Was blessed with an opportunity last night in a transition zone between bedding and a wheat / clover field.
Shot was 22 yards and the arrow centered where you'd expect a perfect heart shot. My initial analysis after the shot was that I'd be watching this deer drop in sight. However, the blood trail told a very different story.
A very long brutal 150 yard pin drop, hands and knees blood trail down a thick jungle power line found me at the bottom of a deep valley. The trail lead into the open timber at the bottom of the valley where the amount of blood on the ground started to drastically increase.
Another 150 yards up to the top of the valley / field edge is where I found this deer. Unbelievable how far these animals can go.
The autopsy showed that the arrow entered where you see the witness bubbles in the picture, arrow broke 8" up from broadhead when it took a hard 90 degree right turn missing the heart and lungs completely. The arrow punctured the membrane and took out the liver and was still inside the cavity when I was field dressing. No other organs were touched. Figure that one out..?!?!?!
Each encounter / blood trail brings a new challenge. While these moments and trails can be filled with anxiety, I love them so very much. If you keep emotions out of the equation, think logically, and allow the trail to tell the story instead of fabricating your own, more times than not you will find your animal at the end of the line.
Always thankful..