Regrets to relief buck. Lessons learned.

[rbcorbitt]

JR,

Not what I expected either.  We have a terrible coyote problem in Western NC and have had deer that were left until the next morning literally stripped down to the skeleton.

I was positive that this one would never be found.

[bofish-IL]

Sometimes you can not tell by seeing your arrow shaft how much penetration you get. I shot a ten point this year and the shot placement looked real good. It hit the deer and made a loud crack as the deer spun and took off I swear there was 20 inches of arrow hanging out the entrance side. All night I thought from the sound of the crack and lack of penetration that I hit the front shoulder.

Since I lost sight in one eye this year I left to return when it was daylight. After following the trail I found my broken arrow about 20 inches long but blood was half way up the shaft. Then I started noticing the trail had blood on both sides. Found the deer 150 yards and it had an entrance and exit wound but as I field dressed the deer the broad head and 8 inches of the shaft were inside. Only thing I can figure is the opposite leg hit the arrow and shoved it back out

[Friend]

Sounds to be a most fortunate ending.

[VictoryHunter]

Congrats!

[mwosborn]

They certainly are a tuff critter - hope you get another chance at him and hit him in the sweet spot.

[tarponnut]

Good deal! Just looks like a non-vital scapula hit. We've gotten several hogs on trail cameras later that we though were dead; shoulder hits, low gut shots, back leg hit,etc. Wild animals are tough critters.Here's hoping you get another crack at him! (cool stand by the way)

[SAM E. STEPHENS]

Good deal , I want a pic of you with him dead now that we know he is ok and ready to be hunted....

,,,Sam,,,

Good to know he is still OK! I shot a doe high about 3 weeks ago and never found anything. Two week later I was hunting a diffrent stand and in she walks. I did not get another shot at her but it was a big relief knowing that she was OK and had not become coyote scat!

Bisch

[rbcorbitt]

Thanks, guys!

Yes, Bisch, it amazes me the fortitude that these critters have!

Sam,
I'm hoping for a return date with him late season, and I'm going to do my best to meet your request      !  He's definitely a resident buck on this 400 acres (he's got food, plenty of does, and water).

We shall see!  No matter what, he will always provide a memory!

[Marc B.]

I love the outcome for the buck. Maybe y'all can meet again and I can love the outcome for you    

[KellyG]

Glad it did have a happy ending not the best out come but a good one none the less.

[kbetts]

I know you have to feel better.  I shot a little broke up scrub buck last Saturday evening with my longbow.  I was excited as heck as it was the last day of the gun season.  He walked to five yards from my stand where I plugged him good with a Razorcap.  I watched him scamper off, watching my bright blue Nockturnal the entire time.  An hour later I picked up the blood trail....no deer, no lighted nock, nothing.  Came back in the morning and nothing again.  I'm still sick over it.  My shot placement looked exactly like yours.  I hope he made it.

[rbcorbitt]

Thanks, Kyle, for sharing your story!  We hear more about the hits - the successes, that is - then the misses, etc.

Believe me, I am in no way trying to take pretend to be an "expert" on either Fred Bear or Howard Hill - but I believe that they both commented in print about the arrows that they wished they could have taken back.

Any ethical hunter realizes that, (unfortunately) it is going to happen - whether by arrow or bullet.  The fact that it bothers us tremendously is what sets us as hunters apart from others.  

I, personally, "love" the animals that I hunt - deer especially.
FEW things bring a smile to my face faster than seeing a deer - any deer - whether I am driving to work, or sitting in a stand.

Non-hunters have a hard time understanding this concept.