Around 4 pm I walked the short distance from hunters camp, down the driveway, crossed the road and climbed the steep bank. cut thru the head high rag weed and ducked into the buck thorn . It took just seconds to climb the tree , hoist Faith and settle in. As i feared, the dental floss on Faith's string floated up hill. I hoped what ever deer were bedded, were high enough that my scent would dissipate some what.
About 6 pm I turned in the tree stand to face up hill ever hopeful the thermal would soon switch. Like a wish being suddenly granted the floss began to float in the opposite direction. Ten minutes later I spotted deer legs approaching from above and on the trail going closest to my tree. A fat 6 pointer was on his way. He fed as he approached and I held my breath. I turned slightly to the left hugging the tree. This was certainly going to be the smell test for this spot. He stopped at 5 yards and stood staring ahead out in to the pasture. Never lifting his nose he continued on , hopped the fence and was off to the bean field. Made it I thought! Now bring me a shooter buck or an adult doe! Time ticked by and day light started to fade and yes another set of legs were coming down the same trail. i prepared for the shot but suddenly the doe turned left and was veering straight down the hill. I rotated right 180 degree and was almost facing the tree trunk. An easy shot had suddenly changed to a very challenging one. She was in the thick brush and ahead of her about 10 yards was an opening with a rotten log laying in full view. I wasn't even sure if the log was on the trail but thought if she steps in front of it I would shoot. She stepped right where I needed her to be and Faith didn't hesitate. I have been impressed with Faith's speed and at the time of the shot it seemed like the deer exploded. Since I had real turkey feathers without anything bright on the shaft I honestly could not see the arrow strike. But by the way the deer exploded thru the fence into the pasture and then crashed back into the woods, I was sure she was down. I lowered Faith , climbed down and moved to where the deer had stood at the time of the shot. There was good blood with in a few feet and everything felt just right. I headed out , to wait for help and needed to shed some clothes. Returning an hour later all of us with good light in our hands we were assured by the blood sign that she wasnt going to go far or be hard to find. before she went 20 yards and crossed or crashed thru the fence we found the bottom half of the arrow which clearly passed thru and broke off as it was exiting her body. Blood spray was evident as well as bubbles in the blood. Crossing the fence into the short pasture grass was easy as was following her blood in it. We crossed 50 yards of pasture and started go up the hill and then into the neighbor's woods. ( I called and asked for permission by the way) This time she went under the fence and again great blood on the ground, on bushes and small tree trunks that she crashed into. Then things went goofy. Suddenly it seemed we had circled back on to the same trail , which we had. She was bouncing off the 4 inch buck thorn trunks like a pin ball and she ran in a big U almost doubling back on her own trail. We were finally able to sort thing s out and picked up the correct path of travel. Then we found the rest of the arrow , which also seemed to have fallen out the bottom of her chest. Good thing i had a little reflective tape just below the nock. But now the blood trail had turned in to a fleck here, a dot there, a wet spot in the dirt. To say I was suddenly worried is an understatement. We picked our way for next 30 yards or so. Finally the blood got a little better and a little better and then there she was. I have never seen a deer die like this. She was laying in the middle of the trail, all four legs folded under her and her neck extended like she was asleep.
this was how she was before we moved her. My arrow entered high just behind the last rib on her right side and exited between the 4th and 5th ribs on her left. I took out the left lung and nothing else. Fortunately I was shooting a three blade (WW) which made a really nice exit hole. You can see the entry wound in this picture
. I was very happy to have found her.
I think its time for Faith to move on, my longbows are getting jealous and its time I paid them some attention. If some one wants to tell me who gets Faith next, I'll see she gets on her way. Thanks to Faith, her maker and some friends who helped track, I 've got to go now and butcher some prime venison.
Topic: The Adventure of Hope and Faith 2009/2010 (Read 6781 times)
