Twist on Pine lucky harvest thread. What’s your lucky one got away

[Bowguy67]

I don’t have anything to add to Pine’s thread. Was thinking about a deer got away one time and I figured it never shoulda.
Was the last day of archery, I’d killed 3 bucks already and to be honest was hunting but not super anxious to kill a deer. Did have 1 buck tag left but hoping to help my brother drag one out.
So the morning progresses and I’m seeing deer just pretty much watching em do their thing. I see a decent buck coming right for me. He’s pretty close so I say ok if he crosses that point. It does. Ah, it it comes to my left more to make the shot really easy, it does. Ah if it brings its leg forward enough to ensure a good shot, it does.
Ok this has got to be the most unlucky deer ever. I draw back to shoot, anchor, I  hear a click, bang. The limb explodes. Deer walks off. I actually can’t believe how lucky that deer was.
Thank God for the memory though

[Pine]

Mama said there'd be days like this. 

[MnFn]

Years ago I had a tree stand placed about seventy five yards from a field.  A trail came from behind me (from the North) kind of looped in a large circle and came by  me at about 12 yards and went out to the field. My stand faced east and I stood on it sideways with a perfect shot to the east.
I heard some thing coming and a doe and fawn came down trail as planned, right thru my shooting lane. Almost immediately I heard a buck grunting behind me. I thought “here we go, this is going to work”!

He was a nice mature buck. Instead of following the doe on circuitous trail, he cut off the loop by coming straight across.  He  stopped at the base of my tree, but on the other side.  I could have spit on his back, he was that close. But absolutely no shot possible.

He stood there for twenty seconds or so and then without turning around he backed up like he was on a rail until he was about ten or fifteen yards away and then ran out to the field.  I assume he got my scent, but absolutely did not show any sense of panic.  If he had come around the tree in either direction I would have had a great shot at him.
But as bowguy stated , thank God for the memory!

[beemann]

Years ago I had a tree stand on the edge of a huge old dry lake bed.  In front of me was cattails behind me was native grass.  All the trees were volunteer that grew up as the lake receded.  The first time I sat the stand I had five young bucks come down the trail and walk right by me at less than ten yards.  You could see for a long ways but the stand was in bend so that when the deer were at 20 yards they went out of sight for a bit.  They came back into view at 15 yards and proceeded down the trail. 

So later in the season on a frosty morning here comes a good buck right down the trail just like the previous bucks.  I just know Im about to kill my best buck.  He gets to the spot where they go out of sight and Im ready,  focused on the spot where they come back into view.  And nothing happens I don't hear anything ,  don't see anything.  Nothing, something tells me to turn around and there he is behind me at ten yards looking up at me .  When our eyes met he departed hastily.  I remember feeling like I was going to throw up.  Your right Bowguy, thanks for the memory.  Can still see that big 5x5 rack glistening in the sun......

[MnFn]

I wish more guys would post on this thread. There has to be a bunch good stories out there yet. I have enjoyed these type of  threads as much as about anything lately on here. Don’t get me , wrong - getting questions answered is important and always will be but actual hunting experiences are great.

One more.  We were pushing a string of brush and wasteland one day.  We were pretty sure there was a decent buck in it.  So sure in fact, we pushed it twice.  The second time thru it I was posting.  I saw a really nice buck coming thru the brush, ahead of the guys pushing it.

I saw him for a few seconds and watched as he calmly went around a clump of brush and proceeded to walk back between the other guys. Too far for me to shoot and they never saw him.

[Bisch]

I have always wanted to kill a coyote with my bow. To this date, it has not yet happened.

One morning, I was sitting in a tree stand deer hunting. It was a slow morning, and about the time I was ready to pack it in, I looked out in front of me and see this yote strolling right towards me. When I first saw him, he was probably 100yds or more out in front of me. As I watch him continue straight towards me, at some point I get the feeling I might just get a shot at him.

Well, he keeps coming and keeps coming until he’s inside 20yds. I’m on the ready, but he just kept loping along, never pausing enough for me to get a shot off. He walks straight under my tree and out the back side.

Then…………he just plops down on his butt and sits there looking around. Now this stand was set up to shoot the opposite direction from where he was but I just had to try. It took me several minutes to get turned all the way around. When I did, there was a big “V” in the tree, and I decided I could make a shot.

Several minutes had passed, and the yote is just sitting there without a care in the world. I pull back to anchor and let her go!

WHAM!!!!! My bottom limb hit the tree. The arrow sailed 2’ over the yote and stuck in the ground. The yote rolled over and high tailed it outta there. I’m pretty sure he was laughing so hard I could see tears on his face!!!

Anyway, after sitting there and contemplating what had just happened, I finally came to the conclusion that it was God’s way of telling me it was not my turn to get a yote with my bow! Either that, or maybe God planned it all that way and he was sitting up there laughing at me too!!!!

Bisch

[Bowguy67]

Great stories guys. We can’t get em all even when it seems we shoulda gotten these one

[shankspony]

Fun threads!

One that really sticks in my mind was a massive boar. Id just shot a sow which ran and died not far into the bush. I picked up arrow and wiped blood off it, and went to find her, placing arrow back in quiver.
I found her and started to gut her when I hear a noise, look up and see a monster boar heading our way. Quickly I drop knife and pick up bow and nock and arrow. This boar would go 300lb live weight and 3.5-4 inch of ivory. Pretty much as big as they get around here. he gets too a gap about 12 paces from me and I let go an arrow. There is a massive thwack and arrow gos sailing skywards after bouncing off the only vine it could have hit. The boar growls and starts doing a circle around me trying to pick up scent. keeping my eyes on him and not able to beleive Im getting another chance, I fumble for another arrow and try nocking it, but cant seem to fit it too string. After what seems like ages I take my eyes off the boar and look down and find its the arrow id shot the sow with and one side of the nock has broken away!
I drop the arrow and reach for another but the moment is lost and he gets my scent and departs. Kicked myself for ages over those two mistakes.

[Bowguy67]

Fun threads!

One that really sticks in my mind was a massive boar. Id just shot a sow which ran and died not far into the bush. I picked up arrow and wiped blood off it, and went to find her, placing arrow back in quiver.
I found her and started to gut her when I hear a noise, look up and see a monster boar heading our way. Quickly I drop knife and pick up bow and nock and arrow. This boar would go 300lb live weight and 3.5-4 inch of ivory. Pretty much as big as they get around here. he gets too a gap about 12 paces from me and I let go an arrow. There is a massive thwack and arrow gos sailing skywards after bouncing off the only vine it could have hit. The boar growls and starts doing a circle around me trying to pick up scent. keeping my eyes on him and not able to beleive Im getting another chance, I fumble for another arrow and try nocking it, but cant seem to fit it too string. After what seems like ages I take my eyes off the boar and look down and find its the arrow id shot the sow with and one side of the nock has broken away!
I drop the arrow and reach for another but the moment is lost and he gets my scent and departs. Kicked myself for ages over those two mistakes.

Funny, I don’t wanna deviate because I did get this one but it almost got away along similar lines. Had a basket rack at 7-8 yards, maybe closer. I was hunting the edge Og a hayfield when he walked into the cedars. Kinda dingy in there. He stops to feed and my arrow flies true I think, just shy of him it stops and drops. Like a witch grabbed it. That buck jumped back and stood staring at the arrow. I redrew and killed him but I’d actually hit a rusty strand of barbed wire w first shot. Never saw it

[Bowguy67]

A few years ago I was had a brain tumor. I didn’t know it at the time but I was always sleepy. It was opening afternoon NY and I was w my youngest daughter. I was lying down in a blind when my daughter (12) tapped me awake. A doe was sneaking down the hill, it saw something it didn’t like from 15 yards and back tracked.
I lie back down when she tapped me again and asked if she could shoot this? A bear was coming right for us, stopped at 4 yards staring into the blind forever it seemed. It finally turned to go and I told her to draw. She couldn’t. At 20 it put its feet on a tree, she started to draw and I told her too far.
The bear came back wide open and walking at 12 yards. I told her to shoot, it never stopped full but sorta crept along. She drew I looked out side window to watch where near was hit. I heard a crack and hoped that was the far shoulder. The bear stayed at 20 for a long time stock still. I looked back and her arrow found the one 1” sapling in the clearing. Ugh, felt bad for her but I’m sure she had a good story. Told her mom it was scary lol. Even after I realized she missed I’d not shoot, it was her bear

[gregg dudley]

The one scenario that I still dream about unfolded on a Colorado elk and mule deer hunt that I made 15-20 years ago now.  It was early season and I was sitting in some brush near a well-used water hole. I had already seen multiple mule deer does and young bucks within bow range.  I knew it was only a matter of time before a nice branch antlered buck arrived on scene. 

As I scanned the view in front of me from left to right, my attention was suddenly captured by the buck of my dreams.  He was standing broadside on open ground as if he was posed for the painting that remains etched in my mind to this day.  His typical velvet antlers had it all.  They were heavy, tall, and wide. 

Slowly and deliberately, I got into position.  The bow came up smoothly, the anchor was good, and the release was as clean as any that I have ever made.  The flight of the white fletched arrow was beautiful as it left the bow and arced toward the deer's chest.  My elation, however, turned to despair as I saw the arrow drop below the intended mark.  I have no doubt that the feathers tickled the monarch's chest as they brushed their way by.

In open territory on a target far larger than any whitetail that I had ever seen or shot, I underestimated the range of the biggest deer that I have ever seen. The video plays weekly in my mind.

[Mike Bolin]

My one and only elk hunt was south of Silt, CO in 2013. I hunted with a friend from Ohio and we met up with Dick Railsback from Silt. First morning we left camp right at daylight and Dick kind of took us on a tour of likely spots where he had been on elk before. We ended up at a waterhole around 10500'. We stood on the dam of the waterhole and discussed our next move. Dick suggested that my friend Scott and I should post up on the waterhole while he hiked on up the mountain to check a couple of more spots.
Well, this flatlander with bad knees worked up quite a sweat, so I found a likely place to set up and decided to peel of my base layer to dry out a bit. I'm pulling on my hunting shirt and I hear a thump, like something hit a log. Like I said, I'm pulling my shirt on, looking through the neck hole I see 3 cow elk, a calf and a spike bull standing at the waterhole, not 15 yards away. My pullover is halfway on, my bow is leaning against a tree 10' behind me. My tag was an either sex tag and I would have gladly taken one of the cows.
Keep in mind that the three of us had been standing on the dam talking not 5 minutes before these elk showed up. It's after 10:00 and the last thing I expected to see was an elk (rookie flatlander). I just froze, knowing that Scott was set up not far away and he should be close enough to get a shot. My buddy Scott is not shooting because he's wanting me to get an elk since it was my first trip and he had killed one on a previous trip. My elk stand off seemed like it lasted for an hour, but it was probably only 20 seconds or so. The cow closest to me bolted and the rest followed suit. I was left standing there with my shirt half on thinking what the heck just happened...only elk I had close the whole trip!

[Bowguy67]

Some picture you painted there Mike Bolin! Great story

[1Arrow1Kill]

Just like Bisch, shooting a 'yote with a longbow has forever been on my Bucket List.  I don't pursue them, but do welcome any and all opportunities. 

Years ago, during an especially crisp early November morning hunt I was perched 20 feet up in a well-branched, young oak tree.  My Lone Wolf hang-on stand was set facing North overlooking a well used deer trail 17 yards to the West off my left shoulder.  Sitting perfectly still and intently listening was my plan that chilly morning as the frozen forest floor loudly betrayed anything moving.  Sure enough, about 30 minutes after shooting light I heard something approximately 100 yards out approaching down the trail in front of me.  I tend to hunt thick stuff, so before the critter was within eye sight I slowly and quietly stood, positioned my feet, positioned my Great Northern Lil' Creep and place my Fred Eichler cordovan shooting tab on the string. Just as I settled in, I saw a big, dark trophy 'yote coming down the trail at a steady pace.  I smiled and drooled, not unlike a hungry 'yote chasing a rabbit.  I drew smoothly, anchored and watched as he quickly crossed my shooting lane and kept steadily plodding down the deer trail.  No Shot - No 'Yote!  Dang!

Two weekends later, up the same tree on a similar crisp morning I heard familiar paced footsteps coming down the same trail.  I stood quickly and quietly. This time I set the bow tip on my boot, leaned the bowstring back into my leg and waist and grabbed the little mouse squealer I'd brought for just such an encounter . . . 'fool me twice, shame on me'.  I squealed as soon as I was sure it was the 'yote.  He was about 40 yards out when he heard 'Denny the Mouse'.  He stopped for about 20 seconds which was just enough time for me to stealthily place the call back into my pocket and slowly raise my bow. As my Lil' Creep canted at shooting level I reached for the familiar string with my well-used tab.  My hand slightly bump the bowstring and the Bear Razorhead tipped cedar arrow fell from my bowstring, silently arched just over the front of my stand making a rustling noise as it landed on the forest floor at the base of the oak tree.  The arrow nock must have been partially dislodged from the bowstring when I leaned the bow against my leg and waist to grab the mouse squealer.  My trophy 'yote heard the arrow rustle as it landed in the leaves, left the trail and came to the base of my tree anticipating a squealing, leaf rustling rodent breakfast.  It investigated my arrow and left the area with a purpose.  A couple of chilly, joint stiffening hours later I too left the area with a purpose.

There's quite a number of crossed off items on Denny's Bucket List, however, killing a trophy 'Yote with a longbow remains.  ( Coyotes - 2  /  Denny - 0 )   Next Time - I Win!

[Bowwild]

It was early 80's in Elkhart County, Indiana, about 1/2 mile from Michigan state line. Election Day Tuesday.

An absolutely huge non-typical monster lumbered out of the buttonbush marsh bordering the woods I was "guarding". He walked head-on towards my tree stand which at 10' was a bit low for my liking, but it "fit" the tree. I had to decide left or right side of the tree. He went left. Inside of 10 yards he stopped on my left side. I could see his eye lashes. His rack had points everywhere, no idea how many but well more than 12. Greyish brown rack.

I was afraid to draw with him so close beside me. I decided to let him walk a bit further to my rear and then turn at the waist and shoot. He moved on a couple of strides, stopped, and I turned. He stopped with saplings guarding his vitals. My only shot was forward of his hip, angling into the lungs. Slight mistake and a wounded deer. I passed the shot and never saw him again. 

I had bow-killed a 265 (field dressed on state agency scales) 9-point a couple of years earlier on this same property.

[BAK]

I was a young guy and still hunting along an overgrown gully.  I peek up over the edge and there is a dandy 10 pointer laying 20 yards away SLEEPING.   I stand up, make my draw, make my release, and hear a loud thwack as the arrow smacks the side of a little tiny limb I never even saw.  The arrow stuck into the ground, right below the bucks heart.  He jumps up, looks around, and jumps for the cornfield.  That was 40 years ago, and I've never had a shot present itself like that again.   

[shankspony]

I was sitting on a high rock outcrop one morning watching a herd of Fallow that were way out in the open below me, and knowing there was no way to get close to them. I started glassing other areas and when i returned to look at the herd, they were gone. I looked down and for some reason They had claimed the hill and were walking under the rocks I was on. If they carried on they would pass right under me, so I moved to an ambush position a few yards away and waited.
Sure enough they came on around the corner and when one paused about 7 yards from me and steep down below, I drew and leaned over to take the shot. As I released the string on a give me, The Bino's that I carry slug across my body and under my bow arm, swung out between the bow and string..... Still have no idea where that arrow ended up.

[MnFn]

One more.
A farmer friend of mine gave me permission to hunt a alfalfa field.  He told me not to waste too much time hunting it because he was going to put cattle in the trees and brush adjacent to the field.

I found a nearly perfect spot. There were two wetlands next to each other with a narrow ridge right between them. The deer used the ridge to get to the field. A few yards past the potholes, was a grove of trees with the trail continuing through it.  I found a tree about fifteen yards off to the side that I could hang a stand in.

My first night in the stand a buck came down the trail and I got ready to shoot. When he went thru the shooting lane I drew and shot. It looked very good, right up to the point where it should shot through the ribs of the deer. 

Only problem was one small branch that I didn’t see hanging down in front of the buck.  The arrow hit the branch prefectly an stopped the arrow dead. The arrow dropped harmlessly to the ground, right in front of where the deer had been. I couldn’t believe it happened. What are the odds?

[Southpawky]

I have one that got away but I’m sure he died, never could find him. I was hunting a new property that was big hardwoods, I got cruising through and found a small saddle, once I dropped into it there was about 5-6 does down there and ran away, I went in the area to see what I could And  noticed some really fresh scrapes. There was 3-4 of them not 10 feet away from each other and pawed out. Figured I had the does there and fresh sign so I’ll hang a stand for the next day.

I climbed up in the stand the next morning and didn’t realize how high I got, I was probably 25ft. Or more in the tree, and had deer all around me soon as I got situated so I couldn’t really try to climb back down another 5 or 10 foot. Insult to injury, we was shooting the day before and I forgot to put my rangefinder back in my pack. I sat until around 9:30! And decided to stand for a while, I got up and looked over at the scrape and there was a buck working one of them. Not just a regular I’ll have to think about it buck, this one had stickers all over and with a wild guess, I’d say he would have went easily into the upper 160’s.

I gently grabbed my bow and figured the deer was around 25 yards, I pulled back and let the arrow fly, it buried into the deer and he took off, I dropped my bow from the tree and literally was crying from the excitement and emotions. I sat there for about an hour and got down to find blood, bright bubbly blood was there so I figured I took out both lungs, he probably isn’t far. I started the trailing and heard a running thru the woods. Got up to where I heard it and there was a massive pile of blood where he was bedded.

We trailed that deer probably a mile and he ended up going onto another property. We got permission but I never did find him. Sadly, I learned a lot of lessons that morning. Higher isn’t always better and need to be prepared. I shot that deer 5 yards off of what I thought he was and factoring in that I was probably 25 ft up in a tree and ive got myself a  bad situation. I figured I probably ended up clipping one lung, I imagine the deer eventually died but I’ve yet been able to find anything, deer are tough animals so who knows