I saw the buck first in a grassy opening about 75 yards away on the other side of the creek. I checked my watch, it was 8:35 a.m. I tried calling him over with a doe bleat, no luck. Then I tried a buck grunt, no luck. So I had to watch him graze until he disappeared into the woods to my right. I tried the doe bleat once more, nothing. About 15 minutes later he appeared out of the thick brush in front of me, 20 yards off. He was on the path and getting ready to cross the creek. I remained frozen until his head was behind a tree, then I raised my crossbow. He was only 15 yards off at this point and moving across the creek. I instinctively fired the bolt as my crosshairs covered his lungs. Unfortunately, I didn't allow for the speed he was making . . .would have been a great rifle shot, but, ended up too far back with the crossbow(bolts don't fly as fast as bullets, I got to remember that). Anyway, when the bolt hit him, he tried to turn away from me and head up the creek bank. However, the creek bank is very steep at that point and he wasn't able to climb the bank. He turned and came back across the creek and stopped on the bank, then he started walking slowly down stream, away from me. As he rounded the bend, I was trying my best to quickly get another bolt in the bow because I could see the first arrow hit too far back and I felt like I needed to hit him again or he would get away. I took off as fast as possible to head him off. I was hoping to keep him from making it to the swamp on my side of the creek. I got into position and waited . . .no buck. I slowly made my way back up the creek bank. I was extremely relieved to see the buck in the water not more than 10 yards from where he rounded the bend. I had gut shot him, however, I must have hit that main artery running down the back. There was a lot of blood once I opened him up and he only traveled 20 yards from the spot from where I shot him. Of course, that would have been different if he was able to run up that bank. There was no blood trail, I got lucky. I checked my watch . . .it was 8:57 a.m.
Picture from my sitting point . . .
Picture of the buck in the water . . .the bolt had penetrated past the 2" Blazers, however, had worked it's way out when the buck hit the bank . . . about where the limb has fallen(touching the water) on the left end of the above picture.
One other note . . .the angle of the shot is steeper than it looks in the picture. It's about 15 feet from the creek bed to the top of the bank on my side. There was some penetration on the bottom side with a small amount of intestine hanging out. However, the broadhead didn't make it all the way out. I used a Areohead Hammerhead, 2" cut mechanical with two rubber bands. I've never gut shot a deer that died that quickly before(including my rifle shots). It was dead within 5 minutes. Must have been the 2" cut.
I'd rather wear out than rust out.
Perception trumps intention.
2006 Exomax w/Agingcrossbower Custom Stock
20" Easton Powerbolts w/125gr Trophy Ridge Stricknines & 2"Blazers
Boo Custom Strings
2006 Vixen
.
Plus, another 3 or 4 steps and he's gone. I had never hunted that stand before . . .he was fixin to pass me. I panicked a little I guess. I was thinking a deer would stop for a minute before going down that creek bank and offer a easy 20 yard shot . . .thought wrong. I'll be ready next time.
. Glad to see that you got him.
Great job you slayer you. 
Makes a better story that way.