How about a little help?

I've been bowhunting since 1978, and have killed a good many does and small bucks, but never a decent buck. About 8:50 this morning a decent buck was headed to my stand. Everything looked perfect - he was coming thru thick stuff and would break into the open at 15 yds. I was gonna draw when he went behind a big oak, but he spotted me just before he did. He looked at me a few seconds and then bounded back the way he came.

But he stopped at 30 yds, so I drew on him. There was a lot of brush, but I had an open shot at his back, starting about the middle of it to his neck. He was well below me, so I had a decent angle on him. I let it fly and heard the arrow hit him. He ran off kinda slow, and about 150 yds away, I heard him go down. It didn't sound like he crashed dead, just went down. I heard him move a few seconds later, then again, then silence. I'm not sure if he died there or just laid down.

I slipped down after about 20 minutes and went over to where he was standing. I found the arrow - it was broken in half, and the fletching half must still be in him. The Muzzy looked like it could be used again this afternoon. There was good blood on the arrow, and no sign of guts.

So 2 questions - where do you think he is hit? I think I probably hit to one side of the spine and it penetrated all the way thru, but I'm not at all sure.

And 2, how long should I wait? I don't want to wait so long that the meat could spoil. I'm thinking 3 hours.

All opinions welcome.

i'd give him a couple of hours. better safe than sorry. i hope its a quick and easy recovery on him!

Good luck!, I would give him until after lunch 3- 4 hours, then stalk hunt the blood trail keeping an eye out front. If the arrow stays in him and he is moving that should keep the wound open, if he lays down that will probably be where he expires.

Thanks Darryl. I feel sure he's either dead or will die. I really want to find this deer, and I'll be sick if I don't.

you will find him. the problem with the angle you described (if im understanding correctly) is the possibility to hit one lung. i shot a small (70lbs) doe just like what you are describing and i gave her one hour. it was one of the longest tracking jobs ever. i shot her with a muzzy (which had nothing to do with the distance traveled). she went about 200yds but left a great blood trail!!!

sit down have a good lunch and a nap. I know its gonna be hard with all of that replaying in your mind over and over but it will give him time to expire.
was there a decent blood trail in the direction he went?
I would also agree that you are MOST likly in the vitals and you will find him just give him plenty of time.
you did the right thing by waiting and not pushing.

X2 Longshot

Hope you find him.

I would wait 3 to 4 hour and slip in. Even with a single lung or liver shot he should be dead. Keep us posted. I'm jealous I'm sure it was a great morning

There won't be a nap.

Too keyed up for that. I didn't see a blood trail, but I didn't look at all. When I saw the arrow, I just slipped out to avoid scaring him. He wasn't very far away.

There is no chance that I got both lungs. I had to have hit to one side of the spine and then got complete penetration. Its possible I got the heart, but more likely that I got just one lung. How long could he live with one lung?

And if I killed him at 8:50, how long before the meat goes bad?

I'd say 3 hours minimum but ONLY if you are absolutely certain you didn't hit him in the guts. Did you smell the arrow to make sure? Wait 8 hours minimum if there is any bad odor on the arrow at all. The meat will be just fine for either scenario.

He was decenter than I realized.:)

Gotta clean him, more later, he is 21" wide.

Congrats!!

Good Job PCP!!!!

Awesome! Glad you found him, waiting on pics!

Congrats!

Congrats!! Looking forward to pictures!!

WTG

Congrats

Congrats!

awesome ,love a good ending .i see way too many bad ones on AT.

Glad you found him PCP. Did you get him with that "noisy" DXT?

Awesome!! Congrats! Can't wait to see some pictures!!!

congrats steve! cant wait to see the pictures!!!!!!

Congrats Steve, glad you found him.

Let see him when you get time.

Glad you found him! Can't wait to see some pics as well.

It only took me 33 years to get a decent buck with a bow; at this rate I'll be 90 years old when I get the next one.

I couldn't stand it anymore, so we left about noon to look for him. I found a few drops of blood where I shot him, and it soon turned into a heavy trail. Went about 100 yards and there he was; I think he died soon after I shot him.



I hit him a little further forward than I thought. It entered high behind the left shoulder and exited between his legs. Got one lung, just as we figured. The rest of the arrow was still in him.

He had a better rack than I realized. An 8 pt, he had a 21" inside spread, one 23" beam and one was 21.25. I looked him over carefully when we found him, hoping he would make 130, but I decided he wouldn't quite make it. He didn't, but 127.75 is a good deer for our area.



Yes Shaw, it was that noisy Matthews that got him.
I think your tune-up job really helped it.

Jughead, there were no guts on the arrow, so I thought 3 hours ought to be long enough. I suspect he was dead in 5 minutes, but its better to give them time. Thanks to everyone for the help.

Preacher, that is ONE FINE DEER!!! I'd be thrilled to take a buck like that with a bow (or a gun for that matter).

Congrats!

WOW! What a great deer PCP! Congratulations on the kill and I enjoyed the story,especially the great ending.

congrats!

That is an fantastic deer!! Congrats!

Brute preacher! Glad you found him! Congrats!!!!!

Nice Buck Preacher. Congratulations...

Mighty fine! Congrats again!!

Congrats Steve! that is a Great Buck!!!!

Awesome .... good to see a happy ending..

glad you found him. congrats

Good deal, very nice.

Congratulations PCP

Great deer! Way to persevere on the big boys.

Very nice deer! Good shot!

Good buck Preacher!

Awesome deer! Congratulations!

Congrats on a great buck!

Heck of buck PCP!!! Big time congrats. He was dead before you got down out of your stand.

That's a stud!! Congrats, PCP!!!

Im glad you found him man!!!!! Now when do I get to hunt with you.

congrats...I like those wide deer...

troy

Hope im around to see the one when your 90.

Good looking deer.

Nice one Preacher. 33 years to get a good one....That'll teach you to pray for patience.

Dang Preacher, that's a Boy Dog! Congrats.
I killed gobblers 1 & 2 right after you posted your first turkey kills this year, maybe the trend will continue through deer season.

Fine Buck, congrats!

Congrats nice buck!!

Very nice bow kill!

That's a fine deer. Well done!

Congrats!

Doncha just love happy endings?

Great Deer PCP!

Beautiful buck! Congrats! CD.

congrats!




Shane

Great buck!! Congratulations!

Awesome buck and shooting, PCP. Congratulations.

Great buck Preacher. Glad you found him. From the spot of that entry hole and where you say it came out it appears you actually didn't have much to worry about. Congrats on a good shot and really good buck!

Todd, if you will look closely at the pics, you can see part of the arrow sticking out of him. It only got one lung, but I guess that was all the Muzzy needed.

Didn't see a thing today, but it didn't matter; been a good bow season for me. Thanks again to all for the help and encouragement.

Super Buck PCP!!! Congrats!!!!!

Congratulations on a great deer and a great story. Patience has paid off.

Awesome Buck! Congrats

Congrats on a great buck.

PCP, thanks for the story. Great job, great deer. I'm a pk (preacher's kid). I remember helping my father find a deer of very similiar size with a bow. Special moment growing up and he deserved it. I can see on your face the expression of a great memory. This is why we do it.

+1

Congrats! Maybe it won't be so long on the next one!

Steve,

Congratulations on harvesting a good buck. He is a keeper for sure. Keep up the good work. All those clover fields are paying some dividend. Rumor has it that another good one fell yesterday afternoon on our side. Waiting on pics now.

Good luck,
Wade

Great looking buck PCP. Glad you were able to recover him.

great deer, well worth the wait.

Proud for you, Mr. Steve. Thanks for sharing a great hunt with us!