Highest of Highs and Lowest of Lows (Pics Added)

[duckzach]

Let me start of by saying this is my first post. I have read through the forum for a while but never posted anything. My experience yesterday deserved to be shared.

I was blacktail hunting on the West Side. Spot and stalk. I was seeing lots of does, and finally spotted a nice 2 pt on a landing above me. I snuck around the landing so the wind was in my face and eased up to where I had last seen him. It was pounding rain and wind, so I was able to close the distance to 40 yds undetected.

When I drew back, the deer stood up perfectly broadside. Right when I let the arrow fly, the deer took a half step forward so I hit a little further back than I would have liked, but still it looked like a good clean shot. The buck was with a doe and they both took off downhill back into some thick timber.

I waited about 45 minutes, then I walked over to get the arrow. The arrow had a small amount of blood (The pounding rain had washed most of it off) and I did not have a good blood trail to follow. I started following the trail I saw the buck run down, and there he was bedded down. He looked dead. As I started towards him, a doe busted from the timber and the buck sprung up and ran further downhill into a deep drainage.

I waited another hour, and then started looking, following every deer trail, and looking in every nook and cranny I could. I looked for at least 3 hours in the thickest/thorniest/nastiest terrain you can imagine. No blood, no sign, and I started to get that sinking, sick to your stomach feeling.

I hiked back out. Prayed. Got some water. Prayed some more, and then went back in for another look. I finally found my buck tucked in a spot I had stepped over at least a dozen times. God is so Good. After a long pack out, I got him all iced down. There is no doubt God had his hand in helping me find that deer.

[Duckslayer89]

Let me start of by saying this is my first post. I have read through the forum for a while but never posted anything. My experience yesterday deserved to be shared.

I was blacktail hunting on the West Side. Spot and stalk. I was seeing lots of does, and finally spotted a nice 2 pt on a landing above me. I snuck around the landing so the wind was in my face and eased up to where I had last seen him. It was pounding rain and wind, so I was able to close the distance to 40 yds undetected.

When I drew back, the deer stood up perfectly broadside. Right when I let the arrow fly, the deer took a half step forward so I hit a little further back than I would have liked, but still it looked like a good clean shot. The buck was with a doe and they both took off downhill back into some thick timber.

I waited about 45 minutes, then I walked over to get the arrow. The arrow had a small amount of blood (The pounding rain had washed most of it off) and I did not have a good blood trail to follow. I started following the trail I saw the buck run down, and there he was bedded down. He looked dead. As I started towards him, a doe busted from the timber and the buck sprung up and ran further downhill into a deep drainage.

I waited another hour, and then started looking, following every deer trail, and looking in every nook and cranny I could. I looked for at least 3 hours in the thickest/thorniest/nastiest terrain you can imagine. No blood, no sign, and I started to get that sinking, sick to your stomach feeling.

I hiked back out. Prayed. Got some water. Prayed some more, and then went back in for another look. I finally found my buck tucked in a spot I had stepped over at least a dozen times. God is so Good. After a long pack out, I got him all iced down. There is no doubt God had his hand in helping me find that deer.

Dude way to go that is bad ass. I bet you were super stoked. Finding Blacktails in the rain after arrowing can be tough lots of guys probably would have just kept hunting. Congrats. Any pictures?

[cbond3318]

 

[7mmfan]

  Great work, way to keep with it. It is a daunting task to find a wounded animal in our terrain over here.

[carpsniperg2]

Way to stick with it. It is amazing how many times you can walk by a animal before finding it. A lot of people would have gave up so good on you for trying your best to find a animal you had shot.

[Tim in Wa.]

excellant 

[Buckewe]

Persistence pays off. Way to stick it out and get the job done. Congratulations

[jackelope]

Let me start of by saying this is my first post. I have read through the forum for a while but never posted anything. My experience yesterday deserved to be shared.

I was blacktail hunting on the West Side. Spot and stalk. I was seeing lots of does, and finally spotted a nice 2 pt on a landing above me. I snuck around the landing so the wind was in my face and eased up to where I had last seen him. It was pounding rain and wind, so I was able to close the distance to 40 yds undetected.

When I drew back, the deer stood up perfectly broadside. Right when I let the arrow fly, the deer took a half step forward so I hit a little further back than I would have liked, but still it looked like a good clean shot. The buck was with a doe and they both took off downhill back into some thick timber.

I waited about 45 minutes, then I walked over to get the arrow. The arrow had a small amount of blood (The pounding rain had washed most of it off) and I did not have a good blood trail to follow. I started following the trail I saw the buck run down, and there he was bedded down. He looked dead. As I started towards him, a doe busted from the timber and the buck sprung up and ran further downhill into a deep drainage.

I waited another hour, and then started looking, following every deer trail, and looking in every nook and cranny I could. I looked for at least 3 hours in the thickest/thorniest/nastiest terrain you can imagine. No blood, no sign, and I started to get that sinking, sick to your stomach feeling.

I hiked back out. Prayed. Got some water. Prayed some more, and then went back in for another look. I finally found my buck tucked in a spot I had stepped over at least a dozen times. God is so Good. After a long pack out, I got him all iced down. There is no doubt God had his hand in helping me find that deer.

Amen, brother.
You forgot the pictures though. Congrats and welcome to Hunt-WA

[duckzach]

here is a picture of it quartered out. Straps/tenderloin/neck in the bag. Ready for the long long looong back back down   

[fishnfur]

Way to get it done!  Welcome to the forum.   

[lamrith]

BT are sneaky that way.  It is not uncommon for them to cross a trail behind you right after you pass by.  They will freeze and then backtrack on you, so you pass a spot 2x and then suddenly there they are..

Congrats on getting your deer!!

[Dan-o]

Thanks for sharing.   

[Jpmiller]

I love hearing stories like that. Way to stick with a tough trail job. Reminds me of trying to find a buck with my dad when I was in high school, got all discouraged and he came over to console me/tell me to quit whining and I was almost standing on it. God is good, congrats on the deer.

[jagermiester]

I searched for a buck I shot one time for an hour. Open country no blood trail but he looked hit when I shot him. My hunting buddy Came up after a while and asked me if I checked a small pile of brush that I had walked around and looked into 10 times. I laughed it was the only cover for 100 yards. I realized though that I could not completely see everything in there. I had to get on my hands and knees and crawl into the brush, that buck had done the same. I was glad I did not give up. Way to be persistent Duckzach. 

[ldjbuff]

Very Cool!!

[yakimarcher]

good deal

[MLBowhunting]

Nicely done

[bearhunter99]

I love seeing stories like this.  Too many give up way too soon so I love it  when I hear about someone who went the extra mile to do the animal justice.  Congratulations on meat in the freezer!

[JLS]

I love seeing stories like this.  Too many give up way too soon so I love it  when I hear about someone who went the extra mile to do the animal justice.  Congratulations on meat in the freezer!

Agreed.  Outstanding show of perseverance.

[ghosthunter]

Nice job.

Reminds me.... I hunt a lot with a old guy. He has killed a lot of elk and deer.

I shot a spike elk a few years back with a muzzy.

Followed good blood for 100 yards than nothing. I went up and down every trail nothing.

Returned to the last blood spot and called my old guy. Told I couldn't find the bull.

He said "use your nose"

I found the bull 15 feet from where I as standing. No substitute for experience or old hunters.

[Old Man Yager]

here is a picture of it quartered out. Straps/tenderloin/neck in the bag. Ready for the long long looong back back down   

Good job sticking with it!! A word of advice, I personally wouldn't cut the antlers off the skull till I got it home, game warden might have an issue with that if you get checked!!

[Jason]

here is a picture of it quartered out. Straps/tenderloin/neck in the bag. Ready for the long long looong back back down   

Good job sticking with it!! A word of advice, I personally wouldn't cut the antlers off the skull till I got it home, game warden might have an issue with that if you get checked!!

Is there a requirement to leave the antlers on the skull?

[brew]

requirement is to leave proof of sex attached to the largest portion of the meat....normally that means leaving the testicles attached to a rear quarter if it's quartered and packed out (buck obviuosly) or girl parts attached if it's a doe...in a point restricted area i would leave the head/antlers attached to a front quarter if you quarter it out

[csaaphill]

Good job and yes God had a hand in helping you find him.

[Encore 280]

There are a few areas on the wet side that are any deer so maybe it's ok to remove the head gear.

[WaltAlpine]

Good job!
Great story

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[Elkpiss]

There are a few areas on the wet side that are any deer so maybe it's ok to remove the head gear.

Im pretty sure its any deer with archery equipment in almost the entire westside..  So why would the skull plate matter? there all legal...

[jeffitz]

Nicely done man ! Good story

[JLS]

here is a picture of it quartered out. Straps/tenderloin/neck in the bag. Ready for the long long looong back back down   

Good job sticking with it!! A word of advice, I personally wouldn't cut the antlers off the skull till I got it home, game warden might have an issue with that if you get checked!!

Is there a requirement to leave the antlers on the skull?

Nope.

If there is a point restriction (i.e. spike, 3 pt min, etc) you have to have the antlers with intact skull plate with you.

[HntnFsh]

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

[lokidog]