Illinois Bow Season...highs, lows, bloody arras

[wapiti792]

I texted Jack and another friend Mike to let them know supper might be late. I gave him time and went to the impact spot and found a spot of blood. I eased into the entry of the woods he ran to and found 1/3 of my fletching end. One speck of blood only and no dead deer in sight prompted me to back out, meet the guys for supper and decide what to do.

Over dinner I replayed what I had on video, which was basically the impact blurred and the deer running off. Remember the coyotes? I lost a deer last year in 30 minutes. I walked to the house to get my boy and the ranger and tracked the 100 yards to a doe head and little else. We elected to wait four hours and I passed the nervous time with the 1000 yard stare with my friends reassuring me.

We made the impact site and arrow recovery site and found little blood. There is only 1 trail in the tangle that is that travel corridor after years of hinge cutting and site set up. I felt like I had his trail but still no blood. After a 100 yards my nerves were shot and that dark cloud started rolling in. I had texted Monty to ask advice and sent a pic of the shot and he encouraged me to keep after it. Just when I was ready to back track to impact again to start over Jack yelled "I got blood!" All of a sudden the dark clouds lifted a little.

Following a scant blood trail on a very bum wheel was tough. Luckily the scantiness turned to crimson and the toilet tissue was no longer needed.
 

We stayed on the trail for another 120 yards to the edge of my property line. I texted my neighbor to tell him I was tracking and got the thumbs up. 75 more yards the blood was a Ray Charles and as I peaked over the bank of the creek there that DT laid.

 
*Tank City

So after 300 yards we were here together over this old warrior. With help I field dressed him and paid respects to his heart buried nearby. What I said to God thanking him I meant. What I said to the buck that gives life to my family and the sadness and happiness I feel today is as real as any feeling I will ever have.
 
*Old warrior

With help we crossed the ditch and got him loaded for the ride out. It is good having friends to help when you have something the size of a cow elk to haul home.

 

[wapiti792]

The post mortem confirmed a nick in the heart at the lower pole, a left lung down, a right liver with a perfect S tear from a very sharp Meathead from Tuffhead and a hole the size of your palm for exit. Fat had clogged the exit and didn't bleed much. The broadhead saved my bacon as the arrow hit bone at the elbow going in and tore a hole going out. Tell me how a deer goes 300 yards with that kind of damage that didn't get bumped and never bedded? I tell you how...he was a tough SOB!!!

The next day I took a couple field photos and got help from my best butchers to turn him into food for us.

 
*Hanging



*Helpers

We eat a ton of deer meat. I can deer, grind deer, make sausage and cook it many ways. My wife's favorite is a little dish with the internals, some Scottish eggs and a little chutney made with jalapenos and onion. We made sure when Grace was said we thanked God for old bucks with bad dispositions.


*Honest food

So that's my tale for the year. I am still getting after it as we are a 4 deer family and we need 1 more. Glad to be back posting again. Good luck to everyone out there. Shoot straight and be safe!


*Equipment: Talltines recurve 60 at 30, Trad only 300s with 190 grain Meathead and 100 grain insert, 650 grain total weight.

[Nook]

Fantastic...  Congrats  

[Jayrod]

Helluva buck and awesome story mike!!!    

[TooManyHobbies]

Congrats Sir, he's a stud.

[meathead]

Nice going.  Congrat's on beauty.

[KAZ]

Thank you for sharing, looks like a great time with Family & Friends.    

Well done on a wonderful buck!  

[Tater]

Great story telling and  pics, congratulations on a great buck!

[SAM E. STEPHENS]

Great buck sir , Well done.....

,,,,Sam,,,,

[Hopewell Tom]

Great all around, thanks for sharing.

[Kopper1013]

Congratulations well done

[knobby]

Congratulations on a great buck! Nice pics and a well told story with a happy ending.

[Duckbutt]

EPIC!!!!!!!

[Joeabowhunter]

Great buck Mike and awesome story.  Congratulations.

[JakeD]

Fantastic story and buck! Congrats!

[Tom]

I knew there was a reason I was hooked on this story. Great buck and the respect you showed the old warrior. Thanks for sharing.

[kennym]

Well done! Great deer, great story ,great pics.

And thanks for letting us in on it all! Really enjoy hunt stories.

Congrats to you guys! Looks like you are doing just fine on that bum knee, Mike!

Bisch

[Whip]

I haven't gotten around here the past few days and just found this. Kind of nice actually to get to read a Mike story from start to finish without wearing out my refresh button.    :p

Always love your stories my friend - you have a gift with telling a tale. Of course,  hanging with that Browning guy you can't help but have some of it rub off.

Congrats on a great buck! And on filling the freezer - looks like you and the family will likely make it through the winter.

[Wile E. Coyote]

Wonderful Story and a Bruiser of a Buck! Congrats!