Finally dry enough in Iowa to cross my creek with hip waders. That's what I did about 4 this afternoon with a ladder stand in mind that is just right in a SW wind. It overlooks some bitternut hickories and honey locusts that the deer like to browse under this time of year.
Did not take a deer with a bow last year, back in the groove about 6 PM tonight with one of my first self bows made several years ago. 51 @ 28 short recurve with sinew and snake skins, cane arrow and 125 Grizzly. Yearling doe, 20 yard shot - liver and far lung - she fell in sight.
Five minutes later the next arrow went to the fletching in the same spot (between the last ribs) into the doe as she quartered away. Marked the blood trail and will be back out at daybreak with a friend and his tracking dachshund.
Found a heavy shed near the spot this little one fell. Dreaming of antlers come November... For now its good to have fresh venison again.
#2 - Hit the blood trail at first light with Randy's BTT Wirehair Dachshund. She is getting pretty stove up from age, arthritis and couch sitting. She did a good job tracking to the creek but did not bale over the 12 foot bank. I thought I had seen the doe make it to this spot and disappear, but did not hear a splash of crossing. We drove around and tried all the trails on the other side of the creek to no avail.
Back home after thanking Randy and his Teckle Trina then took a break for an hour or so and headed back to do it the old fashioned way. The blood trail was too light to follow so I went over the bank of the creek and found foot tracks. A fresh set headed west and then back up on the same side. I did a thorough grid searching west and checked all the brush piles in the creek downstream in case she floated down.
Then back to the creek bank and found another set going east on the same side. All the commotion after the shot had been east, but I thought it was all the third member of this family group. As I grid searched East I was composing my "couldn't find it post" - I hate those. I was sure the shot had gone exactly where I meant it and that it should have been quickly fatal. I look under every dead fall and bush and search the distance for white. Must have found 10 white plastic jugs from flood debris in the woods this morning. Spotted one more white jug about 11:30 but this one turned into my doe as I approached.
She had flown over the creek bank at a full run and somehow managed to turn and follow the other deer.
My arrow had gone in just where I thought (actually between ribs 2 and 3) and the BH was in the lungs. She must have been down and out in less than a minute.
Topic: Selfbow does - found #2 - official twofer! (Read 1157 times)
