I woke up to a blinding snowstorm this morning, and thought about staying in my nice, warm bed. But, I forced myself out the door and to my whitetail spot. The deer were really active, and with the snow and howling wind, it was a good morning to still hunt. I was making my way up a well used trail when I saw a deer ahead about 75 yards. It was snowing so hard I couldn't tell if it was a little buck or a doe, so I watched it for 10 minutes or so, and finally made out a small set of antlers. OK, that one is safe!
I backed out from that deer, and shortly I got on a set of tracks and started dogging whatever was making them, hoping that it was a fat little doe. After about 150 yards of following slowly and carefully, I spotted a doe about 30 yards ahead. She saw me about the same time, and the white flag came up. Giving her time to get a ways away, I then went to where her tracks stopped, and lo and behold, there stands another doe looking at me from about 25 paces or so. She obviously knows I'm there, but continues to watch as I draw an arrow from my SafariTuff, take aim, and watch her duck the shaft and move about 5 yards. Well, if she is going to let me do it, I'm gonna give her another chance. Second arrow comes out, gets loaded, the bow comes to full draw, and I try to bore a hole in her side. The release was good, and she has an arrow through both lungs, and I watch her leave.
I give her a few minutes, and then go to where she stood when I shot. Finding my first arrow, I start to look for the bloodtrail; it doesn't take long to find it in the snow.
Looks like Ray Charles could follow this one.
After an easy to follow trail, I find her about 100 yards from where I shot her. Both lungs were hit; it still amazes me how far a deer can go with no lungs.
Happily, I got my lazy butt out this morning. Hunting has been pretty slow, and it would have been easy to roll over in bed, but I have yet to see a deer come into my bedroom.
For those who are interested, I used a Pronghorn td, 56#@28, cedar arrow, and Magnus head. Arrow passed through but remained in the deer. Two holes are better than one!