Only with my luck

[Blaflair2]

So I went out bow hunting. Walked into the feild and a large 4 point was putting on this cedar tree. Well I went to my stand he him to the nearbye woods. About 2 hrs later here he comes. Chocolate brown with a big 4 point basket rack. Rubbed just about white. He comes in, smelling the buck pee I dragged in. About 15' from my stand is where the rest of this story happened... So here he comes sniffing and walking. Then he stops. I draw back on him, he must have saw me cuz when I let go he ducked and spun 180. I saw the arrow sticking in him. I was elated, until he stood still for a minute. It was dead nuts in the back of his head at about a 45 degree angle. Wtf just happened? It looked like he also had that question. So I watch him walk off. Stumbling a few times. Looked for about 6 hrs between this morning and last night. I still have no idea how I hit him there. And I have no idea how he was gonna just walk it off. So I'll be checking for buzzards, or a now 5 point.

[Zuma]

That really stinks.
First time in a new tree stand and new crossbow.
A Y buck comes trottin from the left.
I am cocked but un knocked and sight sw. off.
I knocked windowed the creature and fired.
He hit the deck like Sonny Liston. He lay there motionless
belly towards me. Not a twitch. I was floored.
First shot with a CB and the deer goes down in his tracks.
But how can that happen, even with a rifle there is a
croaking twitch or two.
Man I thought I must have severed the spine in his neck.
What else? Well I was in no rush so I thought I would cock
the bow so when I got down I could knock and advance armed.
When I cocked the click woke the deer from the dead and it ran
in circles in the deep brush and all I could was the red feather
on the bolt spinning like a chopper blade.
Then he went down again with a crash and silence and stillness.
This time I cocked the bow under my jacket to dampen the click.
I waited about ten minutes knocked then dropped the arrow and
climbed down. I knocked the arrow and took a step forward
while taking the safety off. That click made the deer get up and
bolt unseen except for the feather streaking through the brush.
Not a drop of blood anywhere? I waited and hooked up with my
 partner and after a while we did a sweep through the brush,
 no blood. We searched till my bud got tired and left.
I continued till I had covered the entire brush and wooded area.
The buck was at the far corner close to a lawn about 800 yds
 away from where I stuck him.The bolt was lodged in his skull
at the base of the right antler. The steel was only in the cavity
about 3/4".There was no blood.
The impact of the 175lb. bow had literally knocked the deer out.
He must have died from cerebral damage.
One of my rules is track um till you drop. Use a grid pattern and
look under logs ext. If you can't find blood just keep fanning.
Your deer if he does die should keep for a while since there is little internal damage. I hope you find him one way or the other.
Zuma

[Blaflair2]

Thanks, me too. It was seriously the weirdest thing. It was my first buck, I looked and looked and looked.

[wildman]

Been there myself this week. It sucks , but things are going to go wrong. Goodluck

[Blaflair2]

I went back out tonight. Still no deer. I'll be checking for crows or buzzards.

[Pappy]

Good luck, hope you fined him, like Zuma said you just have to look till you drop, then if no luck you can at least say with a clear conscious you done all you could do. I don't know how many of my own and other peoples deer I have found on the 2nd or 3rd time back, just keep fanning and looking.
   Pappy

[Blaflair2]

I went three times looking. A totally of about 8 hrs. Climbing gorges and gullets and scrub rush, I don't think he's alive still. I woulda jumped him up somewhere with all the searching. I'll be looking for crows or buzzards.

[half eye]

for what it's worth, I killer a deer a few years ago and while dressing him out I noticed a lump on his head. Back at the house I examined that lump prior to butchering and found a 3 blade muzzy chisle tip embedded in the skull and grown over with some type of white grizzel'y lookin stuff....point is he was doin just fine before I killed him. Deer seem to be able to take a lot of abuse.....keep lookin and learn from your mistakes.
rich

[Blaflair2]

Thanks rich. That's exactly what's sticking in this ones head! I had a great shot then he jumped the string or something and spun around.

[half eye]

That's why I preach quiet first, even before speed. I dont think most folks know just how far a whitetail can move in a split second. It's also good (if you have the time) to let them calm down some....an alert deer can move real damned fast in big damned hurry. You'll get the feel for it bud, just dont be afraid to accept your mistakes and dont do 'em again. Ya feel bad, and ya should, but it shows ya got ethics, and compassion for what you hunt. Not one hunter alive or dead can say every shot, every time was picture perfect. Good for you stickin with it.

Dont know about your state rules.....but if you leave all your weapons at home (all of 'em) you could maybe take your dog for a walk in the woods ....specially if he's leashed up and all.
rich

[Blaflair2]

Yeah, I have a catahoula bulldog, but he's dumb as all get out. He couldn't find water if I threw him in the lake. Ima find him. He's somewhere.