Sick to my stomach

[Slim Jim]

I'm back early from my NV mule deer hunt because of something that has happened to me for the first time. I hunted this same area last year unsuccessful and was on a mission to get it done this year with physical training, gear upgrades and a LOT of shooting! It started with a hunt 9 miles deep in the high country two days early so that I could keep an eye on the buck I would be after on the morning of the opener. Here is a pic of him on the day before the opener

I was excited to get after him the next morning and didn't sleep much because I was excited. The morning of the opener started out just like I wanted with an early set up to glass him feeding and then to bed. Here are a couple of pics from that morning of opener

He was with a 3 point, 2 forks, a spike and a doe. I watched them bed from about 150 yards away at about 9:00am behind a small patch of quakies so I decided to plan my stalk. I used gusts of wind to make my moves down to them. I got to about 50 yards away and took off my boots to move in closer for a shot. As I got to within 20 yards, I seen the three points rack coming through the quakie right towards me at an angle! I swatted low and pulled out an arrow to get ready for a shot. A gust of wind hit me from the side and slapped my arrow against the bow! "Click" the buck stopped with the big boy right behind him waiting. I sat there frozen for what seemed like forever but was actually about 10-15 min. My knees and back were killing me! A spike and doe walk right by him and I thought the 3 point would follow and pull the big boy out for a shot but he waited till the wind swirled and hit me in the back. Game over, he looked right at me bolted with the buck I was after down and around the skyline of the mountain. I made the decision to continue hiking up high and around the bend of the mountain glassing down hoping to pick up his rack. About 300-400 yards later a spike hears me, stands and bolts 50 yards below me. The big boy and three point stand looking to see what's going on! I quickly range a quakie bush right in front of him at 53 yards and nock an arrow. I watch his rack to make sure he was looking downhill before I fully stood to draw my bow back. As soon as he did I set the 50 yard pin right on his vitals and let it fly. Right as I released he stepped forward and the arrow hit back on his last rib. It was a clean pass right through and as he ran off I saw blood pouring out his other side. I was sooo excited that I got it done but knew it would but a long tracking job because o f the shot placement.

I waited for about a half of an hour before I started tracking. I tracked for over 600 yards with a lot of blood especially when he headed uphill. I tracked for at least 5 hours at this point and thought I would be seeing his rack anytime soon. The blood trail stopped and I could not pick it back up! Totally frustrated, I went up to the ridge above where there is an area they bed hoping that is where he went for his final resting place but not so lucky. It was now about 6:00pm and after combing the area for another two hours, I ran out of water and made the decision to go back to camp and try again in the morning. I didn't sleep much and got up early, broke down camp and headed out to look for my buck. Three more hours of looking and just could not find him! I know this happens but a first for me and I'm just sick to my stomach knowing that the buck is just laying somewhere dead with all that meat spoiling. Not to mention a beautiful trophy! Just need to vent. Kind of deflated my elk hunt that's coming up in two weeks

 

[Curtis C]

Did you look downhill of the spot he headed uphill? He could have fallen(spilling lots of blood) and rolled downhill for a bit.

 

[Slim Jim]

Everywhere
Here is a pic of where I lost blood and heavy track

I think he might of went back down into that sea of quakies below. The backside of the mountain is a cliff so he didn't go up and over

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

Sorry to hear Jim. It's part of hunting though gun or bow it can happen. Just as an FYI though I would have gave him no less than 4 hrs before tracking him on a paunch shot. gives him time to bed then his condition will worsen as the poisoned blood is circulated through his body giving you a chance to put another one in him or he will be expired already.

 

[Solitude]

Sounds like you put in valent effort, no doubt! I feel you pain brother. We put so much into these hunts that when they turn out different than planned, for us and the animals we love, it hurts.

I am sure you have heard this before, but if you can get back, go and look for birds by day and listen for coyotes at night you may fine him. I have read about guys doing a follow up trip, finding their quarry and punching the tag. It's a shame the meat did not come home with you, but Mother Nature will make very good use of the nutrients and in the end you may still punch your tag and NV will know a buck was taken for record and herd management purposes.

Regarding your elk hunt, go, stay focused, and you will persevere! You only live life once and we are not getting any younger!

 

[PhillyB]

Sorry to hear that man.... I know that canyon is full of blood, sweat, and tears.

If you make it back up, look for birds and pay attention to smells. As mentioned, you might be able to come across him.

 

[todd kelly]

Shitty deal for sure!

Any water in the area? Every gut shot animal I have helped track has always made it's way to water.

 

[Slim Jim]

Shitty deal for sure!

Any water in the area? Every gut shot animal I have helped track has always made it's way to water.

Ya at the bottom of the basin where all the quakies are. There is a creek that runs all the way down

 

[Slim Jim]

I wish I had a dog to track him

 

[todd kelly]

Ya at the bottom of the basin where all the quakies are. There is a creek that runs all the way down

I'd bet my left nut he's down there. Did you spend much time searching by the creek?

 

[fulldraw1972]

Sorry to hear about your outcome. Keep your chin up and get back after it is all we can do. Learn from our misfortunes and the next hunt will be all the better.
Lord knows I have had my fare share of misfortunes.
By the way the blood looks in the picture it looks like a liver hit. They are very lethal and bleed very well at the beginning. The will stop bleeding though. It can take them hours to die from a lived hit. After a few hours though they will get sick enuf they won't want to get up.
I hate to say it but it sounds like you pushed him with out knowing.
Good luck in the future.

 

[Slim Jim]

I'd bet my left nut he's down there. Did you spend much time searching by the creek?

No, now you've got me feeling worse! Ugh

 

[todd kelly]

No, now you've got me feeling worse! Ugh

Sorry Jim, not trying to monkey with ya! I know the feeling, We have all been there. And don't think it as a waste of meat, mother nature has many hungry bellies that will be glad to find that deer.

 

[Mckinnon]

Head up slim, if you tracked and worked for that long you did your part. Sounds like you made a the best possible shot you could, and the buck moved on you. Focus on the next shot, don't dwell on this last one. Like Todd said, plenty of critters will be thanking you. Take some more practice shots and keep your confidence buddy!

 

[Rizzy]

That's a buzz kill but it happens to everyone at one time or another. We all get our own slice of humble pie at some point. I bet you learned a bunch through this experience. I'm guessing another trip out there to look for your rack is out of the question?

 

[Slim Jim]

Sorry to hear Jim. It's part of hunting though gun or bow it can happen. Just as an FYI though I would have gave him no less than 4 hrs before tracking him on a paunch shot. gives him time to bed then his condition will worsen as the poisoned blood is circulated through his body giving you a chance to put another one in him or he will be expired already.

Your right, I should have waited a little longer before tracking but it was real slow going just to get 600 yards. Thick cover made it hard to find blood. It picked up the last 100yards as he went up a rock pile and the blood was easy to track all over the boulders

 

[Slim Jim]

That's a buzz kill but it happens to everyone at one time or another. We all get our own slice of humble pie at some point. I bet you learned a bunch through this experience. I'm guessing another trip out there to look for your rack is out of the question?

I want to but my body says NO! It's a brutal hike that takes about 6 1/2 - 7 hours to get there. Not to mention a 6 1/2 hour drive. If I knew someone with horses I would like to go back this weekend

 

[pyroducksx3]

Had the same thing happen to me black tail hunting here in western Washington. I shot the deer to far back and searched for days, even went and got my Lab to see if he would out of curiosity lead me to it. Searched for hours and hours the first day and had my dad and buddy come out as well. I didn't find him until a week later. Some coyotes had pulled him out from under the big solough bushes he crashed in less than 100 yards from where I shot him. When I found him I swear I had even walked through that exact spot. I felt so bad I almost quit hunting. I'm glad I didn't now its just a tough time. Keep searching like hell for your buck. When you find him it will help you learn a lot about tracking and just make you a better hunter.

 

[Shrek]

I hate that you haven't found your buck. My rule is that if I can't see it down I wait one hour minimum. Not sure of the shot then two hours wait to track. If I know it was a marginal shot the wait four hours or come back in the morning. Another rule of thumb is that a badly hurt animal will usually make a straight line. A path of least resistance in a basically straight line is what most bucks do when really hurt. I have found a half dozen bucks that way over the years. When I would run out of sign I will look back and see if it is basically a straight line that he is making then extend it out in my mind and follow the path of least resistance on that line. An animal that takes a meandering trail after being hit is not going down soon in my experience. It has also been my experience that when an animal has bleed a lot the the trail suddenly goes dry they are not far from the end of sign . I have found several that were within 30 yards but piled up where I just missed them.

 

[digger]

That really sucks,, I totally feel your pain. It happens,, it shouldn't but it does.