Stressful last few plus days but finally got it done.

[JohnP]

Started Saturday morning after getting off work at 0600 and decided to sit in the stand for a couple hours.  Great morning to be out and was surrounded by deer mostly does until about 0800 when a big buck, for me at least, a wide 8 point but not much mass showed up and the does pushed on.  He presented the shot for me between 2 cedars trees at 30 yds but I managed to clipped a limb and the arrow went about 3 inches over his back and shattered on the rocks behind him.  Didnt spook and and just walked on.  He almost presented another shot when he cleared the cedars but came out quartering hard away from and I couldn't get him to stop or turn back.  This pic was when he was about 80 yds out after the shot.

Called it a morning about hour after that hoping the Turkey's would play but the closest they'd get was 50 yds with no shot offered.  Let it rest til Monday.  

Monday morning rolls around and wasn't in the stand 20 mins when 6 does come in from the left and 2 buck, smaller 6pt and a solid 10pt, came up the field behind me.  The 6pt saw the does and immediately jumped the fence and went to them.  Thought the 10 would do the same but he was more interested in picking up acorns and continued towards me.  Jumped the fence and presented a perfect broadside shot at what i guessed to be at 35 yds since he standing just to the right of a tree at 32 yds I have ranged.  Let the arrow fly and I thought I missed low and watched him run off until I lost sight of him behind a cedar about 50 yds.  Ranged the spot and we was actually at 39 yds :(.  Waited 15 minutes went down to collect my arrow.  Get halfway to arrow and cleared of the cedar tree to see the buck stand up and run off to the south.  Get the arrow and find out I actually did hit him but knew it was low and possibly further back then I had hoped looking at the sign :(.

Decided to back out and waited til after noon to hopefully give time and not bump him any further.  Get back out there at 1230 with a few other people and we followed a good blood trail for about 300 yds till we got to this last where he laid down and then not a drop.  The pooling was very cold so pretty sure we didn't bump him and was hoping it wasn't coyotes pushing him.

Searched for about 2 hours checking ponds and fence lines and nothing.  Went back out about 5pm with the black dawg and checked again and nothing.  After a sleepless night went back out there Tuesday morning with the plan to check all 6 pond and walk more fence line with the black dawg.  Was on our way back and decided to make our back thru the woods to where we last had blood.  Walking along when Hailey throws her nose up in the air and immediately hangs a right and starts going up the hill.  Followed her for 60 yds when she stops under a cedar tree and then I seen it.  He went about 50 yds maybe alil further from that last spot of blood, went back and traced it not a drop between him and the spot.

I'm sure half of Taney Co heard me hollering at that point ;).  Made a phone call and after a short 80 yds drag down hill I was met by a man and his tractor.  My saviors, Hailey and Roland with the tractor.

Shot was further back than thought, clipped the liver and blew out the guts.  He was smelling pretty bad when I rolled over, got him gutted out and rinsed off unfortunately after sitting 27 plus hours most of the meat had taken on the smell of the guts.  Tried to salvage what I thought smelled ok.

Not the biggest on the property but hes my biggest buck to date with a bow or gun.  Solid 10 with a inch and half kicked off back of main beam.

[MOPanfisher]

Nice buck, and kudos for the tenacity to stick with the trailing and search.  Sucks that most of the meat was unfit to keep but sadly sometimes that is how it goes.

[BilletHead]

          Nice Deer John!

Way to go the extra mile following up man. Deer moving around here.  Been awaken up twice now as we sleep on the porch by bucks sparring.   The dog and I did our walk down the dirt road. There are tracks going willy nilly  up and down and across the road plus a couple spots from pushing and shoving. 

  BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

Way to stay persistent on the tracking job! That's a nice deer! Too bad about the spoilage. I would bet that one of those does may bear the brunt of that lost meat sometime in the near future☺!

[Ketchup]

Man congrats on a dandy. As the guys said, kudos for sticking with the track. At times we as hunters get let down, usually by our own doings. In your case a shot not placed where you had hoped. Happens to everyone that hunts with a bow, or even a gun.  Good job on keeping your chin up.  

P.S.  I think i heard that odd scream in Greene County.  

[JohnP]

11 minutes ago, Ketchup said:

Man congrats on a dandy. As the guys said, kudos for sticking with the track. At times we as hunters get let down, usually by our own doings. In your case a shot not placed where you had hoped. Happens to everyone that hunts with a bow, or even a gun.  Good job on keeping your chin up.  

P.S.  I think i heard that odd scream in Greene County.  

Thanks and wouldn't surprise me on the odd scream ;).