To start off with, this one got my confidence back up a notch. You see, I lost a couple of deer this year already and was not feeling too great about it. 
2 bucks at that. 
That last one, an 8 pointer this past Monday evening.I have an apple pile close by(about 50 yards) but wanted to hunt this stand instead. The stand's got a killer view of a couple major deer highways thats about 25-30 yards away. I started the afternoon with a little rattling, but no takers. I thought, I'll just be quiet for the last hour or so, seeing the deer are using these trails so much anyways.
About 4 or so I hear some racket in 2 different areas of the bush and out pops this dandy looking doe - good size. I'm thinkin, OK now come on into the lane, but she had no part of it. She just hung around, about 30 yards out, but through the trees. Meanwhile, I can hear the gunners blasting every now and then and watching her react - head right up, looking around.
I watched her for about 15 minutes or so, and then out comes this smaller doe. OK now, 2 of them aren't gonna dodge me - are they. Instead of the smaller doe following the first one, she starts heading for my lane. Anyways, she slowly makes her way to my shooting lane out about 25 yards and I squeezed one off. SMACK!! She took off like a bat outta hell. I only heard her go for about 7-10 seconds and crash, crash, wheeeeeze.I'm all smiles at this point, for I know she's down, and not far. I lowered my bow and hung out in my stand for about 15 mins and headed back to the house.(120 yards or so) I made a couple calls, gathered some flashlights, etc. and out I went.
Well after 20 mins or so, following a drip, drip blood trail and some fresh tracks in the snow, my spot light dies. I use my mag light for another 15 mins or so and start to get frustrated - I know she didn't go far. Back to the house to charge my spot light back up. I'm thinkin, I'm not losing another one.
I thought it would be easy to track tonite, since we got about 7-10cm of snow yesterday, but the I'm trying to follow tracks, and they split up, and they split again, oh boy the deer are plentiful.Anyways, I get all charged up, head back out a half hour later and find her within 5 minutes. I was walking all around her, even came within 10 yards of her at one point. Man can they ever blend in.
Turned out it was a double lung shot. Wicked!!!
Now I know for sure my Exocet works.
So this guy's a happy camper tonite!!
