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MIssed deer opinions?

moosehunter

PMA Member
Monday I missed a pretty darn nice deer with my ML. He was in an open hay field with a few other deer. This field is a popular spot with the deer. I spotted the same deer in the same field the night before so I know at least right now, he must like being out there.

When he was running away he was not going hard like he was running for his life. More like, running away from something he didn't like. I think you all know what I mean.

Here's my question. Do you think after a couple days he would return or do you think it will take more time? He is a mature buck in the 170 class so I would like to keep on him if he's not spooked to bad.

Moosehunter
 
I bet he'll be back. He may not allow himself to be quite as visible as he did before, but as long as he didn't see you he probably didn't relate the "boom" to gun season. I'd say give it a day or two to rest and get back after him, in a week or two, you may not find him in the same area again.
 
MOOSE- there's no way ya coulda' missed. Any body that can beat me in a IRONMAN SHOOT just can't miss, its impossible. Better check for blood again.
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DEADEYE M350
 
Moose, Moose, Moose.....all this time I have known you I thought you were perfect!
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I too would double check for blood...
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Another possible maybe to consider... maybe you hit the deer and there wasn't any, or very little, blood evident.

Two years ago my then 11 year old son shot a buck with my muzzleloader at a distance of about 12-15 yards. Four of us looked for blood on our hands and knees and everything for about 20-30 minutes. We found nothing at all to indicate a hit. We looked in a roughly 20 yard circle around where the buck was standing when shot and there was no question where he was since he was so close.

After 5-10 minutes I started cutting bigger circles, eventually getting out as far as 50 yards or so. We never found a drop and chalked it up as a clean miss by a newbie, although I knew the gun was dead on. Unfortunately, we found the buck the next weekend and let's just say he didn't smell so good by then. I kick myself for not coming back and looking further the next day, he only went about 80-90 yards, but there was no blood at all.

I would check your sights, if you are still on, I would grid search the area if it were me. Good luck!!
 
I should expand on what I did after the shot.

I watched the buck with bino's run away with his tail up. He ran right next to a fencline about 150 yards long then turned a corner and I lost sight of him there. When he was running away he didn't look hit but I went and got a light and followed the trail along the fence and found nothing. Still, it bothered me all night so yesterday I went back and looked in the daylight and found nothing up to the point where he turned the corner. Even though I hate to admit it, I still believe I missed for whatever reason based on the way he looked when he was running away. But after reading some of your thoughts maybe I should do a little more checking.
 
If you did miss him, I dont think you will see him back in that field during shooting hours again.
 
I would think moving to a different ambush point "like a staging area near his field of choice" and waiting for the eary phase of the rut to kick in, you may have another chance at him. He has probably gone nocturnal but may mess up when his girl friends start flirting.
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Good luck.
 
I always think of it as I have one chance at the deer I want - if I blow it, I don't expect to see him back at that location (if he does show up again great)
 
Here's another update.

This afternoon I walked the fenceline and the draw he turned towards when I saw him last. I spent a good hour and a half walking up and down the draw checking everywhere. I never found any blood or saw any dead deer. I guess when I shoot the gun again I'll find out if it's good or bad. If it's off I learned good lesson. Either way it's looking to me like an error on my part.
 
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