October 21, 1997
Walnut Hill, FL
This was the fourth day of our hunt.
I was on the same stand that I got my two deer opening morning. This
was an afternoon hunt. I got on the stand at 2:00. About three
o'clock I heard a fawn to my left. It came out about 25 yards with
its head low. I was expecting to see momma come out behind him but
I never saw her. Then I saw movement off to the left in the brush.
Then I thought I saw antler's. Yep!, Tall antler's, my heart
about jumped out of my chest. The buck was a 9 1\2" cow horn.
For me this was a great deer. I was trying hard not to be overcome
with the fever but managed to hold it off. The buck slowly worked
his way out at about 25 yards. I put my pin on him and let her rip.
I thought that I just barley shot under the buck. But his reaction
looked like I hit him in the heart. He jump up on his front legs
and kicked at his chest, then ran off. The fletching looked
low, but I wasn't sure. Because I was thinking whether or not
I hit him I forgot to watch and listen for him to double up. I got
out of my stand and went to were I shot at him. I could not find
my arrow to save my life. I figured if I could not find the arrow
it must have been in him. I kept looking in the immediate area and
found very small drops of blood. I was some what glad.
I figured that the arrow had to be in the
deer, I mean he did kick at his chest. Anyway I could not find a
good blood trail, I thought I saw the buck turn 90 degrees from me
then run off to the right. I looked all over the right side where
I thought he ran off. After about 45 minutes I gave up and went and
got my friend that was hunting with me. Fred came back with me and
I showed him the spot were I hit him and the small spots of blood.
He said, " those spots are turning splatter spots, he ran straight back."
Sure enough not 8 feet straight back of were I shot him was a huge blood
trail. (Fred's nick name is Heavy). Anyway, the deer ran straight
back and to the left, not even close to where I was looking. The
deer ran only 20 yards. When I heard Heavy say, "There he is!!",
I was excited.
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