Heart breaking night

[Peter Smith]

Well, I got out to the stand I was using the night before on my good friend Tims property a little late. The sky threatened to open up and the wind was mild but gusting 20mph winds.

I put out some scent and climbed up the tree.
I was only in the stand maybe 15 minutes when a face appeared in the thick stuff to my left. Attached was a set of horns. Well I got up and got ready in case he showed his face in the open. Sure enouph about 10 minutes later a doe pops out of the brush and here comes the buck, crashing through the thickest stuff, getting his horns caught on anything and everything so he can catch that doe. It was actually comical.

Anyway, he finally breaks through and walks into one of the lanes I picked to shoot through. I drew back and popped him. The bad part is, It him him high in the shoulder, just below the spine. He took off running, with my arrow sticking out and then disappeared up a small path. I sat a few minutes and then grabbed my phone and called Tim.
He didnt answer so I decided to get down and check for blood. I then walked up the path to Tims stand, he had just got up in it. The deer must have just ran by his stand as he was walking out to it, he didnt see the deer.
We went back to the scene of the crime and started looking for blood, an arrow, anything.

I didnt see a thing. so we did a quick circle around his property and wound up back to the last place I saw the deer. Tim went into the brush to see if my arrow was in there, but didnt find it,I waled up ahead and low and behold, My arrow was sticking out of the grass, not more than 20 or so yards from Tims stand.

The arrow, was coated with blood about 6-8 inches from the broad head. The broad head and arrow were still in tact. I decided to follow the deer trail the deer seemed to have takens and found some blood, not much but some. I kept going for another 100 or so yards and found more blood here and there, not much but it was something. Of course the deer ran into the thickest stuff god has ever placed on this earth.

I found one last trace of blood on a small sapling and marked it. It was now getting pretty dark. I kept going on the main deer trail he seemed to be traveling an, but it was so dark I could see squat. I searched for 2 hrs with a flashlight, with no deer to be found. Tommorrow morning Ill go back to the property and look some more. I cant give up, its not right and my consience wont allow it. I hope I find him in the light tommorrow......

Pete

[pointy sticks]

Good luck hope you find him

[Izzy]

Too bad.Hang in their and Ill cross my fingers for ya.If hes down the crows will lead you to him.

[Stone Knife]

Pete, with a high hit like that he may be just fine. I made a hit similar to that last season, I was pretty upset with myself but about a week after it happened i saw the same deer he seemed to be doing good. If your shot was lethal I wish you the best of luck to find him, if not chances are that he'll do just fine.

[bbassi]

stick with it Pete and good luck. You'll find him.

[frassettor]

Good luck pete! Let us know how it turns out  

[steadman]

Good luck, I feel for you. Let us know how it turns out.

[John Scifres]

High in the shoulder is probably above the spine.

  Go Here  

 

Good luck but I don't think you killed him.

Peace,

John

[Shawn Leonard]

It sounds like ya should of backed out and waited, he would of bedded but ya probably pushed him, he could be OK but 6-8 inches at a downward angle ya may have got one lung. Best of Luck! Shawn

[Dan Worden]

I'd bet money he's fine.

From a tree a hit that high went over the spine and out the offside above the chest cavity. he's sore but tracking a doe as we speak.

[Shawn Leonard]

How can anyone say for sure what happened/ Over the spine, that would all depend on the angle he was shot from, that is why I said probably. I have shot quite a few deer in my time and have never had an arrow shot from a stand go over the spine, if it had their is nothing to hit and you would think the arrow would pass through unless it caught the off shoulder. Shawn

[Boris196]

Good luck.  I know lots of us have been there and are pulling for you.

[Peter Smith]

Well, I spent the better part of the day zigging and zagging, circling, retraceing, crawling, climbing, didnt find a hair.

Shawn, I shot him from a 15 ft ladder stand, the kind dicks sell, he was at around 20-22 yds. The arrow was sticking out of him as he ran through brush for around 50 yards before it came out. It came out whole. Judgeing from the skeleton above, it entered just about where the vertebrae are closer together right behind the shoulder blade.

as far as penetration goes it may have been less, its hard to say. There was alot of blood on the arrow but no fat or meat, in fact only one hair. But, I think hes going to survive (I hope). I know he will think twice before he chases a doe again. well back to the stand, if I get the courage.

Pete

[JEFF B]

sorry to hear that but good luck on ya next one  

[varmint101]

I agree with Shawn. In a treestand you probably wouldn't go over the spine with that kind of pentration. I say probably but who knows.

Also, as I personally learn more and more over the years, it's best to back out for a while than to immediately track if you're in any kind of doubt. It's hard, but it's the best thing to do sometimes. If you jump him you'll have a heck of a time finding him again.  

Good luck!! Look places you think he could end up. Creek bed, pond, bedding area, pine thicket, whatever.