Please bear with me.
While I choose to shoot traditionally now and then, I hunt with others that don't. I don't force my opinions on others, thats not who I am - however I chose to share this on another board I frequent in the hopes that someone might pause and think..
I had an interesting weekend.
I'll readily admit, my eyes have been opened from shooting traditionally. Shots that I thought were slam dunk have become a hard look, an evaluation of my ability to the leathality of my shot. I hate to say I've begun second guessing things, but I've started taking a stern look at what distances and shot angles are appropriate when taking game for me.
Case in point. I had three does come within at least 30 yrds of me this weekend. All broadside, all shots that I would normally - read as pre-traditional - consider a shooter type scenario. I held all shots, for one reason or another deciding that I didn't care for the angle of the animal, the agitation level of the animal, the time of day that could result in a late night bloodtrailing with possible rain on the horizon.. I've started to take into account variables that previously haven't really mattered to me.
Here's where it gets interesting, at least for me.
A fellow hunter, one that I enjoy hunting with, was with me. I don't necessarily consider him (or myself for that matter) to be a fanastic judge of the situation, but responds well to pressure and the decision making process. I feel he made a bad choice that night.
I passed on a doe at 31yds as ranged by my Nikon. It was late, rain was coming, surrounding area was not conducive to trailing in my opinion - so I let her walk. She walked straight into my partner, who didn't hesitate on the shot. I watched the hit, and thought it was solid from my vantage point. After a bit, I walked from my position to the point of impact, and ranged my buddy's stand. 32yrds. I asked him when he got down to me what he shot the doe at - 23yrds he said. We found the arrow, and it was covered in fat, with white hair, the blood trail was steady red, but sparse.
I decided to take up the trail immediately due to the oncoming rain. After tracking through the woods, through the corn field, through the tall grass, we hit a cut hay field. I've never had such a terrible time blood trailing as I did going from leaf to leaf in a cut hay field following blood spatter. It took almost 2 hours to cross 20 acres, all the while listening to "we should give up, this is taking too long, we'll find her in the morning..." .
Eventually, after kicking her up an hour later in a small stand of woods much to our south, I had to agree.
I didn't sleep well, knowing the hit wasn't solid. So at first light I packed up and went back to the spot of last blood. It was the most unusual pattern, fresh blood north, south, east, west - all no more than 20 feet and then nothing. I looked for hours, every now and then I've find a spot on a leaf, then nothing. It was a proverbial needle and in a haystack.
I hated to give up, but eventually I just ran out of help. I had no more blood, my buddy was content to loose the shot, and the response I got back was "at least it was only a doe".
Maybe I've changed, I don't know. My perceptions have really changed from shooting a traditional bow, with my limited range I've become so much more particular with shot placement and range. I don't care if it's a doe or a buck, they deserve my best to try and kill them as humanely and quickly as possible.
If that means I pass on the shot, I pass on the shot.
Something's happened to me this year. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm definately aware that it's happened. Take what you will from this story, while I won't brow beat my hunter partner of years for my opinion of his candor, I would encourage you to take a hard look at what each of you is truely capable of.
What if you where on the other side of that arrow?
I appreciate the moment to clear my head,
Chris
Topic: The crisis of conscious. (Read 596 times)
