Your MOST Unbelievable HUNTING shot(s)

[Terry Green]

Like Ray said, sometimes there are witnesses...as was the 1st one I posted about and this one I was with Tom Phillips. ....

Tom and I had got on some angora goats the 1st day, and these were in the same area...only about 75 yards farther over the top this time.

We were putting a pretty good sneak on em even though they were coming toward us quartering off to our right.

Tom and I had made it to a row of scrubs, and was set up to let them pass.....but we weren't sure that would happen the way they were feeding along the edge of some grass. We were trying to decide, and leaning pretty hard at making an aggressive move across a wide open and barren distance to get in behind some cedars at the edge of the grass....but they were less than 100 yards away. We leaned hard, but continued to hold, as we had the wind in our favor if they passed us out of range for a stalk from the rear. No need in blowing it just yet........

We held too long, and had no choice but to wait.....and that was a good thing. They were now facing us and walking across a sheet of rock....the 8 of them turned into 16, and the 16 turned into 24....then there were about 30 of them in route to pass right by our scrub blind.

Three of them drifted to the right, including the one with the biggest horns, and were coming straight at us as the rest of the herd were in route to pass to our right.......yeah, every one would be in range soon, real soon as there was no forage in their path.

Everyone of them was now in range and all but a few were in the wide open for a shot, but the one I wanted was still in front with the brush blocking a shot. I decided to hold yet again for the one I wanted....the Billy.

Tom was to my left and I was bending over with my head in the cover. I'd left my feet planted away so I would have clearance to shoot by just straightening up from the waist. The one I wanted was only 15 yards away now........then one of the nannys spit.....and spit again. This alerted the whole herd, and the one I wanted perked up to see what the problem was.

My 'Billy' started strutting to the right to see what the fuss was about, and just as 'he' was about to present a perfect broadside shot, the herd started to skeedattle.....as did my 'Billy'.

'He' started galloping as he entered the wide open terrain quartering away. All I remember was swing drawing, and the next thing I remember was watching my arrow intercept 'him' just about perfect.


My prize only made it about 30 more yards or so, and collapsed by a tree in plain view.  But my 'Billy' turned out to be a big Nanny    :D  

       

[Mudd]

"T" I guess that's what one would call extreme "ground shrink"....lol

Good shooting bud!!

God bless,Mudd

[Ray Lyon]

Originally posted by Mudd:
"T" I guess that's what one would call extreme "ground shrink"....lol

Good shooting bud!!

God bless,Mudd

X2 Mudd

[Terry Green]

Actually not Mudd....she was the biggest horned nanny not only seen but killed that week by far the whole trip and there were about 12 of us there.

Her horns were as big as I thought, I just thought she was a smaller 'he'.

[Wallydog]

I was about 13 yrs old and was walking to school with 2 buddies who used to come every morning. We walked past a walnut tree and I picked up a big one off the ground. A red squirrel poked his head out from around behind the tree and was giving me the business. Only his head and shoulder was sticking out. I side-armed that walnut and caught him flat upside the head. He dropped like a wet rag. I was 10 yds away.

[Mudd]

"T" it was that extra male part shrinking that I was referring to....lol

No matter, that was a great trophy.

God bless,Mudd

[reddogge]

I've told this one before. It was 1972 and we were hunting Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD and my sponsor and partner told me this was the last night since we'd be goose hunting from Saturday on. The last hour this 6 point with a high white rack was walking left to right at an estimated 45 yards. I was a hot shot field archery shooter so what the heck. My point on was 45 yards with the 50# Howatt Super Diablo so I put the point a little in front of his nose and let fly. I watched the arrow with pink fletch arc and drop into his chest. One of those things you don't forget.

 

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Mudd:
"T" it was that extra male part shrinking that I was referring to....lol

No matter, that was a great trophy.

God bless,Mudd

Ah...Yes....TOO FUNNY!!!

[JMG]

My most unbelievable hunting shot was also part of my most remarkable hunt on November 12th 2005 in northern Delaware on my family's property. My family and I been playing cat & mouse with a 10 pointer on our property literally since bow opener on September 1st!!
 My father, my brother and I went into the woods about 2:00PM that afternoon. We made our way down the "Old Road" That cuts through our property. My brother was the first to cut off to his stand, then my father and then I made my way over the hill to my stand next to a overgrown thicket field. Just prior to me climbing up my tree I heard noise coming from the thicket. I barely had time to nocked an arrow before a decent looking 8 pointer emerged from the side of the thicket looking as if he just been whooped and thrashed. He was gasping for air even. As he made his way up above me on the hill, as hard as it was, I made a decision not to shoot. I sat there watching the 8 pointer and was amazed when he started making a scrape within 30 yards of my position. When all of a sudden he let out, what later I found out to be a loud bellow followed by a series of grunts. Then the thicket "erupted" with noise, (limbs breaking, leaves rustling and grunts),. The 10 pointer came crashing through the edge of the thicket with his ears pinned to the back of his head. He stopped only 10-12 feet on the other side of the tree that I was getting ready to climb up in. He didn't move for what seemed like hours and I thought he was going to hear the thumping of my heart!! He was facing right at the tree that I was on the other side of. I waited for him to turn or something,,,and waited. He then reached up with his rear leg to scratch his face. At that moment I came to full draw and leaned out from the tree that was in between us. I took aim on the one side of his chest. I never wanted to take a frontal shot on a deer, especially a buck of this caliber but I had confidence that I could place my arrow just inside the shoulder blade. As the buck swung back around he noticed something was different but it was to late!! My Zwickey was on its way. It literally knocked him on his rear. He then went crashing back into the thicket with my arrow buried 3/4 of the way in his chest.
 I went back and got my father & brother and second guessing my decision to make a frontal shot on him.     We gave him a little more then a hour before taking up the blood trail. It was more then easy to follow. All of us noticed he was heading for the creek that boarders our property. My dad shaking his head more and more for taking a frontal shot. We got within 40-50 yards of the creek as we was crawling on our hands & knees through some thick stuff following the blood trail when all of a sudden we heard a loud splash just ahead of us. All of us made a b-line for the creek. We got there just in time to see the buck emerge from the water on the other side. He was hurt bad. All I could see was his shoulders on up through a crotch of a tree. As I was drawing my arrow back I can hear my dads voice whispering to me, his to far, let him lay over night, we will find him. I released my Zwickey tipped arrow and everything went into slow motion. My arrow blew the dust off the crotch of that tree and crashed into the spine at the base of the 10 pointers neck!! He went straight down sliding back into the creek!! The next thing I heard was "I be damned" coming from my dad. The shot was 45 yards and shot from my 55# Martin Hunter. We still talk about that shot as if it was yesterday. Thanks for taking the time to read.

[Charlie Lamb]

There have been a few more than three over the years and it's hard to pick what's best.

Once a buddy and I were checking fences on the ranch where  we worked. I was carrying my bow and was ready for anything that beautiful spring day.

As we moved along a small spring creek that ran up through a green grass meadow ground squirrels would occasionally pop up along the creek bank. They'd grab a quick peek and take off across the green headed for burrows in the bordering sage.

After seeing this happen the third time I decided to take action. When the next squirrel showed his little head over the creek bank I tapped my buddy on the shoulder and as I swung my bow around square with the target I whispered to him to "watch this".

As the squirrel headed for cover I swung the bow up and was quickly "on" the squirrel. No need to hesitate I added a little lead and let the arrow slip.

I think I knew it immediately. You know, that feeling when it all comes together just perfect and you just know nothing will come between the arrow and the target.

It seemed like the arrow was flying in slow motion as it sailed toward the racing squirrel. And of a sudden the arrow and squirrel were all a blur in one confused mess of motion.

My buddy was jumping up and down and yelling while he slapped me on the back. I just smiled... a real big smile.

We stepped off the shot at 65 long strides from where I shot to where the squirrel died.

[dhermon85]

Fun thread. I was deer hunting last year and took my bride with me for an evening hunt. We didn't see jack, but got blown about 30 minutes before dark from an unseen deer. After that we decided to head back to the truck. As we were walking back WE spotted a rabbit about 50 yards ahead and all she said was "No". I just laughed and kept walking. I'd already brought a few home which she wasn't thrilled about. As we closed the distance I lost sight of the rabbit and then it appeared in a flash to the thicket. Didn't even think about it, drew, released, Smack! About a 30 yard poke. Best fur yet.

[vintage-bears]

Love this thread!
When I get to my pc, I have one to share.

[Kanwin]

My first deer in 1976. I had a big doe come into about 30 yards from my tree stand. I pulled back my Gamemaster and concentrated on the center of her chest. I released the arrow. I heard a smack and she did a somersault in the air and fell dead. I was a little shocked. What about the blood trailing etc..I went down to look at her and couldn't find the arrow in her chest. Then I noticed the arrow sticking out of the back of her head. When I replayed the shot in my head I remember seeing her swing her head back in front of her chest to nip some grass. Shortest tracking job I've ever had.

[4runr]

 


My first trad kill was quite memorable.

My friend Joe Weed (osagetree), invited me down for a weekend hunt on public land. It was October 2006. I had been looking forward to this hunt for weeks. As the time got closer, the temps kept rising. The forecast for the weekend called for 90's. I'm a cold weather person and hunting with temps in the 90's almost kept me home.

Joe said come on man, if nothing else we'll kill some time and just visit.

The first few sits were uneventful, and we were getting discouraged. So on the last morning, Oct.6 (my Mom's birthday), Joe took me in to one of his favorite spots. He had a lock-on way up high in a Hickory, I believe. Got in and settled. It was about 80 degrees at sunup. I herd a slight rustle behind me.

I was up about 25 feet in this tree, and the ground behind me sloped down quickly to a small gravel bottom creek. The rustle I kept hearing sounded like something dragging in gravel.

When it got light enough to see, the first thing I saw was antler tines moving.

There was a buck bedded in the creek. Right on the gravel bar. Well that made sense. It was a lot cooler down there, but I had walked right past him on the way in. Things just seemed a little odd. He wasn't bedded like they normally do. He was laying on his side, and kind of thrashing at times.

He changed positions a couple times and I could tell he wasn't too healthy. I thought maybe he got hit by a car or wounded by another hunter.

I thought about getting down and getting closer and putting him out of his misery, but it was prime time and Joe was doing a slow sneak in a big arc to try to nudge something my way.

All this went on for several hours, then he got up on his feet. He had a pretty decent rack once I could see the whole thing. It looked like he was heading away. I had to make a decision. It was a long shot, at an animal that was obviously suffering. The direction he was heading was thick and brushy.

I was shooting an RER Vortex at the time. I shot it pretty dang well most of the time. I had to try.

The shot was every bit of thirty five yards out and down about 40-45 feet from my elevation. I thought NO WAY! Next thing I knew the arrow was arcing in beautiful flight. He was quartering hard away and the arrow entered at in front of his left hip and buried about 3/4 of its length into his vitals.

He dropped and kicked a couple times and laid still.

Joe arrived some tome later and I directed him to my buck. He about crapped his pants. Couldn't believe my first trad kill was a shot that long.

The buck was sick with Blue tongue desease.

[shankspony]

A year ago I got my new Toekle Whip. I unpacked it and set up a knock and had 8-10 shots that evening with it before it got too much for me and I had to take it for an evening hunt. Sure enough I come across a 140lb boar feeding on a cow carcase in some scrub. I sneak in to 10 yards. Its quartering away from me perfect. I draw and release and see the arrow fly what looks like a true shot. The boar takes one step into the scrub then just seems to stand there. I nock another arrow and wait for him to come out or for something to happen. Nothing does. I creep up and touch his leg. he's as dead as they come just slumped up in and upright position.
Id never seen a pig die that quick.

[Bowwild]

I'm an extremely conservative shot (too much so, I'm sure) so I don't have many.

Not amazing other than I happened to connect on a very inattentive starling about 4 decades ago.

Buddies were shooting starlings with shotguns. I showed up with a Bear B Mag. A flock was too high for the scatterguns so I launched a try. It seemed that the entire flock of hundreds saw my arrow coming except for one hapless bird near the tail end of the flock.

That male starling ended up with an arrow between the beak and the eye and it seemed his neck was a stretched out a bit when I fetched him. The shotgunners were only slightly more amazed than I was.

I'm not proud of a couple other shots that would have made this list had I made them. One involved a running antelope and another a small white-tail buck when I was 17. Neither animal was touched and I learned important restraint lessons on both.

[onewhohasfun]

In the late 80's I had a great spot to hunt in mid Michigan. 300 acres all to myself.

One area was a pine plantation in rolling hills. Mature oaks were scattered among the pines leaving small  openings in the dense evergreens. This was a prime breeding area loaded with tabletop size scrapes and big rubs. It was mid November.

Friday morning I climbed into a giant oak with big horizontal branches. No tree stand, just standing on a couple large branches. About mid morning a nice 9 pt. came by trailing a doe and I double lunged him with a Zwickey out of my GFA Bighorn recurve. About a 15 yd. shot and he didn't go far.

Well Saturday evening I was in the same tree and not much happened till just before dark. The tending grunt of a buck broke the silence and they were headed right for me.
First the doe, on the same trail I shot the 9 pt on the day before. A nice mature 8 pt.grunting right on her heels. I thought, "This is going to be a piece of cake, I mean, I just did this yesterday."
Well instead of turning left the doe headed right and took of an a run, the buck running right behind her. I'M FACING THE WRONG WAY! So I jumped and spun a 180 while drawing my bow and when my feet hit the wood the arrow was gone.

My arrow hit the buck just before he disappeared thru a wall of pines.

Dark was coming on fast, so after about 10 minutes I got down and took up the trail. As soon as I got into the pines I found my arrow laying there without a lot of blood not 5 yds. from the hit. Looked like a shoulder hit for sure. It started to rain.

Fearing a long tracking job in the dark I ran and got the Coleman lantern and took up the trail.

He only made it 30 yds. Dead in 5 seconds. My shot was perfect behind the left shoulder, hitting the opposite shoulder popped the 2 blade out as he ran.

AS a side note, This is the reason I switched to a stick bow. 3 yrs. earlier I missed a giant buck straight below me. AT 1 YARD. Same group of pines.

That was the last time I ever shot a compound. Never shot one again.

[Sockrsblur]

[Charlie Lamb]

Hunting in western Wyoming for jackrabbits one winter I happened on a weasel watching me intently from his hole.

The distance was about 15 yards. I pulled a cedar arrow from the quiver and laid it across the rest of my 82# Hill Big Five. The aim happened while the shaft was coming slowly across the rest and the release came as I touched anchor and my drawing arm came in line with the arrow.

The shot was a good one but the weasel had vacated his space. A small hole in the snow bank showed where my arrow had landed.

In just seconds the weasel reappeared. I slid a second arrow onto the string.

This shot would turn out to be exactly like the first one. The weasel wasn't there when the arrow got there.

Once again like the proverbial jack in the box the little guy popped up one more time and one more time I eased an arrow from the quiver at my back.

Bearing down like grim death I put a little extra will into this shot. My fingers slipped smoothly from the string and the arrow zipped toward the weasel.

But he had my number. One final time he watched the arrow come and one final time he ducked not to reemerge while I was there.

I moved forward to retrieve my arrows. At the entrance to the weasels tunnel I found one single small hole in the snow. All three of my shots had entered the same hole.
   

[Tsalt]

My most unbelieable shot happened this past January.  It was still early morning and I was in the middle of texting my wife when our of nowhere two bucks come running by my stand.  
I manage to put my phone in my pocket and get on my feet.  I grunted to stop the second and larger buck, then watched in despair as my arrow sailed over his back at 25 yards.
It was a windy day so the buck just startled a bit but didn't bolt. But  by the time I got the second arrow knocked the buck had started walking again… straight away from me. I could see his tines were well outside his ears and I begged God for another shot.

As I prayed he made a left hand turn and entered the last shooting lane...which I stepped off later at 4o yards.  Right here...

 

I grunted again and he stopped again

I've heard guys talk about seeing the arrow in slow motion and that's the best way I know how to describe this shot. I watched the arrow arc through the air then drop perfectly into the bucks shoulder with a solid smack. I immediately knew it was a good hit as the buck lurched forward with his left leg looking somewhat limp.  He was down in under 60 seconds.  The longest shot I've ever attempted resulted in my best buck ever.