Long Track

[throttlejocky20]

sorry no pics its only a doe and no need to show graphic pics sorry
I killed my deer this week I decided to take a doe because I'm not sure what work is going to be like during the late season. Any how I had a 40 yard shot and because of the angle and the brush all I had was a neck shot  . I decided to take the shot after I had my pin settled I touched the release and as soon a the arrow left by bow she turned to take off. I herd the loudest crack I have ever herd when shooting a deer and watched her run off with an arrow buried in the back of her head and the fletchings bouncing above her shoulder blades.  . I instantly felt sick to my stomach and went down to where she took off and found the start to the blood trail. after going back to the truck and getting flashlight and marking tape me and the old man started to follow the blood trail. The trail was OK but not great we had decent size drops of blood and fairly consistant. After we were about 100 yards into the reap rod blood was getting hard to find and we started to find clotted blood. I was damn near on my hands and knees to find the next drop of blood when we bumped her and she took off. . I started swearing and thought it was over i sat down for about 20 min before starting again with nothing but bad thoughts running through my mind. The next spot of blood took a while to find and it was about 20 yards from where we jumped her and it was only a drop. 10 yards later the faucet was turned on and I was able to spot her with the flash light about 100 yards later. I was not sure if she was down and out so I sat down for another 1/2 hour before approaching her to find the deer had expired. The arrow had hit the deer about a 1/2 inch below the skull and took the side of a vertebrae out. The arrow went through the juggler and stopped right beneath the hide in the front of the throat. There was alot i learned that night and was glad i had my old man to help me keep my mind straight when things were not looking good. I wonder how many people would not have been able to find her or would have given up when we did not find blood for almost 20 min. The most important lesson I learned is never say never and give up.

[longashes]

Congrats ... like I always tell the family.
"we'll be able to survive the winter now"   

[Elkslayer]

Glad you put the effort in and found her throttlejocky. Not trying to bash on you because I dont know who you are or what your shooting abilities are but, in my opinion a 40yd neck shot on a deer is not a good choice. 

[throttlejocky20]

I fully understand and thats one of the lessons I learned not the best choice but with a little luck it worked. I have been shooting a bow for 15 years now and shoot 3 or 4 times a week all year and practice more at 70 and 80 yards than anything ( I would not take a shot that far at an animal even at 60 yards all cercumstances would have to be right). That was one of those split seconds decisions that I am glad  I dont have to regret.

[Elkslayer]

 

[Alan K]

Glad it worked out, and lessons were learned.  I have never and will never take a neck shot with a bow at any range.  Too small a target and not near enough vitals in there. Like it said, glad it worked out though.

[h20hunter]

Like others said, glad it worked out. Maybe think this way...without the practice maybe she would still be running around, wounded, hurt'n and just waiting to be coyote chow.

[Smithandsonstaxidermy]

Great story,way to stay on her,Alot of people would have given up.Good boy joel.

[throttlejocky20]

Thanks buddy Congrats on the buck.