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I Finally Saw a Deer

bj139

bj139

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2019
Messages
5,377
Location
SE PA
I have been out hunting at least 15 separate times and have not seen a deer until today. I got up the tree near where I had a previous incident with a hunter at 2PM. The first few hours, nothing then at 4:15, 45 minutes before sunset I see movement to my left. It is a buck and I grab my bow. I think it is a spike with 12 inch spikes about 30 yards away with maybe a fork on one side. He is walking and I can't get a clear shot. Finally I see an opening and let her fly. Twack. I hit a dead tree about 15 feet up. The buck seemed a little startled then moved back into the trees. I used that nifty rope foot loop to re-cock my Hickory Creek mini and reloaded. I then thought I should have used my deer call to try to stop the buck but it was in my pack so I got it out. I set the slider to halfway between D a F for doe or fawn and let out a grunt. It was softer than a deep grunt but I thought it should be softer so I set it to the top of the F. After a couple minutes I let out a grunt which was more like a bleat but not quite. I thought that was good. In a minute a deer starts coming toward me from where the buck was. It was a doe but I have a doe tag so I wait. Then the doe hesitates and sticks it nose up and seems unsure. I was downwind so I was good. I don't think she is going to come closer so I let an arrow fly. It is a quartering toward angle down shot. I don't hear any impact. The doe jumps up and runs to my left with her tail up but wasn't running like a scared jackrabbit. I waited a few minutes and packed up my stuff and started to climb down taking my time. I decided I was going to have to go back tomorrow no matter what. As I was climbing down, I noticed another doe behind me which either winded me or saw me moving. I packed my pack and put it on and went to look for the arrow. It was almost dark so I put on my headlamp and could see much better. I did not find the arrow. I walked out in the dark and will go back tomorrow. I was thinking of taking my new puppy but I think he is still learning what his nose is for. He would probably be more trouble than he is worth. He has been waking me up at 5:30 so he will be good for that. They are forecasting rain tomorrow but not till the afternoon. Here is a picture of my first shot. After reading the posts recently I figured going back tomorrow would be best. Wish me luck. It should be a fairly easy drag at least, on the level mostly. Was this a good plan?
I am not sure if the buck was legal since it had no forks I think. Is this true in PA?
 
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bj139 said:
I have been out hunting at least 15 separate times and have not seen a deer until today. I got up the tree near where I had a previous incident with a hunter at 2PM. The first few hours, nothing then at 4:15, 45 minutes before sunset I see movement to my left. It is a buck and I grab my bow. I think it is a spike with 12 inch spikes about 30 yards away. He is walking and I can't get a clear shot. Finally I see an opening and let her fly. Twack. I hit a dead tree about 15 feet up. The buck seemed a little startled then moved back into the trees. I used that nifty rope foot loop to re-cock my Hickory Creek mini and reloaded. I then thought I should have used my deer call to try to stop the buck but it was in my pack so I got it out. I set the slider to halfway between D a F for doe or fawn and let out a grunt. It was softer than a deep grunt but I thought it should be softer so I set it to the top of the F. After a couple minutes I let out a grunt which was more like a bleat but not quite. I thought that was good. In a minute a deer starts coming toward me from where the buck was. It was a doe but I have a doe tag so I wait. Then the doe hesitates and sticks it nose up and seems unsure. I was downwind so I was good. I don't think she is going to come closer so I let an arrow fly. It is a quartering toward angle down shot. I don't hear any impact. The doe jumps up and runs to my left with her tail up but wasn't running like a scared jackrabbit. I waited a few minutes and packed up my stuff and started to climb down taking my time. I decided I was going to have to go back tomorrow no matter what. As I was climbing down, I noticed another doe behind me which either winded me or saw mw moving. I packed my pack and put it on and went to look for the arrow. It was almost dark so I put on my headlamp and could see much better. I did not find the arrow. I walked out in the dark and will go back tomorrow. I was thinking of taking my new puppy but I think he is still learning what his nose is for. He would probably be more trouble than he is worth. He has been waking me up at 5:30 so he will be good for that. They are forecasting rain tomorrow but not till the afternoon. Here is a picture of my first shot. After reading the posts recently I figured going back tomorrow would be best. Wish me luck. It should be a fairly easy drag at least, on the level mostly. Was this a good plan?
I am not sure if the buck was legal since it had no forks I think. Is this true in PA?
Click to expand...
What kind of broadheads are you shooting?
 
Hunter260 said:
Do you think you hit her?
Click to expand...
I think so. The sight picture through the scope looked good and she bounded off like something was not right. I will find what I find tomorrow. I am thinking at the angle and with my Hickory Creek set to 125 lbs, she may have stopped the arrow. I did not snort the fairy dust.
 
I just searched and I am not a lawyer but it looks like it is a good thing I did not shoot the buck. Unless there were more points I could not see I think this may be an illegal buck, not duck. :mask:
 
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If you hit her quartering to you with rages then you should have gone through a lot of real estate and cut some junk up. Take a gps because you may have to make circles or do a grid search to find her. If she was quartering steep you may have an arrow still lodged in her flank. She will probably cash out, but she may not leave a blood trail. Good luck brother!
 
gameflogger said:
If you hit her quartering to you with rages then you should have gone through a lot of real estate and cut some junk up. Take a gps because you may have to make circles or do a grid search to find her. If she was quartering steep you may have an arrow still lodged in her flank. She will probably cash out, but she may not leave a blood trail. Good luck brother!
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Thanks. I left a preset loop in the tree I was sitting in and I left the arrow marker about 15 feet up the dead tree. I have a good idea the direction she went. Maybe I'll have to get some fairy dust if this does not work out, to punch a hole out the bottom.
 
If you are drawing 125# and the arrow did not pass through you hit a big bone somewhere. Fairy dust or not I would rather make em bleed on a bad shot than just blow through them.
 
gameflogger said:
If you are drawing 125# and the arrow did not pass through you hit a big bone somewhere. Fairy dust or not I would rather make em bleed on a bad shot than just blow through them.
Click to expand...
This was with a crossbow with 23 inch arrows and 100 gr heads. I didn't hear a sound of impact which I thought was unusual like it may have hit all soft tissue.
 
bj139 said:
This was with a crossbow with 23 inch arrows and 100 gr heads. I didn't hear a sound of impact which I thought was unusual like it may have hit all soft tissue.
Click to expand...
The tissue would muffle the sound if it hit the back leg bone from the inside. I am sure its dead if your arrow ran the course down her body, but without an exit hole and a high entrance hole she may not put that much blood on the ground if any.
 
I was surprised I seem to have called a deer. At least I didn't scare them away with my calling.
 
bj139 said:
I have been out hunting at least 15 separate times and have not seen a deer until today. I got up the tree near where I had a previous incident with a hunter at 2PM. The first few hours, nothing then at 4:15, 45 minutes before sunset I see movement to my left. It is a buck and I grab my bow. I think it is a spike with 12 inch spikes about 30 yards away. He is walking and I can't get a clear shot. Finally I see an opening and let her fly. Twack. I hit a dead tree about 15 feet up. The buck seemed a little startled then moved back into the trees. I used that nifty rope foot loop to re-cock my Hickory Creek mini and reloaded. I then thought I should have used my deer call to try to stop the buck but it was in my pack so I got it out. I set the slider to halfway between D a F for doe or fawn and let out a grunt. It was softer than a deep grunt but I thought it should be softer so I set it to the top of the F. After a couple minutes I let out a grunt which was more like a bleat but not quite. I thought that was good. In a minute a deer starts coming toward me from where the buck was. It was a doe but I have a doe tag so I wait. Then the doe hesitates and sticks it nose up and seems unsure. I was downwind so I was good. I don't think she is going to come closer so I let an arrow fly. It is a quartering toward angle down shot. I don't hear any impact. The doe jumps up and runs to my left with her tail up but wasn't running like a scared jackrabbit. I waited a few minutes and packed up my stuff and started to climb down taking my time. I decided I was going to have to go back tomorrow no matter what. As I was climbing down, I noticed another doe behind me which either winded me or saw me moving. I packed my pack and put it on and went to look for the arrow. It was almost dark so I put on my headlamp and could see much better. I did not find the arrow. I walked out in the dark and will go back tomorrow. I was thinking of taking my new puppy but I think he is still learning what his nose is for. He would probably be more trouble than he is worth. He has been waking me up at 5:30 so he will be good for that. They are forecasting rain tomorrow but not till the afternoon. Here is a picture of my first shot. After reading the posts recently I figured going back tomorrow would be best. Wish me luck. It should be a fairly easy drag at least, on the level mostly. Was this a good plan?
I am not sure if the buck was legal since it had no forks I think. Is this true in PA?
Click to expand...
I don't like the fact that you didn't hear an impact. I do know I had to learn to listen for it though. Here's wishing you good luck in the morning. Let us know how you make out.
 
DroptineKrazy said:
I don't like the fact that you didn't hear an impact. I do know I had to learn to listen for it though. Here's wishing you good luck in the morning. Let us know how you make out.
Click to expand...
The doe I shot last year was a loud twack. It was a heart shot so I assume it hit a rib. I expected the same today, but nothing.
 
Matki15 said:
No offense but why would you shoot at a buck not knowing the antler restrictions? That could’ve gotten you in a decent amount of trouble.
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I thought I might have seen extra points but was not sure. The antlers were 12 inches long at least. Could it have been a spike with antlers that long?
 
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