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- Oct 10, 2018
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DEER #3 180 - 200lb PA 8 point buck
WEAPON: PSE Evoke31 - 29"dl set at 62#'s shooting 585gr taw at 236fps, GT Hunter Pro 300 spine, 150gr Ethics ss inserts, Grizzlystik Samurai 125gr single bevel, 18.5%foc, If I draw on it, it dies confidence.
SHOT SITUATON: In an oak tree on my ros set at 25-27' high on a sunny 68 -72 degree afternoon. At 5:50pm a buck came into view from a touch over 30 yds out from behind young growth evergreens below me at 11 o'clock. He turned towards my direction and took a game trail that would lead him through this semi circle of evergreens and up to the hardwoods on the hill above my position. Instead of taking the trail right next to my tree he veered off on a tangent so he would be angling away from me and passing on the far side of this semi circle. He also seemed like he was walking with a purpose, like he had a destination and wanted to get there sooner rather than later. Realizing this I picked an opening between two trees at 23 yds and drew my bow. The opening was too small to try to stop him so when his vitals cleared the first tree I had my sight on him and released the arrow. The strong side shot was from 9 o'clock position.
SHOT REACTION: He mule kicked but only went 11 yds and stood under the last couple of trees separating the evergreens from the hardwoods. At first I thought I missed but from watching him while he was standing there I knew I hit him and I hit his liver. I've seen it often enough to know the signs of a liver hit deer. He arched his back, his tail was tucked, his head held low and his body did what looks to me like a subtle shudder or like a shiver when you are cold. And he just stood there in the fading light not moving for about 10 minutes. I ranged him at 34 yds and decided to try to put another arrow in him so I had to lower myself on my rappel rope tether about a foot so I could clear nearby branches. Well just as I released the arrow he took a step forward and I watched the arrow go under him. He did a sort of hop for a few steps and then made a right turn out of sight. I quietly cursed myself at this point for even attempting the second shot. Well no sooner did I start my grumblings did he walk back into view and drop down about 52 yds away in the hardwoods. I tried to keep an eye on him but it got too dark and I couldn't make him out or see his head position so I decided to slowly pack up and get down.
RECOVERY PROCESS: Walked over to the first arrow and found it buried in the ground covered in blood. Nice red blood and no gut smell, perfect. Also had a nice blood splatter at the impact area and a decent blood trail. Walked over to second arrow which was a clean miss and found a puddle of blood where he stood. Standing at that spot looking forward I saw him laying there watching me with his head low and resting on his left side leg/shoulder. I cleaned the dirt from the Black Hornet Ser-razor broadhead of the second arrow, ranged him at 18yds and sent it. Hit was perfect and at impact he lifted his head looking up to the sky then he laid his head down and I watched him take his last breathe.
FORENSIC ANALYSIS: First arrow was a complete pass through and all liver. The second arrow that I thought was a miss actually grazed his inner left thigh. The final shot took out a lung, severed important plumbing above the heart and broke his spine
TAKEAWAYS: The hit was further back than I expected which was due to taking the shot with him moving but it was either take the shot or watch him walk away. I've been taking shots at walking deer for a few years now and the hit is always back further than the aim point but it's always been lungs and/or liver being hit and they've all been recovered. The reaction when deer are hit in the liver can be compared to the reaction a boxer, it takes the fight completely out of them and they want to lay down right away. Knowing this and being able to identify liver hits along with having confidence in my ability to track and locate the animal hours or a day later allows me to take shots on walking animals.
WEAPON: PSE Evoke31 - 29"dl set at 62#'s shooting 585gr taw at 236fps, GT Hunter Pro 300 spine, 150gr Ethics ss inserts, Grizzlystik Samurai 125gr single bevel, 18.5%foc, If I draw on it, it dies confidence.
SHOT SITUATON: In an oak tree on my ros set at 25-27' high on a sunny 68 -72 degree afternoon. At 5:50pm a buck came into view from a touch over 30 yds out from behind young growth evergreens below me at 11 o'clock. He turned towards my direction and took a game trail that would lead him through this semi circle of evergreens and up to the hardwoods on the hill above my position. Instead of taking the trail right next to my tree he veered off on a tangent so he would be angling away from me and passing on the far side of this semi circle. He also seemed like he was walking with a purpose, like he had a destination and wanted to get there sooner rather than later. Realizing this I picked an opening between two trees at 23 yds and drew my bow. The opening was too small to try to stop him so when his vitals cleared the first tree I had my sight on him and released the arrow. The strong side shot was from 9 o'clock position.
SHOT REACTION: He mule kicked but only went 11 yds and stood under the last couple of trees separating the evergreens from the hardwoods. At first I thought I missed but from watching him while he was standing there I knew I hit him and I hit his liver. I've seen it often enough to know the signs of a liver hit deer. He arched his back, his tail was tucked, his head held low and his body did what looks to me like a subtle shudder or like a shiver when you are cold. And he just stood there in the fading light not moving for about 10 minutes. I ranged him at 34 yds and decided to try to put another arrow in him so I had to lower myself on my rappel rope tether about a foot so I could clear nearby branches. Well just as I released the arrow he took a step forward and I watched the arrow go under him. He did a sort of hop for a few steps and then made a right turn out of sight. I quietly cursed myself at this point for even attempting the second shot. Well no sooner did I start my grumblings did he walk back into view and drop down about 52 yds away in the hardwoods. I tried to keep an eye on him but it got too dark and I couldn't make him out or see his head position so I decided to slowly pack up and get down.
RECOVERY PROCESS: Walked over to the first arrow and found it buried in the ground covered in blood. Nice red blood and no gut smell, perfect. Also had a nice blood splatter at the impact area and a decent blood trail. Walked over to second arrow which was a clean miss and found a puddle of blood where he stood. Standing at that spot looking forward I saw him laying there watching me with his head low and resting on his left side leg/shoulder. I cleaned the dirt from the Black Hornet Ser-razor broadhead of the second arrow, ranged him at 18yds and sent it. Hit was perfect and at impact he lifted his head looking up to the sky then he laid his head down and I watched him take his last breathe.
FORENSIC ANALYSIS: First arrow was a complete pass through and all liver. The second arrow that I thought was a miss actually grazed his inner left thigh. The final shot took out a lung, severed important plumbing above the heart and broke his spine
TAKEAWAYS: The hit was further back than I expected which was due to taking the shot with him moving but it was either take the shot or watch him walk away. I've been taking shots at walking deer for a few years now and the hit is always back further than the aim point but it's always been lungs and/or liver being hit and they've all been recovered. The reaction when deer are hit in the liver can be compared to the reaction a boxer, it takes the fight completely out of them and they want to lay down right away. Knowing this and being able to identify liver hits along with having confidence in my ability to track and locate the animal hours or a day later allows me to take shots on walking animals.