Started the day with my bro in law picking me up at 5am. We headed out to our hunting spot and spotted three bucks on the rocks right next to the truck. We tried sneaking around but they winded us and took off. One was a monster fork, one little fork and the only leagal was a really nice 5x5. We went after them and got within 100 yds 4 times but just never could get close enough. By 1130 we were back at the truck and having hiked all morning we were shot. I figure we put on 8 to 10 miles. We went home empty handed and I fell into the lazy boy and got some zzzz. I woke up at 2 and all I could think of was that buck we had been out chasing. I had to get back out so after a kiss to my better half I headed out solo. When I got there it was hot as hell so I took my long sleeve camo shirt and soaked it in water on the tailgate. Started my hike with lots of glassing at a slow pace looking for the buck. I spotted a nice doe and ranged her at 60 yds. Too far for me and I was up on a rock bluff so I backed up and scambled down the other side. I sneeked up on the next rock bluff and slowly snuck over to the edge. I couldn't see into the heavy group of trees that I saw the doe go into but I knew she would come out eventually and I could take her on the left or right. Her only escape was straight away. After no more than 5 min I could see her moving 20yds in but it was way to thick for a shot. Then another deer came out but went quickly though the small open spot ( about ten yds of no trees). I waited for the other one to come out and after another 15min or so she did. Stopped dead in the middle of the opening and I ranged her at 29yds. I watched my arrow go in with a perfect shot.
I waited for five minutes or so and went down to see if I could find my arrow. Took a lot of looking but I found it covered in red under a pile of deep grass. Started following the trail which did not look good. Just a few specks here and there. After 75yds or so I lost the trail and once again felt that I wounded another deer.
I knew my shot was good so I went out looking blind in one direction and then back to the last blood I found, then another direction and back again. Did this several times for at least an hour. Then I decided I was going back to the last spot of blood and getting on my knees to find every speck until I found her. I was rather upset at the time but I knew that if I put in the time I would find her. On my knees it took forever to find another drop but I continued to the next and the next. She took a hard left and was no more than 15 feet from the area that I had lost the good trail.
I tagged and gutted her then dragged her out. It was about a quarter mile from the truck and I had to take lots of breaks. Wore me right out. When I started heading down the road it was 7pm. and I looked over and spotted a nice 4 point buck on the skyline. I went after him but never saw him again.
