Finally hitting the woods in mid-October.... Life has made hunting take a back burner so to speak. So, I finally got in a stand for this hunting season.
It was a morning hunt as I had afternoon plans. Got in the stand right before first light. Nothing much was moving at first light, but shortly after daybreak a fawn came out into the field in front of me and fed for the next 30 - 45 minutes at 50 - 100 yards. A little while later I had a spike and 3 point buck cross the field behind me at about 125 yards away. Then I had another spike and fawn come out from my left at about 50 yards and fed in the field in front of me with the other fawn. They fed for a few minutes and then the spike wondered off into the woods away from me.
A couple minutes later a mature doe came out into the field and started feeding towards me. She came straight down the path which I would have wanted her to for a good broadside shot. She was walking into my window and I drew my bow and waited for her to get into the opening. I stopped her in the opening and took a 23 yard shot. My first reaction to watching the shot was something happened and it was perfect location but slightly low.... It was a right behind the front shoulder, but looked about an inch lower than where I was aiming. But, had a good clean pass through so I was hopefully it clipped heart and she wouldn't run far. I watched as she ran off looking like a good hit but she vanished into the woods after about 40 yards. I waited a bit and my buddy I was hunting with and I got down and looked at the air, looked good, good bright red blood and within just a few yards I had a blood trail.
We started fallowing the blood trail which quickly became steady good blood. Sadly we fallowed that steady blood for hundreds of yards. I have never seen a deer bleed that much and not expire quickly. Unfortunately, we fallowed that blood trail until the deer went into an area we didn't have permission to be on and couldn't get permission. Against my better judgement I had to discontinue my search for her and admit I clearly made a mistake in my shot, or possibly I hit a twig in flight as my buddy suggested after we went over where she was several more times before leaving the area for the day. We all make mistakes, and there are things that happen beyond our control when hunting.. But I don't like when that happens at all, but it's part of hunting.
Since then, I have been shooting my bow and double checking everything is working and accurate and it is. Hopefully my next shot will be successful and i'll get to harvest my deer.
How is your hunting season going?
I'll be hitting the woods more often now that the weather is cooling down! Good luck everyone!
