Well, yesterday I got home from a 6 day stint at the ranch I work at. I was wore out!!! My wife had been hand corning a spot for me every day while I was gone (she’s a keeper, for sure). Anyway, she asked if I was planning to hunt at the house, and I decided to go ahead and give it a try.
I have been after this one particular big 8 point. I had already seen him several times while hunting, but every time he would walk just out of range right past my blind at a protein feeder to go to a corn feeder about 30yds away.
I got showered up, and got in the blind at about 5:30. The corn feeder that is 30yds away went off at 6:30 and I immediately had 2 little scrub bucks and a couple does come in. And they came to my hand corn instead of going over to the other feeder!!! They fed for a few minutes, then backed out. I could still see them milling around, but they didn’t seem too interested.
Then the feeder went off the second time at 7:00 and they came back to my hand corn. After a few minutes, I caught some movement off to the right thru a cedar tree. It was him, the big 8 I was after!!!
He came in the same way he had every other time I have seen him. But when he crossed in front of me, he paused to look at the other deer at my hand corn. After what seemed like an eternity, he turned and started walking towards me. It was game on!!!!!
He worked his way in, and started feeding on my hand corn. After just a minute he was in the “dead deer position” at about 11yds, and everything went into autopilot. I drew, settled in at anchor, and released.
I cringed when I saw the arrow hit the deer in a place that looked waaaaay to low in the leg to me. He bolted and ran hard, and my heart sank into my gut.
After just a minute, I got out of the blind to verify that I had hit him and check to see if there was a blood trail. I found 2 pieces of broken arrow, and a few drops of blood about 10yds away.
I went to the house to eat supper. I told my wife that I had just screwed up a shot on the biggest buck around, and that I likely would never recover him.
After supper I decided to go ahead and look, totally expecting to follow a scant blood trail all the way to the fence! When I started on the trail, the blood was indeed scant but consistent, so I kept going.
After only 40yds or so, I could see him ahead. I could not believe my eyes. He was stone cold dead in 50yds from where I had shot him!!!!
I did in fact hit him waaaaaaaaaay too low! Check out the entrance hole:
The only thing I can figure, is that he crouched at the sound of the shot, and that I got extremely lucky!!!!! The arrow exited the back side of the leg, then entered the chest thru the armpit.
Sometimes a little luck is a really good thing!!!!
For those who are interested, I shot him with my new Primal Tech recurve, FMJ arrow, and 150gr German Kinetic XL broadhead.
Bisch
Bisch, looks to me that your description of events is probably correct. It looks like itwent down to scoot and your arrow was low. His upper leg was likely more lined up with his chest when he dropped so it worked. I liked what Sam said.
“Bisch, congratulations on a fine buck. What do you think his rack will measure?“
Not worth a hoot!!! I field scored him at 115”. He taped out at 116 6/8”. I was real close. He is one of those rare bucks that has the opposite of ground shrinkage. His height and width just makes him look bigger than what the tape reveals, even when you are looking at him in person. Even though he does not score well, I couldn’t be happier!!!!
Bisch
Bisch, you should take a trip to Vegas! Nice buck, you certainly deserve it!
congrats
Bisch, congratulations on a fine buck. What do you think his rack will measure?
Great story!
A big congrats Bisch!!! Persistence and Luck is the key. You must have at least a little Irish in you as well 😀
Well Done! Congratulations!
I figured it got broken off in the deer. Just hadn't read of an alloy shaft, leave aside a composite shaft, breaking.
Live and learn.
Thanks.
Rustam
rustambana, FMJ’s, Like most any arrow, break quite often when they get stuck in a critter and don’t pass all the way thru. This one actually broke into 3 pieces. The broadhead and front end of the shaft was laying on the ground where I recovered the deer.
Bisch
I notice that guys who really are really good tend to get more lucky more often. Well done, Bisch!
Better to be lucky than good, but when you can be both, things really get fun. Congrats.
Good for you Bisch.
I was surprised to read that a FMJ had broken in two pieces though.
I should add, that I have no personal experience of FMJs. Still stuck with wood and aluminium alloy shafts.
Or in your case, BOTH lucky and good! Also you left out the minor detail of texting me to PRAY that it would be recovered....which I might add could have been a major factor in recovery.
Great story, thanks for taking the time, nice to log on here and see a new thread , especially one about hunting
Congrats once again Bisch! Ha living the skills and luck is the way to go. Glad it was a short recovery.
What a nice rack and only 50 yard recovery! I know you were surprised when you walked up on him.
Thanks for great story to go with the pictures. Congrats!