The "Long Shot" Buck

It was a cold and windy morning, and I could make out snow still lying in the shady spots of the laurel as the reddish sun began to illuminate the landscape.  I picked a chestnut oak tree on the edge of a laurel thicket and open area where the deer like to travel.  I figured I may get a crack at a cruising buck this time of year.

Near 7:30am I catch movement of a buck to my rear.  I get up and turn to face the tree and spot a 6 point nosing around about twenty couple yards away.  It is heading slowly uphill and away and I knew I would probably not have another opportunity to shoot before long.  I had to lean out and shoot with the bow completely vertical because of the tree and when I released I watched my white arrow strike in the hind quarter.  Oh NO!

The buck blasted downhill and by me on the right side.  I watched as the protruding arrow with little penetration struck brush and broke with a crack.  I thought I had better try for another arrow and quickly had another on the string.  Making the necessary lead I released.  The buck just kept going as I missed high as he was busting brush.

I watched him run a 180 degree arc around from my first shot and stop at the edge of the laurel row quartering downhill and away.  I had another arrow on the string at this point, but I only had a small window to shoot and he was soooo far away.  There were over handing branches that would likely deflect the arrow as well.  I thought to myself that I owe it to try since I already had one poorly placed arrow in it.  I bore down and concentrated hard.   I can remember the arrow leaving and almost no movement from me……just silence as I waited for that arcing arrow to crack off deadfall.  I heard nothing and the buck immediately exploded.  I knew I had to be close the way he lit out of there, but I thought no way in hell I hit him. 

I decided it best if I give it lots of time before I start trailing. 

Around 11am I decided to start slowly trailing the buck.   I found my broken white arrow and followed kicked up leaves, tracks, and small sporadic blood until I found the spot he was standing on the long shot.  I looked up to 40 yards short, and 40 yards over, but there was no sign of my arrow.  I slowly continued to follow very sparse spoor, losing it and then regaining it several times.   Eventually it led me to a bed with this big bubbly clot and lots of blood. 

The trail heading out was a heavy blood trail and the tracking went a lot quicker from there.  He just kept going though.  Through the hollow bowl, up over the rocky ridge, over and behind off the property . 

Suddenly the trail took a turn uphill into some thick laurel and we found him. That red arrow that made the lethal wound was shot from 83 steps away when I went back to collect my stand and paced it off.  The arrow entered about the last rib and exited under the right armpit.  That initial hit only struck into the ham and was a non-lethal flesh wound.

This is how we found him.

Practicing the long shot and my speed shooting and proficiency with the back quiver for that follow up shot, definitely helped collect this buck.......along with a good helping of lady luck and a good friend to share it all with.