buck suddenly got up and loped across in front of us at 40 yards. He was obviously hurting to let us get so close. He made a wide cirle and headed back toward my little marsh.
We followed back across the original blood trail, crossing at the same spot on the ditch. Arlo had no trouble staying on the fresher trail. Continuing on as fast as we could on to our neighbors property, the trail was still very good with plenty of blood. As we entered a section of tall marsh grass the buck once again jumped from a bed only 15 yards in front of us. He had to be getting weak. I know that I was!
He was now headed toward the road. I stopped for a short break to give Arlo (and myself) a chance to catch our breath. I again called my buddy to discuss what his thoughts were on what to do in a situation like this. We both felt the only hope was to keep pushing on.
Forty or so yards past our rest stop we came on to the buck in his final bed. The nightmare was over for both the buck and I.
As I said at the start of this thread, I am not proud of what happened last night. I am happy to have ended up with a great buck, but it will always be tainted with remorse over a shot poorly executed on my part.
The lessons we need to take from this are to follow up every hit, no matter how slim the chance of recovery may be. Secondly, be as knowledgable as you can possibly be on how to follow up different hits after the shot. When I came back to the house to get Arlo I actually got online and found a great short tip sheet to use on following up wounded deer from DeerSearch.com http://deersearchflc.com/RecoveryTips.pdf
I have a copy printed out and will be carrying it with me in the future. It will go in a pocket of an orange vest that I have set up specifically for blood trailing. Some of the other items that I have in the vest are flashlights and batteries, knife, toilet paper for marking trails, gps, gloves, hat, and of course Arlo's harness and leash. Having a seperate vest or at least a bag prepacked with everything you might need helps to make sure you are not stuck out on a trail without something that you wish you had remembered to pack.
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Arlo and his deer. He earned it far more than I did.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/DSC01916.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Jlasch/media/DSC01916.jpg.html)
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A huge congrats to the both of you!!
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That's some good teamwork. You may need to sweeten up Arlo's food for a while. Sounds like he deserves it. Congrats.
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Congratulations Joe! Happy ending with a great buck!
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Arlo is deserving of some doggie treats. As we all know, not all shots are slam dunk double lungers. Good job on keeping with him, and he is a great buck!
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Congrats Joe, thanks for sharing and taking us along on your adventure. You and Arlo's deserved that buck.
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Great hunting story with a very happy ending. Well done!
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Nice buck and way to stick with it. Any more details on the hit? Penetration? Broadhead stuck in bone? Did you get an artery? Type of broadhead? I appreciate you sharing the info.
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Congrats to the both of you on a fine trophy...great job!!
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kadbow, I am using the new Grizzly Instinct 3 blade head. The head struck bone with a solid crack at impact and little penetration. It stuck in the bone, and stayed there when the arrow broke off at the insert adapter. It's always hard to say what might have happened with a different broadhead, but I give a lot of credit to the Instinct for the continued blood flow from what normally would be a non-vital hit. The Instinct is a huge tough broadhead with a lot of cutting surface on those long blades.
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Congrats to you both!!
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Dandy buck godbless you ...glad a badhit led to you finding him and he didn't suffer too long. .CONGRATS! !
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Congratulations on the beautiful buck, Joe. And Arlo deserves to sit at the head of the table for awhile. He looks very proud of himself in that photo, doesn't he? Way to stick with it.
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Good for you for sticking it out! !!
Nice buck.
Rodd
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Congratulations Joe! Nice buck and follow through with you and your buddy! Extra treats for him! Lol
You are teaching us all a lesson on perseverance! Thanks!
Kenny :thumbsup: :clapper:
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Perseverance paid off. Really nice b ck Joe. Give Arlo an extra bone.
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Perseverance paid off. Really nice buck Joe. Give Arlo an extra bone.
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Very cool that you two recovered him, what a buck! :thumbsup:
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Great deer! The process may not have been how you wanted it, but the result was. Glad that you stuck with it and recovered the deer.
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Congrats on a beautiful buck Whip! I made a poor shot on a doe (and felt sick just like you!) earlier this year but was able to recover her the following morning. I did the same as you after the shot... went home and read some articles. Mine was gut shot and called for letting her bed overnight. I never knew that pushing a deer that had been muscle shot was the right approach. So.. thanks for sharing all the details and learned lessons!
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Joe the mere fact that you worked the track that hard and tried your best tells me all I needed to know. Congrats on the great deer, bad track or not. Pet that dog man!
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Congrats to both! What a monster of a buck. :thumbsup:
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Hay I petted that dog before. Joe don't be so hard on yourself you are one of the most dedicated bowhunters I know.You would have trailed him for days if you had blood.Great buck and Great Job. :thumbsup: :notworthy: :notworthy: :campfire:
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Great job on the recovery, Joe! As a true sportsman I know that you never want to see an animal suffer, but I know you are damn proud of your pup. The consistent work that you have put into training him has paid off handsomely. Good job, buddy!
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Argo does look very proud of himself in the pic as well he should be. Not all hits are great, do our best not to make a poor hit but we are flinging sharp sticks at live animals from a distance and a poor hit is gonna happen. Really awesome how you handled that whole hit - and Arlo too!!
You did the deer great justice by your actions and recovery.
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congrats
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Very nice buck Joe. Congrats
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Way to stick with it Joe! Never a doubt that you would do all that you could. Glad to see that it had a happy ending for you.
Give Arlo a few extra treats tonight.
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I'm glad everything worked out Joe, congratulations on your nice buck!
-Jay
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You stuck with it and got a nice buck in the end! Great job joe!
AND ARLO!!
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what a tracking job! what a buck! congrats!!
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Good job on the recovery , heck of a deer .....
,,,,Sam,,,,
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Better to be luck than good ... now where have I heard that before :wavey:
Congrats on a grueling experience Joe, that is a nice buck and your streak continues, good job buddy :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Nice Buck...way to stick with the recovery..
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Glad it worked out for you, I know how sick you can feel seeing an injured animal run off. Congrats
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Congrats to ya brother. I understand your dismay with the shot, but lots of folks would not have followed up like you did. That's the way we all should be, never give up! Persistence paid off.
Well done.
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Great recovery! Hats off to you and Arlo for relentlessly staying on the buck's trail. The script doesn't always read the way we want it, but through your trailing diligence you now have a great buck.
Congratulations on a fine Wisconsin buck! :clapper:
Bernie
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A hunt you'll not soon forget!
Iv been on both sides of of a bad shot as most of us have and to have a hero pic with your tracking companion in the end is a great day!!!
So glad your persistence payed off,
A good lesson for all of us :thumbsup:
Congrats
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Congrats on the buck, and you did a great job of sticking with it! :clapper:
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That's an awesome buck! I sure am glad it worked out for you. I know exactly the feeling you described in your writeup. I have made a few blunders, and it tears me up any time it happens, especially if it was my fault!
Congrats to you and Arlo!
Bisch
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Congrats, Joe. Thanks for the link.
homebru
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It's always good for refreshers and more perspectives on blood trailing!
Congrats on your buck, and thanks for sharing!
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Every once I awhile I read something here that demands my attention, and your story did that. Thanks for the honesty and the desire to share something that may help another hunter.
I am very glad it turned out the way it did. I don't know you but I am guessing it could not happen to a nicer guy. Congratulations all the way around.
Gary
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Way to hang tough , and Arlo earned his venison jerky treats for the next year. Great buck and a story that will you can tell for decades.
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Great buck!
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NICE one Joe! Living in a state with generous bag limits, I've been on literally hundreds of bloodtrails and only twice have we pushed one. And we got em both. I'm glad you told the story as it happened, because I'm convinced there has been at least one story on TG were I think the hunter might have recovered his deer had he pushed it. Congratulations
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Dang... Way to go!!!!
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Splendid!
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Congrats Joe. I understood perfectly the emotions you were feeling after the shot and probably into most of the track. A job well done by you and Arlo. Glad things ended the way they did. Awesome deer.
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Way to stay with it!
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Proud and happy for you Joe. Darned nice buck!
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Great deer and story Brother!
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Thanks for sharing my friend. Great story with a happy ending. :campfire:
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Congrats :thumbsup:
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Great story Whip! Congrats and thanks for sharing.
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Way to stick with it Joe! Congrats on a great buck!
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Congrats bud!!
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Nice buck. Way to stick to the trail and your persistence along with the great dog work really paid off!
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Congrats to you and Arlo!
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Congratulations! Glad everything turned out.
I hate that feeling when a shot does not go as planned. Unfortunately I can say I have BTDT.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
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Way to keep at it and good end result. You and Arlo did good. Hip hits have the same 70% recovery stat as chest hits. Even if you don't cut a femoral its good to follow up diligently as you showed. Thanks for sharing your story and fine buck!
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Thank you for sharing! Way to keep at it! Congrats to the both of you!
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I knew the way you started the story that a few lessons would be in there. Thanks for sharing, the difficult ones may have the best lessons.
Good work on the dog work. What a treasure.
Great perseverance!
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Very good story and example of being a true hunter. You should be very proud of this kill. Great dog work also.
Congrats
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Great job Joe, and a special congrats to Arlo!
VERY NICE buck.
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Congradulations Joe. Beautiful Buck.
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A very tough process Joe, but your incredible tenacity was deservingly rewarded! Congrats buddy.
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Can't believe I missed this thread. Joe that is a mighty nice buck. Your hard work along with the dog payed off. So true to follow up ever blood trail. Glad you got him.
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Wow...nice buck Whip...congrats and thanks for sharing.
I need to get in the woods bad!!!
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Sometimes the shot is not as good as we would like but you did something to help us all. You stuck with the deer and showed us the best way to handle a shot like that. Great job and deer!
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Awesome buck Joe, congrats and thanks for sharing the tip of keep pushing them, never knew! :clapper:
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Whip,
I had a similar situation 3 years ago. I was in a natural blind in the late season with my brother at his property when we had a few does come in. I wanted a fat doe when this nice 8 point came on the seen. At about 12 yards I drew, anchored and right at the shot I dropped my bow arm, D@$%. I hit that deer below the brisket and centered his opposite front leg. I was mortified! My brother though I had a great hit but I told him I was sure I didn't even penetrate it's chest. We got out of the blind and found blood right away. We then tracked it about 80 yards to were it stopped and dropped quite large pool of blood. I stopped right there and said I'll be back in the morning. It was a crisp cold night with 2 inches of fresh snow so my mind was made up.
Back at sunrise I got on the trail and found about 7 beds in 200 yards then I jumped him and the chase was on. We went about 2 miles in a giant loop through public and private property when I finally tired him out and was able to put one in the boiler room when he tried to get out of a washed out pond thick with cattails. As long as the blood was falling I was after him and it paid off. I there was not snow I would not have found the deer. He almost gave me the slip twice even in the snow and bit of CSI and elimination got me back on track.
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Great to have a dog that was able to help bring it all together for you. The buck is awesome and your story something for us all to learn from. Congrats on the deer recovery.
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Congrats Joe!
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Congrats on a stud buck, a hunt you will always remember!
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Effort comes in many forms, and rewards come in even more. Joe you continue to make the most out of every hunt and share all your tips. We all appreciate it. Mike
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Persistence pays. Glad all ended well.
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nice job! Thanks for your persistence and your candidness on telling your story because not every shot is perfect. Well done!
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TTT for looper
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Congratulations!!!!
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:archer:
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Thanks for the tips,great story. I myself have been in similar situations.
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Congratulations both of you on a nice buck.
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Awesome!
Luck seeks out and targets the prepared.
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Congrats on a beautiful deer. And congrats for not giving up.
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Nice buck Joe. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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don't know how I missed your Story Whip. Wow what an ordeal. Thankfully you and Arlo are a great team and don't give easily!! congrats to you both.
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Great story Whip! Way to follow your "instinct". Pun intended! If you can't learn valuable lessons on this site you must be just looking at the pictures...
Congrats to you and Arlo...
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That had to be a tough one...thx for telling the story
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Congratulations on a great deer. Excellent story and I commend you for sticking with it after the shot. Great job.