A wise hunter once told me

bucont · Post by **bucont** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:07 pm

if you deer hunt long enough you will harvest a deer, miss a deer and wound a deer and not recover it.

Well tonight was my first time out this season.

I had a six point come in head on to 25 yards, he stood there for five minutes. He then made quick turn and then began to walk away (not a great shot). I gave him a grunt and he turned broad side at 40 yards. I put the 40 yard cross hair on him and released the shot. All I seen after the shot was that whitetail in the air going through the evergreens. Generally I see the bolt fly through the scope but not this time.

I checked the kill zone, no blood, no hair, no bolt ..... no deer. I can't believe I missed him.

I was shooting out of a ground blind in a meadow full of golden rod. Perhaps the golden rod grab the bolt on the way through as I was shooting just over the tops? I spent 2 hours looking for any sign. I only found one stumble mark in the pine straw.

I am heading back out in the morning to make sure!

agingcrossbower · Post by **agingcrossbower** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:15 pm

Give it your best try. Thats all you can do. Good luck in the morning.

Carnivorous · Post by **Carnivorous** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:30 pm

Murphy's law.

Now if I can find the time to get out myself to shoot @ a live deer instead of the block target LOL!!

vixenmaster · Post by **vixenmaster** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:31 pm

did you recover yer arrow to see if it showed a hit?

bucont · Post by **bucont** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:35 pm

No arrow / bolt recovered.

bucont · Post by **bucont** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:19 pm

Went back this morning.
Ranged the distance at 38 yards from deer to blind plus we found the bolt in the golden rod five yards before the kill zone. It must have tangled on the way through and just could not find it in the low light conditions yesterday. That explains the no blood.

Friday I'll set in the same area depending on the wind. Also I'll take hedge trimers with me to lower the golden rod down around the blind.

Live and learn ... golden rod is one tough plant.

bucont · Post by **bucont** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:54 pm

Good news, the six pointer now known as "Lucky" returned tonight. 50 yards broad side, no shoot taken. We'll see what the morning brings.

Horizontal Hunter · Post by **Horizontal Hunter** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:43 pm

Sounds like Lucky's luck is about to run out.

Bob

saxman · Post by **saxman** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:37 am

Glad you found your arrow and you know what happened.
Good luck with ole Lucky