Last Day Archery Buck

[BIGMIKE]

Due to hectic schedule at work  and family commitments, I was blessed to get away and hunt the last 4 days of Washington's archery season this year. Green light came on and I shot this buck 2nd to the last day late in the afternoon standing broadside 58 yards. The deer was alert and aware of my presence. My arrow ended up hitting him a little further back so I remained stationary behind a sage brush and followed the buck with my bino as he ran away with another buck a 2x3. A couple of hundred yard later the buck bedded down on a spot where there was a good natural land mark. With light fading fast, I backed out quietly with high hopes of finding the buck in the same spot dead the following day...the last day of archery season. 15 hours had passed and its now the last day. I approached the last know location of the buck like he was still alive, over an hour later I found an empty bed with very small amount of blood. My heart was broken but my determination to find this buck was stronger...This is the last day and there will be no other time this year for me to be able to deer hunt. So, I took my time trailing, turning every branch, observing disturbance on the dirt, hoping for a sign with every step. Almost 45 minutes in to it and only covering 60 yards with very little clue of where the buck went. The sage brush were taller than me so I figure I would use my glass to see further into the bushes and tall vegetation. With luck on my side, I spotted the unmistakable hide of a deer, all I could see was about 3 inches of his left leg...laying down. I knocked an arrow just in case he was still alive and approached buck cautiously. 2 minutes later, I was standing next to the buck. I gave thanks to the creator and called my wife about the good news. I told her.... "I found him, it's the last day, I'm heading home!". This goes to show that with little time, little luck and a little I will get it done attitude can go a long way. Another deer season in the books, another FREE WA National Guard tag notched.

[full choke]

Nice buck man!
Congratulations!

[huntnfmly]

Very cool congrats and way to go making the right call to back out then sticking with it the next day

[elkrack]

Awesome job sticking with it. Nice buck

[Boss .300 winmag]

Very cool congrats and way to go making the right call to back out then sticking with it the next day

 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Great job recovering the buck!

[fishnfur]

Nice archery buck!  Thanks for posting the story too.  Congrats!

[hunting4sanity]

Congratulations! Glad it all came together and you got your buck.

[deerhunter_98520]

Way to go bigmike nice buck

[boneaddict]

    Thank you.     

[PlateauNDN]

Way to go after and stick with it. Nice buck.

[BIGMIKE]

Still have all Idaho tags burning a hole in my pocket. I hope stars will align and give me time to hunt Idaho during late season.

[go4steelhd]

Nice work!!
Good luck on the late season if you return 

[bowhunterforever]

Great buck