The Massey

Finally got a shot at an old 8 at one of the places we hunt. It appears the adrenaline rush got to me and what looks to be a great shot is too far back. If I had just waited for him to take one more step, we’d have him hanging in the barn right now. Coyotes, rain, and mostly a poor shot, are going to ruin what should have been a long awaited celebration. I love bow hunting deer, but sometimes it really gets to you. Especially when you screw up the moment of truth. Dawna got the shot on video, so I’m reliving it over and over. To make matters worse, I was WAY too confident in the shot and Dawna, the girls and I pushed too far thinking it was a double lung shot. I’ll be out there tomorrow, but I’m afraid we might have pushed him right out the country.
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Sorry to hear that man. Give it an honest look in the morning, wishing ya good luck.

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No luck, 9 of us searched most of the day. The arrow looked to have some liver blood on it. There was a lot of lung blood the first 50 yards. Again, I messed up and pushed him last night, assuming it was a double lung shot. Rookie mistake:mad:
 
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I’ll appreciate these pics later, right now they’re a little too fresh. Part of the reason I do this journal is to learn from mistakes though. So here’s a little more of the story from pics.
The hole from the shot
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The arrow
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Some of the first blood
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According to where you have the hole circled... I would have been confident also. Sorry you have found him.

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We have the same issue in our country. If you go conservative and leave them at night, coyotes are going to wreck them. Then if you get after them and hit is maybe marginal, you're gonna have this. On that hit as circled, I'd have gone and looked too as it looks good. Must have just been behind the diaphragm. Have heard that on a full belly it can get pushed forward a little as well. Sorry to hear it.
 
No luck, 9 of us searched most of the day. Had drones up too. The arrow looked to have some liver blood on it. There was a lot of lung blood the first 50 yards. Again, I messed up and pushed him last night, assuming it was a double lung shot. Rookie mistake:mad:

Sorry to hear this, but you tried your best, and that is all anyone can do. Best of wishes for the future.
 
It happens. Looks to be great shot placement.
Do you have dog tracking in your area?
We have one guy that is really good, but he usually shuts down about the end of November. Also, it had rained a little over an inch overnight, I figured it would be a waste. My brother-in-law did bring his lab, just so she could perhaps smell the kill site, if coyotes got to the buck overnight.
 
Sorry to hear that. It looks like it should have been a double lung shot. I wonder if the arrow turned backwards on a rib...
That’s a good thought. I shoot a really heavy arrow that was somewhat on a down trajectory since he was at 32 yards. Also, while I normally shoot a conservative cut on contact fixed, from the ground I’ve learned to shoot a bigger cutting expandable, for more blood while trailing. The reason I switched to fixed, is I had an arrow take a sharp “left turn” with an expandable on the buck I shot in ‘18. He didn’t go far, but it concerned me how much the arrow was thrown off by a rib.
 
Hate that for you.
Watch for buzzards or eagle/hawks as you prob know.


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Crossbow broadhead dilemmas were the norm for me, but not anymore; I got some free "NAP Killzone Crossbow" broadheads when I purchased a new Tenpoint, and like any good mennonite I had to use them because they were free. I was so impressed that I bought some more and use these exclusively. So it paid the company to give out free samples.
FWIW I have never had these turn on me and they fly like field tips and blow big holes in ribcages. No rubberbands, and no washers, the operating mechanism is a flat plate of spring steel between the blades.
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https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/2...0OXfb0Q6myBohZaJlfwt2tjNdq-cosp4aAlgtEALw_wcB
 
Crossbow broadhead dilemmas were the norm for me, but not anymore; I got some free "NAP Killzone Crossbow" broadheads when I purchased a new Tenpoint, and like any good mennonite I had to use them because they were free. I was so impressed that I bought some more and use these exclusively. So it paid the company to give out free samples.
FWIW I have never had these turn on me and they fly like field tips and blow big holes in ribcages. No rubberbands, and no washers, the operating mechanism is a flat plate of spring steel between the blades.
941671.jpg

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/2...0OXfb0Q6myBohZaJlfwt2tjNdq-cosp4aAlgtEALw_wcB
Also, if you add it up, broadheads are one of the most expensive costs of shooting deer with a bow, but here I finally have a crossbow broadhead that I can use the same head to shoot multiple deer in a row.
 
I was using a Killzone. I’m not blaming the head though, it performed well and the blades aren’t bent.
 
A buddy helped me out with the video. It’s not the best quality, as I sent it to his android and it doesn’t like iPhone videos too much. What I had to say after the shot is not prophetic to say the least. :rolleyes:

 
I found out today that this buck was found on the neighbors’, near the creek back in September. Likely an EHD victim. I’m hopeful to maybe get the rack, he’s a rancher who just has it riding in the bed of his buggy.

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I found out today that this buck was found on the neighbors’, near the creek back in September. Likely an EHD victim. I’m hopeful to maybe get the rack, he’s a rancher who just has it riding in the bed of his buggy.

View attachment 23115
Damn that sucks. Really cool rack, would be neat if you got it. Were you and the family hunting him?

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