Saw SO much activity at the farm for being first time out in the field. My older brother finally got off his a$$ and got his bow licence, so it was his first time out. Got in around 330pm, put him in a lower latter stand(he's not very used to shooting from high climbing sticks hang on stands), and i got in one of the high stands. The deer were TEARING apart the corn field(about 30 acres). you could see them all over the place. I counted 4 different fawns, 7 does, and 2 bucks(only spike and tall 4 pointer). But there were still some i couldnt make out bc they were in the corn.
I saw a bunch of deer that were probably within range for most guys, about 30-35 yds, but being the first time in the stand this year, i didnt want to hail mary a shot. Also, a lot of branches still holding leaves were making some shots questionable. Finally around 6:15pm i had a doe and a couple others move in. Saw an opportunity at 15 yards and took it. Pass through, center mass. Thought it was a great shot. She ran about 15 yards, looked around and wandered slowly into the corn field.
Waited an hour, texted my brother and said its time to track. Arrow was soaked in blood, still sticking the ground. Trailed the blood from the edge of the field to the corn edge. Had good blood high on the corn for about 15 yards, then it started to thin out for another 10 yards, and then started to get drips for another 10 yards and then...NOTHING. Finally, i was like.."what the F$%^?" This deer just upped and vanished like a fart in the wind. After 2 hours walking in circles through the corn maze, i said to my brother..let's regroup in the morning.
Walked in at 7am this morning to the same location. Found 2..i repeat, 2 more blood spots from where we left off last night. i start pacing the corn every 30 yards looking down the rows for a body. Did probably 5-6 back and forths before i said let me check the outskirts of the field. The field is bordered by a small brook. Rethinkng my shot, if i didnt hit a lung, the shot may have been a little farther back than i thought and maybe i clipped the liver. I started walking the edge of the brook on the far side of the field and within 15 minutes, found the doe, in the middle of the stream with water dribbling over parts of her. $hit, $hit, $hit...she smelled foul and i knew she was coyote/fox dinner.
She ended up being about 200 yards from where i hit her. At least the farmer wont have to worry about this one getting any more corn. It's AMAZING how much these deer have torn up those 30 acres. i really feel bad for him. But i can only continue to decrease the herd so that he does not have these issues in the future.
thanks for listening, hopefully i'll be able to put some meat in the freezer for the next one.[up]
I saw a bunch of deer that were probably within range for most guys, about 30-35 yds, but being the first time in the stand this year, i didnt want to hail mary a shot. Also, a lot of branches still holding leaves were making some shots questionable. Finally around 6:15pm i had a doe and a couple others move in. Saw an opportunity at 15 yards and took it. Pass through, center mass. Thought it was a great shot. She ran about 15 yards, looked around and wandered slowly into the corn field.
Waited an hour, texted my brother and said its time to track. Arrow was soaked in blood, still sticking the ground. Trailed the blood from the edge of the field to the corn edge. Had good blood high on the corn for about 15 yards, then it started to thin out for another 10 yards, and then started to get drips for another 10 yards and then...NOTHING. Finally, i was like.."what the F$%^?" This deer just upped and vanished like a fart in the wind. After 2 hours walking in circles through the corn maze, i said to my brother..let's regroup in the morning.
Walked in at 7am this morning to the same location. Found 2..i repeat, 2 more blood spots from where we left off last night. i start pacing the corn every 30 yards looking down the rows for a body. Did probably 5-6 back and forths before i said let me check the outskirts of the field. The field is bordered by a small brook. Rethinkng my shot, if i didnt hit a lung, the shot may have been a little farther back than i thought and maybe i clipped the liver. I started walking the edge of the brook on the far side of the field and within 15 minutes, found the doe, in the middle of the stream with water dribbling over parts of her. $hit, $hit, $hit...she smelled foul and i knew she was coyote/fox dinner.
She ended up being about 200 yards from where i hit her. At least the farmer wont have to worry about this one getting any more corn. It's AMAZING how much these deer have torn up those 30 acres. i really feel bad for him. But i can only continue to decrease the herd so that he does not have these issues in the future.
thanks for listening, hopefully i'll be able to put some meat in the freezer for the next one.[up]