Such is bow hunting amigo. Even when it sucks it beats gun hunting hands down.
You got that right. She fed towards me for about 10 minutes, coming out at 80 yards. And again, just like every other single deer I've ever seen, I looked up.....and it was there. Only once have I known a deer was coming in before I saw it.
I was sitting down with a book in my hands and the bow on the frame of my climber. I had to
Put the book down behind my back
Pick up the bow
Stand up (this took the longest amount of time because she kept looking towards me)
Flip bow around and attach release
Bring the bow up
Draw
I remembered a text from you when I first got into bow hunting about how I was going to have to think about all the moves I would have to make in order to get a shot. That really came into play tonight.
Trust me. Place it to your left. You can swivel the arm where you can simply raise your left hand and grab the bow. Not to mention not having to worry about hitting your bow and watching it fall slowly to the ground.
If you want to read, get a book on your phone. It's easier to slip a phone in a shirt pocket than a book behind your back.
Yeah, I've got a couple of cheap hangers (looks like that Gorilla gear hook on that link) I bought from Walmart but they just stick out from the tree a few inches. That would work better.
As for the book, I'm trying to break my obsessive phone habit. If I pull out my phone, soon I'm texting, reading this forum, playing games.... Plus, putting it behind my back was no biggie. Actually, everything worked to perfection. (Except for the shot)
Anybody that hunts enough will lose at least one and maybe more deer in their hunting career. It happens. And everybody I know that bow hunts has lost a deer. I've lost em with guns. It happens. This is not an exact science. Crap happens.
Daddy, what's an enabler?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
I've lost deer that I know were hit solidly- - - -the dam things just don't know they're dead sometimes, and refuse to fall down! Can't bowhunt any more- - - -too much damage to both shoulders to be able to practice. One or two draws at light poundage is OK, but after 10 practice shots I'm too sore to hunt! No, a crossbow isn't an option- - - - -my son has offered to loan me his but I'm not into that kind of archery for some reason!
Commiserations on the end result Buffy..............but it sounds like you did everything that could be expected to bring about a successful hunt.
Crap happens sometimes and we learn from our misfortunes. While it is hard to accept something like this happening, and it remains in our mind for a long time, as long as you did everything that you could to find the animal you wont get beat up if you share your misfortune with me............. and most if not all the hunters here.
Maybe I'm overthinking it. But I don't think I am. I was worried about getting beat up here for losing a deer. I know there are some that have never lost a single one and up until tonight, that was me as well.
I don't recall shooting and then losing a deer .................but there have been a few times when it has been just sheer luck that I have been able to 'rescue' a situation where shot placement, for various reasons, wasn't all that I had wanted.
Those incidents have stayed with me throughout my hunting 'career' and I can recall them more vividly than any successful hunt.
It is just a matter of time before I am in the same position as you.........God forbid that it ever happens, but the more I hunt the more the odds are that it will happen........and the beating up that I will give myself will be far more severe than anything anyone else gives me.
I feel for you.
Still enjoying the trip of a lifetime and making the best of what I have.....
Sorry buffy. I feel your pain. I don't remember every deer I've killed but I do remember every one I've lost. It's sickening but also inspiration to do better next time. Hang in there buddy.
O, yeah. If somebody tried to beat up on you, they'd have to go through us first. So don't worry about that.
Teach your children to love guns, they'll never be able to afford drugs
Too bad Buffy, it happens. You suppose someone helped you loose the deer? It go to a road, and you didn't see it leave the road. Don't know how bad game theft it there but a guy driving down the road and seing a dead deer still warm and fresh.......??
Sorry you lost her. I have only ever lost one( thank God ) and it was hit with a 30-06 not an arrow. trailed it for several miles seeing what looked like significant blood loss in numerous places but she never quit. Finally had to give up when she crossed onto private ground I knew I would never get permission to enter.
I have been trying to convince myself I should take up bow hunting for years. Your experience is what keeps me from getting serious, it really scares me to think about losing deer. Especially out here where I can be off property in very short order compared to the one lost in Colorado.
Get back in that tree! Losing one sucks! I never did find mine either, but, it happens. Time to go hunting again.
This, your tag is still good? A lot happens between arrow release and arrow impact, people pay lots of $ for a bow that is quiet, string jump is a real thing, go back to some practice and get back in the stand.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn away from their ways and live. Eze 33:11
Thanks all. Yeah we can kill a bunch of deer. 5 antlerless, 2 with antlers. I actually don't know how the tag situation works in this case to be honest, but I'm chalking it up as a kill. I've only ever killed one deer per season anyway so I've never been on danger of using up my allotment.
I'll be back in the stand next Saturday. In the meantime, I'm using the forklift at work to elevate me and practicing shots from height. Also going to work on less than completely broad side shots.
I've lost a deer or two bow hunting. It happens sometimes. Both I shot and lost were broadside double lung shot, too. Lots of red bubbly blood. Both with fixed blade broadheads.
Mechanical broadheads are good stuff. I went to them after they'd been out a couple of years. When I went to a crossbow because of my shoulders, I used the same broadheads. They cut a huge swath through a deer. If you try them, I think you'll like them. They absolutely fly truer than any fixed blade ever made, like shooting a target or field point for accuracy.
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer” ― Douglas Adams
Replies
You got that right. She fed towards me for about 10 minutes, coming out at 80 yards. And again, just like every other single deer I've ever seen, I looked up.....and it was there. Only once have I known a deer was coming in before I saw it.
I was sitting down with a book in my hands and the bow on the frame of my climber. I had to
I remembered a text from you when I first got into bow hunting about how I was going to have to think about all the moves I would have to make in order to get a shot. That really came into play tonight.
Yeah, I've got a couple of cheap hangers (looks like that Gorilla gear hook on that link) I bought from Walmart but they just stick out from the tree a few inches. That would work better.
As for the book, I'm trying to break my obsessive phone habit. If I pull out my phone, soon I'm texting, reading this forum, playing games.... Plus, putting it behind my back was no biggie. Actually, everything worked to perfection. (Except for the shot)
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Jerry
Crap happens sometimes and we learn from our misfortunes. While it is hard to accept something like this happening, and it remains in our mind for a long time, as long as you did everything that you could to find the animal you wont get beat up if you share your misfortune with me............. and most if not all the hunters here.
I don't recall shooting and then losing a deer .................but there have been a few times when it has been just sheer luck that I have been able to 'rescue' a situation where shot placement, for various reasons, wasn't all that I had wanted.
Those incidents have stayed with me throughout my hunting 'career' and I can recall them more vividly than any successful hunt.
It is just a matter of time before I am in the same position as you.........God forbid that it ever happens, but the more I hunt the more the odds are that it will happen........and the beating up that I will give myself will be far more severe than anything anyone else gives me.
I feel for you.
O, yeah. If somebody tried to beat up on you, they'd have to go through us first. So don't worry about that.
I have been trying to convince myself I should take up bow hunting for years. Your experience is what keeps me from getting serious, it really scares me to think about losing deer. Especially out here where I can be off property in very short order compared to the one lost in Colorado.
Sako
This, your tag is still good? A lot happens between arrow release and arrow impact, people pay lots of $ for a bow that is quiet, string jump is a real thing, go back to some practice and get back in the stand.
I'll be back in the stand next Saturday. In the meantime, I'm using the forklift at work to elevate me and practicing shots from height. Also going to work on less than completely broad side shots.
Mechanical broadheads are good stuff. I went to them after they'd been out a couple of years. When I went to a crossbow because of my shoulders, I used the same broadheads. They cut a huge swath through a deer. If you try them, I think you'll like them. They absolutely fly truer than any fixed blade ever made, like shooting a target or field point for accuracy.
― Douglas Adams
DPRMD
Aint that the truth.
Sorry you lost her. You are doing the right thing in practicing and making sure it does not happen again.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov