Today was the last day of the NC season. The wind was right for a funnel at the top of a ridge so I went because the rain was forecast to stop 2pm to 5pm. It did! Which was great. 5:00 two does traveled through 15 yards away and I almost got drawn on one as they walked off. 5:15 a large doe came through and stopped 12 yards perfectly broadside. Arrow GONE and looked like a perfect shot.
It was raining but I didn't realize how steady it had become. Maybe because I was in a ground blind, maybe I just wasn't paying attention?
When I got to my arrow it was Stem to Stern Red.
Next I noticed there was way more water than I expected.
Just feet away there was blood but it was washing away rapidly
So I looked the direction she ran and walked 60 yards- threw my flashlight looking for white belly - Nothing!?
Quick back to my arrow- more carefully now I stayed on sign - some blood with lots of water
The trailing was difficult and intense for 50 yards
I noticed looking back I was Way Off on first look
Back on sign I marked the trail in case it washed out
Kept going and there was a lot more blood
50 more yards and I about stepped on the deer
Stone cold dead white belly hidden it was a perfect hit
I was relieved and happy.
Happy New Year
CONGRATULATIONS Cory!!!!! Persistence pays off.... :thumbsup:
Congrats and what a great way to start the year!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
wy to go man, where are you at in Nc,, ? Rain sux
Good job
Hap
Nice job
Congrats!
Bisch
Brought it down to the wire!! Last minute success is great!
Tim B
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Glad for you. Always good to go back to point of impact when in doubt.
:coffee: :campfire: :archer2:
Awesome Corey! Glad you found her. Congratulations!
Congratulations 👏! Great ending to a story I thought was going to end badly.
Nice shooting .... congrats
Congratulations! Jawge
Congrats Corey
Nice job!!
Whew! Glad you got her!
After sleeping on it two nights my take a way is I won't be doing that again. I am grateful for the outcome but it was on the edge and anything less than a perfect hit the deer might not have been found. Every animal taken with a stick bow is earned. Every animal taken with a bow is a blessing. I don't want to get cocky so I'm quitting while I'm ahead. I don't remember hunting in a steady rain before. So no more steady rain for me.
Thanks guys.
<><
<—————————<<<<<
Luminol is a good tool as a last resort to keep in our box of stuff.
For anyone who doesn't know what luminol is, it's a blood finding agent used in police forensic investigations. The stuff is pretty amazing. It finds microscopic blood residue that cannot be seen with the naked eye and it also finds blood that's been rained-out. In fact, it works even better after rain. You mix 2 tablets in water, or better yet...windshield washer fluid. Spray it on the suspected area after dark, use no lights. When luminol is sprayed on blood it will glow blue for a couple minutes. We've used it on test blood trails and even after a half inch of rain and ZERO visible blood, the trail glowed brightly.
It's not a gimmick. The stuff works but there is a learning curve to using it. I consider it a last resort tool. Hunters should still rely on the basics...ethical shots, sharp heads, and solid blood trailing skills. But sometimes stuff happens.
Luminol obviously can't find blood that isn't there. If the deer isn't bleeding externally, it can't help.
For about $25 you can get enough that (they claim) will trail ~400 yards, but it really would depend on how liberally you are spraying the mix.
This is where I bought mine...
blood glow.com
Cory,
I have a lot of respect for your last post on this thread. We bow hunters find our shot animals by blood trailing, and rain creates an ethical dilemma that we must consider. I used to hunt any time the forecast said that I would not be hunting in the rain. But, that caught up with me on the last two deer I shot. In both cases it was dry while I was hunting, but it started raining while I was blood trailing. Both trails were completely washed out and the deer were not found. The coyotes ate well, I'm sure. Now I look at the forecast for the 12 hour period after I am going hunting as well as the time I intend to hunt. I don't want to kill a deer I will not be able to find due to rain washing out the blood trail. Owning a good tracking dog could change my point of view, but for now I will pay more attention to any forecast of rain.
congrats Corey, And your right on pushing it, I catch myself on the edge a lot trying to hunt right in front of or behind a good rain . I've been lucky so far and haven't lost one due to a washed out trail but have had to grid search a couple. I've to be more sensible lately , thanks for posting this hunt
Congrats Cory! Just goes to show we are never to old to keep learning. Thanks for sharing.
Cory, congrats. I had a very similar experience about 30 years ago towards the end of my "wheelie " days. I trailed that deer quite a ways through the Blue Ridge mountain laurel. About 10 PM the sparse, washed out blood trail dead-ended in the middle of a thicket. I was disgusted for having taken the shot, but didn't realized it had doubled back was was blessed to about trip over it on the way out. I haven't hunted in the rain since.