SHot a big one... need help!

[PredatorTC]

Did a lot of walking and no luck. I found exactly where I shot him and no hair. I went to where I last saw him and nothing. I walked the edges of all the plowed fields and no fresh tracks cutting across them. THe fenclines that run into the swamp are super brushy and super thick and wide. I went inside the fenclines where they often bed and gridserched them with no luck. THe one obvious place he headed was down intothe swamp. Its a brushy cattail swamp and I know where all the buck and doe bedding is.

Here is the kicker. My gun is sighted for 80 yards because I almost never hunt fields. I guessed him to be at 100 yards. Turns out it was 120. Im not sure how much my bullet drops at that distance. I put the cross hairs right the middle of his vitals giving myself the most room for error. Maybe I shot below him?

So the plan is to hunt tonight and see if his woman pulls him out. Then Ill head into the swamp tomorrow and start looking.

Very dissapointed once again this year. It was a cake shot

[NatureBoy]

http://bloodglow.com/store/index.php?ma ... ex&cPath=1
Never tried it. Don't know if it works. But in your situation I would try it.

[virginiashadow]

Predator, I know you feel disappointed this year man. But from my perspective, you are out there in the hunting grind, trying to make it happen every single hunt. You have been on some nice bucks and seem to really know your hunting areas. You have my respect and I wish you the best of luck.

[PredatorTC]

Here is a crazy twist!!
I was sitting in one of the two places I thought he would come back out. Guess where he came back!!?! CHoice B! He was standing in the exact same spot as this morning. He came back to look for his doe he got seperated from. I once again ran and snuck up to him only this time I was a little rushed. I aimed at the top of his back and squeezed off. this time and he ran the same direction same distance again. If I hit him it wasnt good. Gonna look for blood at the POI and then wait for morning. Im thinkin its a miss tho. I just feel better I did not wound him this morning. We shall see aobut tonihgts bullet tho. Im thinking a miss

[BigHunt]

Here is a crazy twist!!
I was sitting in one of the two places I thought he would come back out. Guess where he came back!!?! CHoice B! He was standing in the exact same spot as this morning. He came back to look for his doe he got seperated from. I once again ran and snuck up to him only this time I was a little rushed. I aimed at the top of his back and squeezed off. this time and he ran the same direction same distance again. If I hit him it wasnt good. Gonna look for blood at the POI and then wait for morning. Im thinkin its a miss tho. I just feel better I did not wound him this morning. We shall see aobut tonihgts bullet tho. Im thinking a miss

wow dude i dont realy know what to say

[KLEMZ]

Predator, if it comes down to grid searching, use your gps to aid the search. Start at the last place you saw him and set that as a waypoint. Now set the gps units to yards (not feet), and do a 50 yrd circle (or semi circle) around that way point. Then, next pass do a 100 yrd circle, next 150 yrds. etc. leave your bread crumb trail on to record every step. Doing this you can be sure you have checked every square inch of your search area. You don't even need an extra guy helping to cover a pretty large area fast and efficient. If you do have a guy or two helping make sure they all have a gps and do it this way. This technique has helped me find deer that had no blood trail. Good luck!

[Dewey]

I am amazed that he came back to the exact same spot again. Wonder if that doe is in heat since it is almost perfect timing for the 2nd rut if there is such a thing. Good luck again and hope it turns out for you this time. If you missed again I guess it just wasn't meant to be. If that's the case nothing you can do but move on to the next and maybe bigger one. Otherwise you could set up in the same spot and maybe get another crack at him. You just never know.

[Spysar]

I'd head to the shooting range, and check that gun.

[Kodiakman]

I'd head to the shooting range, and check that gun.

X2, I was thinking the same. Not being a A-hole or anything. But I would get to the range with it, you may have smacked it on something and not realized it. Bricking 2 layups is a sinking feeling. Don't let it happen a 3rd time if it is your equipment. Just eliminate that option asap. Confidence in you weaponry is as important as confidence in your stand location. At least it has been that way for me. If I missed twice badly like that inside 100yds with a scope, and I am slightly arrogant about my shooting apptitude, I wouldn't have much confidence in that fire arm. Not now at least.

[Scot]

Two things. Good Luck and for your own peace of mind get to a range and make sure your muzzleloader is on.

[dan]

About 5 years ago I was hunting at my friend Dave's farm and shot 4 times with my scoped shotgun at a doe at close range and finnaly she trotted off and then a few minutes later a large buck walked by at 25 yards. I ended up shooting about 15 times and then the buck ran right at me and trotted by the base of the tree and I just aimed the gun at it without useing the sites and shot it. Checking the buck out that was the only shot that touched it. the last one where I did not use the sights. After a long search we found the doe with a hit to the hoof and one in the liver. I skipped the next days hunt and and sighted the gun again ( it was sighted a few days before ) and it was off by about 14 inches at 50 yards
Not really sure how that happened, but I now check the guns after any bump or miss that should of been a hit.

[PredatorTC]

HEs ALIVE! Went shinning tonight and there he Stood! Im very happy to see this... he looked real healthy too. Gonna be a good late season bow kill

You guys think he would make 140 class?

[Dewey]

I don't think he will make 140's. Probably more like low 130's from those pics.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[adrenalin]

I'd say 138- 140 go get him!!

[headgear]

135 sounds about right, good luck with him TC.