I'll save the story if there is a happy ending.
He walked into one of my shooting lanes. I baahed him to a stop. 20 yards broadside. Pulled the trigger, heard the thwak, he donkey kicked, took one leap then belly flopped before regaining his footing and taking off full steam, tail down, into the flooded timber. I heard him crashing/splashing then silence. Don't know if he is down.
I waited, then got down. With my flashlights I could not find any blood where he stood or where he belly-flopped. I started to look for him but blood doesn't show up in water, and it is very easy to get disoriented. I backed out. Now I am stressed. It is raining so what little evidence there might have been will surely be gone.
Based on my description of his reaction what do you think..is he down?? To me it sounds like a heart shot. I'm sure he must have been hit, otherwise why would he belly flop?? But no blood spray on the trees?? He went about 100 yards when it became silent. I think/hope he is piled up there.
Anyone interested in helping find him???
Well I guess I have a story to tell now.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
It begins last year. Around the beginning of December, I found a new rub on a big tree. I sent the pic to Ecoaster, and he asked if I saw the "owl".
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
![Image](http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/chris4570/IMG_3621.jpg)
I hunted the area last year after discovering the rub but never saw the deer.
Earlier this month while scouting I checked the same area and found a good rub line. A week later I saw that the owl tree was hit again!!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Yesterday morning I scouted the area and sure enough more new rubs. My stand was in place a couple weeks prior. The wind was perfect. SO I went in.
Based on what others(Unclefester/RJ) have been doing I decided that some tinks 69 buck bomb, grunting and rattling were in order. I needed to lure him out early enough for a shot.
I rattled first at 5:15 and then again around 6:00pm. At about 6:10 I could hear a deer sploshing in the water towards me. He would start and stop. Finally I could see him. Saw antler and got ready. When he got closer I knew it was "owl" . He walked into one of my shooting lanes. I baahed him to a stop. Pulled the trigger. Safety still on.
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
Which leads us to yesterdays post.
With daylight on my side I started the search. I found hair and blood at the impact site. Looked like some gut and lung. The forums "New Guy" was on his way to help. I managed to find a blood trail, and followed it. Thirty yards ahead I can see my John custom blazin tiger" arrow in the water. Love them arrows John. The fletching and wraps stand out!!! Certainly helped me track this deer. There wasn't a lot of blood due to the water, but with some patience it could be found. About 100 yards from the stand I can see he is down.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
John blazin tiger in the water.
![Image](http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/chris4570/IMG_0047.jpg)
The walk up.
![Image](http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/chris4570/IMG_0049.jpg)
A quick posed pic before tagging.
![Image](http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/chris4570/IMG_0050.jpg)
One for the trophy room. Am I allowed to participate in the photo contest??
![Image](http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/chris4570/IMG_0056-1-1.jpg)
Although I am pretty sure he was broadside the arrow path suggests otherwise. Although he may have moved just as I pulled the trigger, the second time. So the arrow did take out the heart, lungs, liver and top of the gut. He probably weighed 250lbs or better.
Thanks New Guy for help dressing and dragging. He was pretty hefty!! I hope your boots dry out.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)