Archery Talk

lol yeah he did. He’s been super busy, life and such… didn’t have a whole lot of desire. Convinced him to start shooting again and take a vaca day. Well, he did. Could not have asked for a more perfect morning. 35 degrees. Bucks chasing does the whole time. Saw 5 different buck and grunted this one back twice. Second time gave him a 25 yard broadside shot.

 

Don’t get much better than that!

 

father and son, and or daughter, no sir, not much better at all !!

 

Congrats to him!!

Him too!!

 

That’s a lot of congratulations to pass around!
Well done!

 

My dad got a real good one. We had both seen him and he got first opportunity (and the he's better hunter). Couldn't be happier for him

 

Congrats to pops!!

 

Nice, congrats!

 

Nice! Congrats!

 

The elusive black deer have migrated to my position

 

Looks like an easy enough shot

 

I need advice/help???

Sunday morning I bleated/grunted/rattled in a buck and stopped him at 40 yards +/- with his head behind the big tree to the left and body totally exposed.



I heard a loud 'crack' after the shot, but my Ravin crossbow 'recoils' so I didn't see the impact like when shooting my compound.

After a 20 minute wait, I found blood 10' from the impact spot, at 10-15 yards I saw this....


Followed an 'easy' blood trail for a 100 +/- yards on an open trail next to slashing/thick clearcut then saw this...

Different color of blood??? 6-8" diameter spot....then NOTHING for 50 or so yards - did alot of concentric circles looking for more blood.

Then I found this tiny drop along the trail and that was it???

Where did I hit him???

Why the large 6-8" diameter splatter after 100 yards of an easy blood trail, then practically nothing??

what is the difference in color from a deeper red to a lighter color??

Minimal sign on my bolt, but I heard the "crack" and saw no damage to any saplings/tree in between me and the buck.

Any help would be appreciated.

Spent 2 1/2 hours searching and PISSED off as I hate to cripple/lose a deer.

Pops

 

Smell the bolt, darker blood would be more a liver or gut shot, while lighter foamy blood is lungs.

Usually they go down hill towards water. Or circle back where they came.

 

The circle of blood is 'probably' where the deer stood for a minute trying to regain his bearings.

And my theory is...if the arrow enters near the front of the deer and exits towards the back, it could easily produce 2 differents colors of blood. But thats a guess


Like Will said, check nearby water sources.
Also, was there any bubbles in the blood? (cant tell from the pics), if so then you hit lungs.

I'm guessing that deer is dead somewhere in the clearcut.

Also (and I'm not very good at doing this myself), any questionable shot, try to wait a minimum of 2 hours if possible before searching. Overnight is even better (when possible).

Good luck!! I hope you find him!!

 

I can't smell worth shit!!! I use skunk scent (not urine) as a cover scent - 4 places within 2-5' of me and can barely smell it!!! NO bubbles or indication of a gut shot (did that several years ago and know what to look for). Deer was totally broadside, so no angled entry/exit wound. After the last big splatter, I backed out and went back an hour or so later. Not much water there, a few small streams, which was one of the first places I checked after losing the blood trail. There were a few trails into the clearcut which I did check out. No blood on the ground or vertical trees/weeds. Like I said, pissed that I lost it!! Nothing big, but I wanted to finish my season so I could concentrate on helping my adult son get his second one.

I do THANK YOU GUYS for the insights!!!! Been bow hunting for roughly 40 years and this my be only my second non-recovery (after a deflected/hip shot on a yearling - very early in my bow hunting career in the mountains of central Pa.)

I hope he makes it or shows up again (freak of nature) and I can finish him as opposed to getting another/bigger buck. Back at it again tomorrow - 60+ degrees and windy today.

Pops

 

I would say likely brisket area.

This is the trail of one I was told was hit low and forward with a gun. No recovery in this case even with a tracking dog for a few hours. Tracking guy was saying sometimes it can be fatal with a gun but low and forward with a bow usually the deer makes it back to full health.

 

Second brisket shot.

 

Thanks, JT, didn't think I shot that far forward as brisket may have been behind/close to the big tree. Starting to dislike this 425 feet/second Ravin crossbow as this is the second buck I have hit with it and never saw the impact. With my compound bows or slower crossbows over the years, I always saw the point of impact so I knew right away If I had a good or bad shot.

 

Yes I was wondering that with how you said it was standing… could it have deflected around the tree off something?
or maybe it was low and not pushed so far forward, but still same general area.

 

Thanks Will.......I guess anything is possible. IF I hit the brisket, is it usually a survivable shot like JT mentioned (NOT doubting you, JT, just looking for more opinions).

Oh, I use a Primos tripod quick stick (or whatever it is called) so the shot was steady. And the buck was perfectly still - stopped him by bleating as opposed to my last buck with this bow that I didn't stop and ended up 'spining' him as he was moving downhill.

JT - checked all the smaller saplings between me and the deer after the shot - NO indication of a deflection.