First saddle buck and first archery buck.
Shot at him towards last light. He walked out from behind a large oak at 20 and was perfectly calm. Arrow flew and he trotted off like I had missed. No crash just trotted down the trail and into cover. By the time I got down it was dark. My old eyes couldn't find the arrow and there was no blood at or around point of alleged impact. I have missed twice before in previous years of flinging arrows, so this feeling was familiar to me. I had missed again.
After more circling and creeping the trail he ran, I gave up and pouted my way back to the truck.
Next morning I woke up thinking I should go find my arrow, but decided to wait until my lunch break just because I'm lazy and it was Monday. At lunch I find my arrow and its covered up with blood. My heart sinks and my nerves get me. Did I not do what I was supposed to do after a kill? Where was all the spray from the "smoked him" heart shot or the "double lung"? I started walking the trail again, but no blood. Found 1 leaf with blood on the trail, but not what I would call substantial. First blood was maybe 40 yards down the trail from the kill shot. I took maybe 10 steps into the brush and there he is piled up. I couldn't be happier, but I'm also kind of pissed at myself that I let him sit that long.
So my main question is can anyone have an idea on why so little blood? I leaf with a little blood. He was swole up because he bled internally. No gut shot thank goodness. Is it correct to assume he died pretty quick since it was so close to the trail and the initial hit?
Meat is fine as night temps were 33 for that night. Will work on a pic to help with answer on the blood.
Pic is entry. I was 20 feet up at 20 yards, so exit is slightly lower on other side and just a hair back.
Shot at him towards last light. He walked out from behind a large oak at 20 and was perfectly calm. Arrow flew and he trotted off like I had missed. No crash just trotted down the trail and into cover. By the time I got down it was dark. My old eyes couldn't find the arrow and there was no blood at or around point of alleged impact. I have missed twice before in previous years of flinging arrows, so this feeling was familiar to me. I had missed again.
After more circling and creeping the trail he ran, I gave up and pouted my way back to the truck.
Next morning I woke up thinking I should go find my arrow, but decided to wait until my lunch break just because I'm lazy and it was Monday. At lunch I find my arrow and its covered up with blood. My heart sinks and my nerves get me. Did I not do what I was supposed to do after a kill? Where was all the spray from the "smoked him" heart shot or the "double lung"? I started walking the trail again, but no blood. Found 1 leaf with blood on the trail, but not what I would call substantial. First blood was maybe 40 yards down the trail from the kill shot. I took maybe 10 steps into the brush and there he is piled up. I couldn't be happier, but I'm also kind of pissed at myself that I let him sit that long.
So my main question is can anyone have an idea on why so little blood? I leaf with a little blood. He was swole up because he bled internally. No gut shot thank goodness. Is it correct to assume he died pretty quick since it was so close to the trail and the initial hit?
Meat is fine as night temps were 33 for that night. Will work on a pic to help with answer on the blood.
Pic is entry. I was 20 feet up at 20 yards, so exit is slightly lower on other side and just a hair back.