New Year's Eve Buck
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:28 am
I went out yesterday AM and cut a fresh track that I felt pretty sure was a buck. Tracked him in about 20 inches of powder moving only when the wind blew to cover my sound. After about an hour I came into a little spruce and alder thicket and saw him standing broadside at about 50 yards or so. His head was behind a small spruce sapling, so he had no idea I was there. I lowered to one knee, cocked the hammer, and let him have it. He kind of hunkered off with his tail down. Good hit! After reloading I walked over to where he was standing and all of a sudden I see him to my right at 14 yards or so. He ran off. I gave him 20 minutes or so and then followed his trail just a bit and I could see that he was bleeding dark red blood...but not much. I decided to back out and go back home and give him some time. That was about 10:00.
I was pretty sure it was a solid liver shot, which is always fatal. I waited until 2:30 and headed back out and got on his trail. He made about 6 or 7 beds in about 50 yards or so, and every bed was bloodier than the one before. He also started bleeding just a ton, pouring blood from both sides. I knew this guy was going to be dead. I eventually snuck to within 3 yards of him...I thought he was dead in his bed. Turns out he looked at me from his bed and got up weakly. I finished him off and that was that. I feel bad that it wasn't a nice clean kill, but at least I got him. My big fear was losing him overnight to more snow or coyotes
He's a nice little 9 pointer. I'm guessing he weighs between 140 and 150. Took me an hour and 45 minutes to drag him back in the dark...but boy what a way to end my deer season.
Happy New Year to everybody.
Blair
I was pretty sure it was a solid liver shot, which is always fatal. I waited until 2:30 and headed back out and got on his trail. He made about 6 or 7 beds in about 50 yards or so, and every bed was bloodier than the one before. He also started bleeding just a ton, pouring blood from both sides. I knew this guy was going to be dead. I eventually snuck to within 3 yards of him...I thought he was dead in his bed. Turns out he looked at me from his bed and got up weakly. I finished him off and that was that. I feel bad that it wasn't a nice clean kill, but at least I got him. My big fear was losing him overnight to more snow or coyotes
He's a nice little 9 pointer. I'm guessing he weighs between 140 and 150. Took me an hour and 45 minutes to drag him back in the dark...but boy what a way to end my deer season.
Happy New Year to everybody.
Blair