Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

We lost one last night!

SaskGuy

SaskGuy

Active Member
I went out last night with the smokepole to doe some doe hunting, in all seriousnees, it was a scouting trip, didn't even have a charge in. Saw one nice 150 class buck about 1/2 mile from the house. 1/2 hour after dark a friend showed up to get some help looking for a buck he'd hit. We grabbed the gps, and some lights and went for a look. Sign was pretty good where he went into the forest, easy to find in the 6" of snow we have. I'm not sure if he started bleeding less or the falling snow started to cover stuff up but needless to say, an hour and a half later and a couple miles into the forest we decided to pull the pin on him. I have never lost a deer myself and didn't like the thought of giving up myself but it was the right thing to do, our gps conked out on us in there and we had to follow our tracks out the whole way. I must admit feeling a little bit spooked, we weren't in a little bluff, we were in a block of timber about 6x8 miles, could have easily gotten lost in there. Anyways, it's doubtful he'll find the deer, snowed all night long, sign will be covered up and I'm thinking that if he's dead the wolves or coyotes have already picked him clean. Anyways I just thought I'd share the story, damn shame to lose a deer but I guess it happens.
 
Always a tough call Sask.
Looks like you gave it an honest effort - glad to hear you didn't get lost out there.
 
Sask,

It's a whole different world up there tracking in the wilderness as opposed to the "back 40". No doubt you gave it your best, but common sense must prevail when you're out there in bad conditions and not prepared to spend the night.
I say you did the right thing backing off and getting back safe. Although unfortunate, no deer is worth risking your lives over.

>>--Ron--<>
 
That's what I was thinking exactly Ron, if the gps would have stayed working we may have kept on for a bit but common sense has to kick in eventually. It wasn't that cold, -10 maybe but those woods are BLACK at night, even with lights. I mentioned the size of the chunk being about 6x8 miles, that's just until a 50 yard cutline cuts through it, then it continues again for that far. Though I absolutely love the large expanses of forest, they do scare me a bit, especially at night.
 
Sask,

Hell Man, MY BACKYARD can be scary at night!! No doubt where you were at, common sense ruled.

Even with the GPS, I'd recommend carrying a compass back-up. They can and obviously, DO fail sometimes!
A hunting buddy had to take a much more SCENIC route back to the trailhead in Colorado once when the GPS let him down....
He never teased me again about having one compass pinned on my pack strap and another IN my pack after that!
893footinmouth-thumb[1].gif


Always....Safety first! This sport's too much FUN to risk not being able to go out and do it again!

>>--Ron--<>
 
Thats a feeling Karre that you never want to know. When someone loses a good buck, it might as well be hung on the wall cause it takes along time to forget about that day and night. But you gotta keep your head up and hunt tomorrow. I'm sure mother nature played its role. Is your buddy really into shooting mature bucks like yourself.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Even with the GPS, I'd recommend carrying a compass back-up.
>>--Ron--<>

[/ QUOTE ]

Great advice, I don't leave home without it. . .
 
[/ QUOTE ]Great advice, I don't leave home without it. . .

[/ QUOTE ]

I went shed hunting when I first moved to AK and brought along acompass, when I had found way to many caribou sheds to carry out It was time to see where I was. Long story short, I am to close to the magnetic pole and I went back 2 weeks later and retrieved my bone pile.
angel.gif
 
Karre...it happens and there is nothing that can really be done about it. I have had my fair share and I am sure many others on the site have had the same....more than what we care to disclose. Fact is, hunting is hunting and nothing is perfect every time. Sure we all get sore guts over the fact but have your buddy keep his head up and capitalize on the next encounter. Wish him good luck from me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom