Any thoughts

[Eburg fisher]

I get a shot at a really nice 4X4 mulie in the Reecer Creek area, north of Ellensburg. Nice broad side shot and I hear a really loud schwak. Sounded like someone hitting a base hit. Felt like a good shot but with the loud sound at impact I assumed I had missed and hit a tree. The deer bounds off and I go see if I can salvage my broadhead from whatever pine tree it's in. I find the arrow about 4 feet on the other side of where the deer had been. It is nosed into the dirt with blood on the shaft and fletching. There's even a sliver of meat on the shaft. There is also some hair where the buck had been standing. 9 of us, and one beagle, searched for almost 7 hours and no luck. I have great friends so a couple of us are going back out in the morning.

So my questions. Where would I have hit him that I would have gotten a complete pass through but still shaved off hair? All three fletchings had blood and I found a few drops of blood during the track but it was raining hard and that was all I could find. Also, where would I have hit him that would have made such a loud sound at impact? I was of course aiming for the vitals and the blood, meat, and goo on my arrow did not smell so I don't think it was a gut shot. Other than the loud impact I thought for sure it was a vitals shot. Like I said the loud impact had made me think I had missed.

I feel horrible and whether I find him or not I'll be punching my tag. This is my first year bow hunting and this really makes me want to go back to modern firearm. I really hope we can find him in the morning.

[scudmaster]

Well I don't know about the hit...but I imagine sleep will be hard to come by tonight. If you can get a black light and head out before sunrise, some times that can help spot the blood trail. Good luck finding it.

Scud

[Lowedog]

Tough with the rain.  A mortally wounded animal will usually not be able to travel up hill much.  Did you give him time to bed down after the shot?  A shot through the brisket could be possible and not necessarily fatal.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you find tomorrow. 

[wsucowboy]

Ouch that's tough. Never been in that situation myself but all you can really do is let the dear bed down and try to find it in the morning. That's a good idea about the black light i would have never thought of that.

[BLUEBULLS]

leg or brisket?

was the beagle trailing him?

[bobcat]

I wonder if a shoulder shot would sound like that?

[gutsnthegrass]

Could the sound have been when the arrow buried in the ground behind the deer?  Maybe hit a rock or something.  Anyway don't give up, it sounds like a pretty solid hit with the bloody arrow.  Good luck!

[carpsniperg2]

i have seen deer, that have been shot high below the spine and above the lungs. that have survied or needed a finishing shot. there is a gap there that if hit you will get a pass threw blood on the arrow but no vitals. as far as the noise not sure. maybe the hard part of the brisket as well. but would have thought your arrow would have stuck in it. instead of a pass threw. good luck.

[Machias]

What color of hair did you find?  What color was the blood?  Any particles in the blood?  Any fat on the arrow?  How far was the shot?

[BlackRidge]

No clue where it could have hit, but good luck tracking it down today!

[THE DUDE]

I've shot a lot of whitetail but no expert on mulies. Just like the previous post said. color of blood first color of hair second.  If it was a briskett shot and you have substantial blood the odds are you made it through and could have nicked a lung. If it was a long shot....think of all the possibilities. jumping the string.......If it was below the spine and little blood and sinew then hes gonna be one sore S.O.B .  Could have smashed through a shoulder that is pretty loud. I know you don't think about this stuff when you can't even pick your nose cause you're shakin so much.
Good luck

[halflife65]

Hmmm...pretty sure I know that buck.  You shot him, huh?  Was he by himself or with a smallish 2 point?

Are you going back out there tonight?  I should be home in a few hours and, depending on what work I can get done (might have to go back to work once I get home - don't know yet.  The beauty of working for an international company), can help look for it if you'd like.  If it's the same buck that I've seen a couple of times I already know where your spot is anyway.  Pretty decent buck.

Just PM me if you want some help.  I live on Reecer.

[bearhunter99]

i have seen deer, that have been shot high below the spine and above the lungs. that have survied or needed a finishing shot. there is a gap there that if hit you will get a pass threw blood on the arrow but no vitals. as far as the noise not sure. maybe the hard part of the brisket as well. but would have thought your arrow would have stuck in it. instead of a pass threw. good luck.

 

My brother shot a caribou in that high area and it looked like a damn good shot.  We trailed the bull for a long ways but never recovered.  Saw him again four days later with a small red spot where the arrow hit but he was still going strong.  Never could get close to him again (guess he was a little leary of us by that point  )

Have heard the same thing about the lower brisket and could have broken bone.  I will second the notion that there could ave been a tree root or rock or something in the ground behind him though.

Did you check the trajectory at all? ie. from your shot to the arrow?  Did it look high, low?  Might be a little indicator  of shot placement

[Eburg fisher]

Ya, that's the buck. I have seen him 3 times with that two point hanging around with him. The beagle did not get on any scent at all. We went back today and searched for another 4 hours and found some prints right were the forest boundry ends and it becomes private property. Then I was talking to another hunter who said he was watching the pair this morning on the private property side of the boundary.

The hair was grey and there was a little fat on the slightest sliver of meat on the shaft. The blood on the fletching was light but visible and the broad head was not dented and none of the blades were chipped or bent. From talking to my friend I am guessing the loud crack was a bracnh I did not see and that the arrow was deflected into and through the soft part of the brisquet. 

[colockumelk]

The Buck will most likely live. I wouldn't give up archery because of this one incident. Also I wouldn't notch your tag. Good luck with the rest of the season.

[halflife65]

I'll keep an eye out for that buck, too.  If I see him I'll let you know.

[blk_tmbr_archery]

If you hunt long enough this is going to happen whether with a bow or rifle.  What is positive is the fact you are making an honest effort in harvesting the animal.  Provided the fact someone else has seen the animal moving around it appears safe to say it is going to survive.  I wouldn't punch my tag with the effort given by yourself and the information provided by halflife65.  If anything, take him up on his offer and go in for a second attempt on the same animal.  Either way, I would not give up archery based on this situation.  This is a situation of circumstance and not the equality of equipment.  Keep up the hunt and in the end chalk this up to an experience.  There is a huge difference between the effort you are making apposed to someone who simply moves on to the next animal.

[elkbuster]

Why aren't you elk hunting?

[Eburg fisher]

I went up again today and nothing. looked for crows circling and everything. Still nothing but I did find fresh bear sign. Have you seen him around Halflife. It was right by the entrance to the 112 road. Couple fresh tracks and some scat. By the size of the piles this bear is eating well!

[halflife65]

No, but I just drove through there in the dark.  I've been hunting a couple of my different spots.

In Denver for work this week, unfortunately.  I wish I was there so I could to take another look.