So after years of trying and coming up without seeing any deer worth taking a shot at I finally got on a new spot at a tree farm this weekend and have been craving venison long enough so I took my first doe. Had 3 does grazing for an hour. Had all 3 within 10 yds. I waited til I had my shot and took a 100% broad side shot at the largest one. Smack, a few inches back and above the shoulder. All 3 deer just stood there looking lost. The one I shot started to walk like she was drunk looking. Started walking towards the brush stumbling while other 2 just stood still. She feel and then the others bolted. The doe immediately jumps back up and starts running in circles like a dog chasing a it's tail. And then just casually walked back Into the middle of the field and lays back down. I saw the entry hole and thought it was a perfect shot it was a little too far back so now I'm thinking dammit it's a gut shot. I wait about 30 min to see what happens and she gets up and moves into the brush. I'm at total loss thinking the worst that I got shot her. She was far enough away now and it was almost dark so I decided to climb out of the stand and check the arrow. The arrow was covered in dark red blood and there was dark red splatter on all the leaves where I took the shot, no green or foul smell at all. So now I'm thinking ok it's a liver shot. I pull the arrow out of the ground and I notice there is no broad head on the arrow, I look around and the broad head is a few inches away from the arrow. I was shooting NAP Thunderheads on Carbon Express Blue streak maximas. I walk back to the car to grab a brighter flash light and wait in the car for an hour. I slowly start back over to the bush which is now 2 hours since the shot. She is in same
spot and still breathing. Every breath she takes I can see hair sucking into the arrow hole and every exhale I can see the arrow blowing out of the hole. So now I was at a total loss. She seemed calm but I knew the coyotes would get her and I felt a had a moral and ethical duty to finish the kill cleanly. I took a clean second shot from a few feet away and she poured blood like crazy and was gone in a few seconds. this time the nock of the arrow completely blew off the arrow upon impact, totally separate arrow then my first shot.
so I'm confused about a few things. Ultimately it seems like my shot
placement was not right. All I can think is it was a crappy liver shot or only a meat shot and she would have lived fine. the air coming of
of the exit hole made me think it was a lung shot but if it was a single lung the lung would be collapsed and not able to push air out if it. I practice hard have 1/2" groups out to 30 yds but the nothing can prepare you for the adrenaline in the field. I know in my mind I told myself I'm going to put meat in the freezer today no matter what, which typically isn't my philosophy.I love the thrill of the hunt and have passed up shots in the past for various reasons. Did I rush the shot, no. Could I have took a deeper breath before I pulled the trigger definitely. Next time I will be better prepared since my first one is in the books, but I don't ever want to just sound a deer again. The animal deserves a clean quick kill and that did not happen. I don't know if something happened with the broadbead or my shot angle was too high from the stand. I never had an issue shooting something for 20+ yds away but never felt I good be face to face and looking a wounded animal in it's eyes and pulling the trigger but when I saw her in wounded I knew the right thing and the respectful thing had to be done, kinda feel I really came I into my adulthood by being able to do that.I thanked God and the deer for the meat they provided me and hope to not have that happen again. Not sure if I should contact NAP about the broadbead coming out or carbon express or if it was simply shooter error
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spot and still breathing. Every breath she takes I can see hair sucking into the arrow hole and every exhale I can see the arrow blowing out of the hole. So now I was at a total loss. She seemed calm but I knew the coyotes would get her and I felt a had a moral and ethical duty to finish the kill cleanly. I took a clean second shot from a few feet away and she poured blood like crazy and was gone in a few seconds. this time the nock of the arrow completely blew off the arrow upon impact, totally separate arrow then my first shot.
so I'm confused about a few things. Ultimately it seems like my shot
placement was not right. All I can think is it was a crappy liver shot or only a meat shot and she would have lived fine. the air coming of
of the exit hole made me think it was a lung shot but if it was a single lung the lung would be collapsed and not able to push air out if it. I practice hard have 1/2" groups out to 30 yds but the nothing can prepare you for the adrenaline in the field. I know in my mind I told myself I'm going to put meat in the freezer today no matter what, which typically isn't my philosophy.I love the thrill of the hunt and have passed up shots in the past for various reasons. Did I rush the shot, no. Could I have took a deeper breath before I pulled the trigger definitely. Next time I will be better prepared since my first one is in the books, but I don't ever want to just sound a deer again. The animal deserves a clean quick kill and that did not happen. I don't know if something happened with the broadbead or my shot angle was too high from the stand. I never had an issue shooting something for 20+ yds away but never felt I good be face to face and looking a wounded animal in it's eyes and pulling the trigger but when I saw her in wounded I knew the right thing and the respectful thing had to be done, kinda feel I really came I into my adulthood by being able to do that.I thanked God and the deer for the meat they provided me and hope to not have that happen again. Not sure if I should contact NAP about the broadbead coming out or carbon express or if it was simply shooter error
