Posted a story in the California forum, about having missed a pretty big buck yesterday... The summarized version is that I have returned to archery hunting, after not having used a bow for many years. Made a sneak on a buck, shot an arrow directly below him due to some "rookie" error aligning my sight pins. Had this been a rifle hunt, this buck would've been graveyard dead FOR SURE - as I was able to get within bow distance, 'nuff said.
I spooked this deer out of a meadow, circled around the meadow and creeped slowly along where I thought he would have headed. Upon returning, I ran into him a 2nd time - he hadn't left that area and was within 300-500 yards of where I initially saw him & shot at him. By this point, it was a lost cause - I was open / exposed and had roughly 3-500 yards of peagravel to "sneak" on. I tried my best and made it to within 100 yards or so, then ended up just watching him walk away and the sun set.
-I have done fairly well with rifle, had this been a rifle hunt, I would've had him "dead X2" with the shot opportunities.
So my question, as this is something 'new' to me:
- Do deer usually stick in the same area after being busted vs. ?? I have seen plenty of deer take off like bats out of hell, never to be seen again as well of course...
- I am trying to re-play this hunt; should I have circled around the meadow and covered down in some brush, to see if he would eventually emerge from the meadow? Obviously, he went into the thick cover and stayed there for about an hour.
Perhaps if I had been more patient or calculated, I would have made the kill... I'm just reviewing the scenario over again in my head, as I will be able to hit this same spot in 2 weeks. I have it pretty well scouted and the deer are always without fail in this meadow...
Regardless, it was a great day and a great hunt despite my fail-factor.
I spooked this deer out of a meadow, circled around the meadow and creeped slowly along where I thought he would have headed. Upon returning, I ran into him a 2nd time - he hadn't left that area and was within 300-500 yards of where I initially saw him & shot at him. By this point, it was a lost cause - I was open / exposed and had roughly 3-500 yards of peagravel to "sneak" on. I tried my best and made it to within 100 yards or so, then ended up just watching him walk away and the sun set.
-I have done fairly well with rifle, had this been a rifle hunt, I would've had him "dead X2" with the shot opportunities.
So my question, as this is something 'new' to me:
- Do deer usually stick in the same area after being busted vs. ?? I have seen plenty of deer take off like bats out of hell, never to be seen again as well of course...
- I am trying to re-play this hunt; should I have circled around the meadow and covered down in some brush, to see if he would eventually emerge from the meadow? Obviously, he went into the thick cover and stayed there for about an hour.
Perhaps if I had been more patient or calculated, I would have made the kill... I'm just reviewing the scenario over again in my head, as I will be able to hit this same spot in 2 weeks. I have it pretty well scouted and the deer are always without fail in this meadow...
Regardless, it was a great day and a great hunt despite my fail-factor.