I texted Jack and another friend Mike to let them know supper might be late. I gave him time and went to the impact spot and found a spot of blood. I eased into the entry of the woods he ran to and found 1/3 of my fletching end. One speck of blood only and no dead deer in sight prompted me to back out, meet the guys for supper and decide what to do.
Over dinner I replayed what I had on video, which was basically the impact blurred and the deer running off. Remember the coyotes? I lost a deer last year in 30 minutes. I walked to the house to get my boy and the ranger and tracked the 100 yards to a doe head and little else. We elected to wait four hours and I passed the nervous time with the 1000 yard stare with my friends reassuring me.
We made the impact site and arrow recovery site and found little blood. There is only 1 trail in the tangle that is that travel corridor after years of hinge cutting and site set up. I felt like I had his trail but still no blood. After a 100 yards my nerves were shot and that dark cloud started rolling in. I had texted Monty to ask advice and sent a pic of the shot and he encouraged me to keep after it. Just when I was ready to back track to impact again to start over Jack yelled "I got blood!" All of a sudden the dark clouds lifted a little.
Following a scant blood trail on a very bum wheel was tough. Luckily the scantiness turned to crimson and the toilet tissue was no longer needed.
We stayed on the trail for another 120 yards to the edge of my property line. I texted my neighbor to tell him I was tracking and got the thumbs up. 75 more yards the blood was a Ray Charles and as I peaked over the bank of the creek there that DT laid.
*Tank City
So after 300 yards we were here together over this old warrior. With help I field dressed him and paid respects to his heart buried nearby. What I said to God thanking him I meant. What I said to the buck that gives life to my family and the sadness and happiness I feel today is as real as any feeling I will ever have.
*Old warrior
With help we crossed the ditch and got him loaded for the ride out. It is good having friends to help when you have something the size of a cow elk to haul home.
Topic: Illinois Bow Season...highs, lows, bloody arras (Read 2233 times)
