Post by: shaneman153D on October 20, 2009, 11:19:55 PM
Then, he disappeared behind a little knoll, and a quick descision made me get up and move down to the next tier of the hill I was on, closing the distance to more like 400-450 yds. I ran as quietly as I could, and they didn't spot me. At the time I thought he was about 300yds and closing when I took up a good rest on a rock. I aimed about a foot over his vitals and BAM! Total miss, hit low in the dirt. The two does took off to the left and he went right and stopped back on top of the hill. I took a quick look with the naked eye and realized it was more like 400yds and he was bigger than I thought. He stopped facing uphill away from me, his head cocked to the left. I tried for a neckshot and aimed about 2 feet above his head. The bullet went in his upper back, severing the spinal cord and exiting out the center of the neck. He dropped like a sack of potatoes!! I still don't know how far that shot was, but it was beyond my confidence level, so there was some luck involved.
After I saw him go down, all I could think was......god I hope he's legal. Luckily, that was a third point that I saw, and he had some eyegaurds to boot. i was hunting myself, so I figured I would have no trouble lifting him up into my truck. Well luck was on my side again, because as I got back to my truck, there was my mom. She had come out to find me about an hour earlier and spot for me, but she didn't want to disturb me so she stayed by the truck. I had no idea Washington mule deer were this big. the only deer I've seen up close are whitetails in TX, and this one was 2x the size of that deer plus. Just wanna thank everyone on this forum for all the info, and good luck to everyone else!
Post by: addicted on October 20, 2009, 11:48:45 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 20, 2009, 11:51:30 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 20, 2009, 11:54:21 PM
Post by: bow4elk on October 21, 2009, 07:53:19 PM
Post by: tonymoe on October 21, 2009, 08:17:22 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 21, 2009, 09:34:16 PM
Congrats on your first? Are you planning to gut him out? (just kidding)
:chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: passing-thru on October 22, 2009, 07:37:44 AM
Post by: MtnMuley on October 22, 2009, 07:40:30 AM
Post by: KimberRich on October 22, 2009, 10:40:10 AM
Con grads on your first buck. Hope its the first of many. Ok that be said WOW where do I start. 1st. 300 yards and you hold a foot over vitals and hit in low in dirt? That's over 4 ft of drop. Either you seriously mis judged range or you need to visit range and re sight weapon. 2nd. Way over confidence level. Why risk wounding and losing an animal if not confident in ability to cleanly kill at that range. 3rd. Faceing away and you shoot at neck at that kinda distance. Again huge factor for wounded and lost animal. Ok now 4. "God I hope he's legal" if not sure why did you shoot. Sorry if I'v offended but I cringed as I read your post. Hope I'v given you some things to think about. Hope this doesn't sound like rantings of crazy man. But just had to be said
Figured there would be something like this on here so glad I didn't have to say it! Great job on the deer and I commend you for being honest and telling the story how it really happened but I have to agree with most of PT's comments.
But welcome to the site and like I said, I commend you for being honest but be prepared for a mix of responses from "Great Job" to "What the hell were you thinking"
Post by: Machias on October 22, 2009, 11:06:31 AM
And what would you have done if you walked up and realized you were illegal? LOTS of times I have looked at a buck and knew he was plenty wide enough and plenty tall enough to have the required points, but did not pull the trigger because I was not SURE. You are required by law to verify your pulling the trigger on a LEGAL buck. Luck has no place in this situation.
Post by: Black Plague on October 22, 2009, 11:39:51 AM
Post by: shaneman153D on October 22, 2009, 08:06:11 PM
Pt, I took her to the range this morning for that very reason. Apparently I knocked it hard because it was way low at 200. And I just zeroed it again a week ago. Investing in a new scope before next season.
LMAO bow4elk
Shane
edit: PT, that's not a 4 ft drop, I didn't say it hit at his feet!
Post by: BENCHLEG on October 22, 2009, 08:15:25 PM
Post by: Red Dawg on October 22, 2009, 08:19:15 PM
Post by: shaneman153D on October 22, 2009, 08:59:43 PM
Post by: NWBREW on October 22, 2009, 09:06:35 PM
Post by: Machias on October 22, 2009, 10:12:52 PM
Post by: nw_bowhunter on October 22, 2009, 10:30:33 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 22, 2009, 10:31:42 PM
(...hmmmm... retired Army... it's almost like you've been yelled at before... :chuckle:)
One of the things I had to adjust when I moved to this area was the long shots. Mostly hunted whitetails in the woods when I was a kid, most shots under 200 yards. I can already tell you will be better prepared next hunt. And yes, a new scope may be in order.
Here's to your continued success :tup:
Post by: t6 on October 22, 2009, 11:10:06 PM
Spending some time getting closer so you dont have to ask yourself "Gawd I hope he's legal"
Yeah, I know.. I shouldn't rip on the guy.. Its his first, but lets be realistic... those of us with experience wouldn't teach our Sons, or Daughters to hunt this way so we shouldn't condone it either.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 22, 2009, 11:42:36 PM
Post by: Gutpile on October 23, 2009, 05:12:23 AM
Post by: rasbo on October 23, 2009, 05:24:18 AM
Post by: Wyoming08 on October 23, 2009, 06:59:20 AM
How come he looks like he's been gut shot with the green stuff coming out his nose, and there is a bunch of it on the ground? Did you shoot him twice? Just some observations. Dang nice buck though!!!
Post by: shaneman153D on October 23, 2009, 07:51:54 AM
I am not a veterinarian.
Post by: rosscrazyelk on October 23, 2009, 08:17:58 AM