Around 4 or 5 days ago I thought I had shot a good arrow into a doe.It was a high on the rib rack but thought it was enough to put her down as it was at a good angle forward.I never did find that deer.
While looking I came across this deer's remains.Ribs,spine,leg bones.and lower jaws were there along with horns and skull.We had shed hunted earlier this spring but apparently did'nt shed hunt well enough.[After further investigation we've concluded here that this deer died from what is called blue tongue.A disease common during prolonged hot and dry periods of time in the summer.Transmitted from a little type fly that hangs around water sources.This buck still had remnants of velvet on it's browe tines so it died in late august.It's very fatal as it is non discriminatory killing old adults as well as young deer in just a matter of weeks].
This deer died far enough away from the trees that the squirrels did'nt do any chewing on it.I aged the deers molars as to be at least a 5.5 year old deer possibly and more than likely over that.It's skull is larger than the deer shot back in 2015 and the mass of the horn is more in circumference at the base also.Not meaning to boast any here but I sure wish I had gotten a shot at this boy because I'm sure he was a heavy weight deer.I do get to see these deer occasionally on the hoof but not in a shootable situation most times.A person can see the horns have that bleached look from setting out in the sun.I bleached his skull my usual way.Anyway so much for what might have been.
Now this evening I got lucky to get a shot at this nice 1.5 year old doe.[correction...4.5 year old doe]Shot at a fairly steep angle through the rib cage catching the liver and a lung.She went down around 70 paces away.Used a 160 grizzly on a dogwood off my horn bow.560 grain arrow from a 48# bow.Don't know why my funky little camera flashes sometimes and then does'nt other times....lol.Arrow head was still sharp and shaft is in good shape so I'll leave the blood on her and use it for the next shot.
I had boughten a scale some time ago to weigh these deer.I was a little surprised as to the weight of her.I wanted to shoot at a couple other bigger does that just would'nt present a shot so I just took the shot that was there at this one.It would be nice to get a couple more of these.Hopefully that will happen but nothings gauanteed.The weather is very favorable with a forecast of the same so that will help.I've been seeing quite a few deer here though and the bucks are pushing the does pretty good already.
After this doe being shot in my little area it usually gets vacant for a few days or I have to hunt a good quarter mile away on the other end of the property but in time they return or I just have to wait is all till things settle down.
