A bit sickening

[Hoosierarcher88]

Now that I've had time to cool off I'm still a bit sick to my stomach. Yesterday afternoon I headed back out to the woods to try to fill my first deer tag with traditional equipment. I hunt public land which can be a struggle at best sometimes but in our area if it's not public then it's an overpriced lease. I went to the spot I've hunted for the biggest portion of my life. When I got out there I saw a truck parked at the trail head for the woods that is across the road fromantic the field I hunt. No big deal I decided I would drive around the block to the other side of the field and hunt the opposite corner ( field is pretty massive) so I didn't disturb anyone In the woods or possibly in the corner of the field where I normally hunt.

Fast forward a few hours and I'm sitting in my stand watching the field as I hear rustling coming from the woods behind my stand working towards me. At first I thought it was just a squirrel gathering acorns but to my surprise once it gets next to my tree on the trail I see it is a very old grey in the face buck. Now he wasn't tall, nor wide but he was heavy at the bases. This was obviously a buck so old he was on the decline. After around ten minutes he walks around a big oak tree which allows me to stand up without being seen. I am ready and waiting as he steps around the tree at about 8 yards and stops slightly quartering away. The next thing I see is my arrow as it burries down to the crest right in the lungs. At that point he takes off like a rocket down the edge of the field.

To say I am excited is a complete understatement. At that point I'm so jittery I cannot stand so I wait a few minutes before trying to climb down. Once down I gather all my gear and take my stand back to my vehicle and grab my bundle of rope to make a drag. I waited another 15-20 minutes before I decide to go look do by this time 40 minutes or so has passed since the shot. I walk back to my stand and find where he was standing and it's not long before I start finding blood. At this point I am working nice and slow looking ahead each step to make sure he is not bedded down at the field edge which until this point he has stayed dead in line with the bare field between the beans and the woods. I'm about 150 yards down the bloodtrail when I reach the dog leg in the field not knowing things are getting ready to take a turn for the absolute worst possible.

I get around the dog leg and blood is starting to really pour and the trail is still following the field edge but while scanning down the edge I do not see a downed buck. At this point I'm thinking he has veered off either into the beans or the woods. Roughly 250 yards into the trail I find the blood soaked back 8" of my arrow smashed into the ground where he has obviously taken a tumble and my heart jumps with excitement. Now ten feet further I see a massive puddle of blood.

Getting up to the puddle I discover the most sickening thing I can imagine...the blood stops and there are tire marks from a 2 wheel cart. I searched and searched praying it was a coincidence but no more blood was to be found. I followed the tire tracks which were not there the day before and they led right out to where that truck was previously parked but no truck to be found.

[Roy from Pa]

I hate that....

[doubleo]

That sucks!

[Bvas]

What a low life piece of s#*t!!

[TIM B]

I hate a thief. 
Nothing you can do about it.....but hunt some more
Good luck
Tim B

[TradBrewSC]

Dang I really hate to hear that.. So sorry bud!

[sneakybow]

I usually jot down tag numbers from vehicles near me on public land.  Just in case....

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[sneakybow]

Oh, and I've had this happen to me on public land as well.  My first archery deer was stolen just like this, except it had ran across a road and died not far off the road. We heard a truck stop, tailgate shut,  gravels flying as they took off. Definitely left a sour taste in my mouth.

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[Roy from Pa]

Sneaky, that's a darn good idea..

[Slickhead]

Had the same happen to my buddy years ago.
They pulled the arrow out and stuck it in the ground.
At least he got his bent 2117 back :(

[Hoosierarcher88]

I've had it happen before but it was several years back with a doe that died right along the road like sneaky had done to him. This was just a bit worse as its not often you get a shot at something that old on public land and being my first with traditional gear as well. All I can say is I hope the meat is tough and gamey.it's still early in season though so maybe I will get lucky and get a shot at the big bruiser I saw the day before that was cruising through the center of the field

[Soonerlongbow]

It’s a slim chance but you need to report this to the local game warden. It’s usually just the one or two guys working an area by themselves and they rely on tips from hunters to get the bad guys.

[Zradix]

You're right...that is sickening.
Sorry man.

If you go back to the area and see the same truck...write down the info..plate#, make & model..color..etc.
Otherwise try to shake it off and keep it fun.
I've heard so many of these stories and witnessed a couple on public land that I don't wait for the deer to die anymore.
I get up and start trailing.
I know you said you were shaky and didn't want to climb down until you collected yourself...which was smart.
...could of ended up in the ER (or worse) which is way worse than losing the deer.

I've felt the same shakes after the shot....it's actually one of the reasons I switched to ground hunting only....lol

So...give a call to the local authorities...tell them what you can remember.
If you happen to see the the SOB's out there again..get the info and call the authorities to add to the report.

...other than that..brush it off..and relish the feeling of accomplishment...I mean...YOU KILLED AN OLD BUCK ON PUBLIC LAND WITH A TRAD BOW!!!
No one can steal that from you!

[Jim Brennen]

Some people are just unbelievable

[Howitser]

That blows brother, some folks just have no common sense, or sense a all.
Is this "lowest of the low" worth your peace of mind though...... absolutely not. Maybe you'll find out who it is so ya can put a name to scum and advise wardens, but don't waste your good time on that selfish bastige!!!

[Sam McMichael]

Very sorry that your deer was stolen. A thief is about as low life as it gets. There is nothing good to be said about the guy that took your deer.

[imbowhunt10]

This is a bitter pill to swallow, and hard to get past. Having said that, do not let others low life actions deter you from that which you love to do. My hunting the last several years has been challenged by those who's ethics are like you have experienced. I since then have realized that I not only need to outsmart whitetail, but people as well. Don't let this discouragement get in the way of your compassion for getting back out there.

[Homey88]

Sorry that you had to encounter that. Some people definitely lack character. I hope you get a chance to kill a big deer this season.

[Bisch]

That sucks rotten eggs!!!!

Bisch


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[BAK]

Well, let me say what the game warden might.  Some fella comes up on a nice downed deer, with no one around.  Doesn't know if anyone is even trying to recover the deer so he tags it for himself and takes it home.

This is exactly why I don't follow the current fad of leaving a deer a half an hour before tracking it.  I'm after it the minute I'm out of the stand.