DEER: Spike buck, prolly close to 100lbs, 2ish years old
WEAPON: Bowtech Realm SS 65lbs draw weight 31” draw length, 250 spine Black Eagle carnivore arrows with aae vanes 200gr ethics inserts and 200gr grizzlystik samurai broadheads for about 650gr total weight. I was totally confident before today but after today I’d even hunt predators, xenomorphs or Sasquatch with this setup.
SHOT SITUATON: about 15ft up in a friends stand(hey hey now, I don’t judge you guys) facing west, slight north->south wind prolly 3mph with a drizzle, clear shot, deer was about 15 yards this was at 0940. Buck came from the west from a swamp trail and crossed the transition zone from swamp to forest still heading eastward toward my stand location, straight at me. I drew when his head was lowered and had to hold for a couple minutes as he was facing right at me. He walked right up below my stand and then u turned and headed west for about 10 yards, then wheeled south presenting me with a broadside.
SHOT REACTION: I released my arrow and it just disappeared inside the buck, his left side at c5 like a laser, then popped back out again which I thought was weird. The buck jumped like i stuck a hot poker up his butt and literally ran on his hind legs back into the swamp(this is important later). I gathered my kit and settled in.
RECOVERY PROCESS: I waited about 40 minutes, didn’t want to wait too much longer as the rain was starting to pick up and that combined with swamp would make for a difficult tracking job. Climbed down and found my arrow and it was broken in half. Pics later. No other half of arrow was located. Immediate blood trail headed north east. I started after the buck slowly finding prodigious blood huge drops and spray so I figured I’d find him quick. After 20 minutes and a ton of blood I crested a slight rise and found him bedded down which made me feel extra awful. I nocked and loosed another arrow and ended his suffering. He traveled probably 100 yards through swamp and thick briars.
FORENSIC ANALYSIS: here’s where things get interesting. Remember when I said he ran off literally on his hind legs? Well when my arrow entered his left side he must have turned just enough that my arrow hit his right shoulder, dislocating and shattering it in the process. The impact must have fractured my arrow or a combo of the above and the back half fell out the buck. Got the liver and left lung as it entered and must have banged around inside cuz the organs were tore up.
TAKEAWAYS: always expect deer to do the unexpected. I’m always amazed at the damage a deer can take and keep going. Also, slow down and wait longer. Had I waited longer the buck may have expired on his own. Had his shoulder not been toast he may have run even further. Even if you have tons of blood like I did, might be a good idea to back out and wait a bit.
WEAPON: Bowtech Realm SS 65lbs draw weight 31” draw length, 250 spine Black Eagle carnivore arrows with aae vanes 200gr ethics inserts and 200gr grizzlystik samurai broadheads for about 650gr total weight. I was totally confident before today but after today I’d even hunt predators, xenomorphs or Sasquatch with this setup.
SHOT SITUATON: about 15ft up in a friends stand(hey hey now, I don’t judge you guys) facing west, slight north->south wind prolly 3mph with a drizzle, clear shot, deer was about 15 yards this was at 0940. Buck came from the west from a swamp trail and crossed the transition zone from swamp to forest still heading eastward toward my stand location, straight at me. I drew when his head was lowered and had to hold for a couple minutes as he was facing right at me. He walked right up below my stand and then u turned and headed west for about 10 yards, then wheeled south presenting me with a broadside.
SHOT REACTION: I released my arrow and it just disappeared inside the buck, his left side at c5 like a laser, then popped back out again which I thought was weird. The buck jumped like i stuck a hot poker up his butt and literally ran on his hind legs back into the swamp(this is important later). I gathered my kit and settled in.
RECOVERY PROCESS: I waited about 40 minutes, didn’t want to wait too much longer as the rain was starting to pick up and that combined with swamp would make for a difficult tracking job. Climbed down and found my arrow and it was broken in half. Pics later. No other half of arrow was located. Immediate blood trail headed north east. I started after the buck slowly finding prodigious blood huge drops and spray so I figured I’d find him quick. After 20 minutes and a ton of blood I crested a slight rise and found him bedded down which made me feel extra awful. I nocked and loosed another arrow and ended his suffering. He traveled probably 100 yards through swamp and thick briars.
FORENSIC ANALYSIS: here’s where things get interesting. Remember when I said he ran off literally on his hind legs? Well when my arrow entered his left side he must have turned just enough that my arrow hit his right shoulder, dislocating and shattering it in the process. The impact must have fractured my arrow or a combo of the above and the back half fell out the buck. Got the liver and left lung as it entered and must have banged around inside cuz the organs were tore up.
TAKEAWAYS: always expect deer to do the unexpected. I’m always amazed at the damage a deer can take and keep going. Also, slow down and wait longer. Had I waited longer the buck may have expired on his own. Had his shoulder not been toast he may have run even further. Even if you have tons of blood like I did, might be a good idea to back out and wait a bit.
