I hadn't seen as much as a squirrel within a hundred yards until 8am when I heard steps about 50 yards uphill. I grabbed my binos and confirmed it was a muture doe. She kept walking and was going to pass to my right hand side. It all happened so fast I didn't think to turn on my Tacatacam. I had ranged her at 40 yards and closing. I looked ahead of her trying to find an opening to get a shot through. I picked out a spot and let out a bleat just before she entered it. She stopped and looked back and I leaned to find a clear lane and let the arrow fly. Well, she ducked a bit and/or I misjudged the distance as she was closing in while I was trying find a shot. I ended up hitting her in the spine with the Micro 380 with a 100gr TOTA XL. No tracking required. Though it did cost me an arrow as she snapped it off when she rolled over.
You can see a small hump just left and up from the stirrup. That's the broadhead just under the skin.
The TOTA XL leaves a mean entrance hole.
And it does a number on spines.
After skinning, I pulled it out and cleaned it up. A little TLC on the TOTA sharpener and it'll be ready to fly again. Now that's durability.
Now to spend some time with some fine cutlery giving her the attention she deserves. I love morning hunts because I can have life back to normal before dark, or at least that's my goal. We really could use some cooler weather. With both kids hunting with me, I end up being the odd man out and have to climb the farthest up the mountain. It paid off this morning, but I'd much rather get there without being drenched in sweat.
