I hate to see this. . . .

[RUT JUNKEY]

My best friend and I set up some cams on his inlaws 140acre woods a few weeks ago after the inlaws said they weren't probably going to hunt this year. . .maybe late muzzy season. We hunt this woods for turkeys and know it well. . .got lots of good buck pics, however, the one pic that everyone hates to get. . .we got. We won't be hunting this place until the 2nd weekend of gun season (2 wkds from now). . .I really hate to see this buck suffer, he's a great deer. . .but I'm sure most of his front will be no good to eat. ( ive had this issue once before) I think if I did shoot him and call the DNR they may not make me tag this buck. ?? I'm 100% sure if he walks by I'm going to take him. . .regardless of the tag issue. . .just hate to see this. Thoughts??

 

[skimerhorn]

A nice buck, but hate to see stuff like that happen. I don't think I would've taken a straight down shot like that personally.

 

[fowladdict]

If the opportunity presented itself, I would take it. Trophy caliber or button buck...just the right thing to do.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

If the opportunity presented itself, I would take it. Trophy caliber or button buck...just the right thing to do.

That's where I stand on this too fowladdict.

 

[gwhunter]

While I would also take the deer, regardless of size, if it was in front of me I have to tell you a story my father told me.

Way back in the day (late '60s early '70s) when the only thing available were cedar arrows and 2 blade broadheads my uncle sticks a buck with his recurve at 20 yards on opening weekend of bow season (Oct 1). "Double lung hit" my uncle says. Well they tracked that deer for miles and miles and never recovered it. Fast forward to gun season (Nov 15). My Uncle's buddy shoots a nice 8 point with his rifle hunting the same woods in the same deer camp. When my Uncle gets back to camp for the night he sees the buck and says "that's the same buck I shot opener of bow season". Come to find out, the arrow was found broken off inside the deer's diaphragm. Missed both lungs and heart. Just kinda hit "no mans land" and stayed there.

So while it is possible that the deer will die from that shot, stranger things have happened...

 

[L. I. Yankee]

Take him if you get the chance......

 

[Cammy]

+1 on notifying DNR however like it has already been said stranger things have been found inside of animals that survived. I once found bird shot under the skin of a deer (A LOT of shot). The shot had been there long enough to have been encapsulated by the deer's immune system. I don't think it was a poacher rather a deer that took a shot from a rabbit hunter or even pheasant.

 

[JohnCushman]

If the opportunity presented itself, I would take it. Trophy caliber or button buck...just the right thing to do.

This

 

[TheShootist.41]

If the opportunity presented itself, I would take it. Trophy caliber or button buck...just the right thing to do.

Must agree!

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

While I would also take the deer, regardless of size, if it was in front of me I have to tell you a story my father told me.

Way back in the day (late '60s early '70s) when the only thing available were cedar arrows and 2 blade broadheads my uncle sticks a buck with his recurve at 20 yards on opening weekend of bow season (Oct 1). "Double lung hit" my uncle says. Well they tracked that deer for miles and miles and never recovered it. Fast forward to gun season (Nov 15). My Uncle's buddy shoots a nice 8 point with his rifle hunting the same woods in the same deer camp. When my Uncle gets back to camp for the night he sees the buck and says "that's the same buck I shot opener of bow season". Come to find out, the arrow was found broken off inside the deer's diaphragm. Missed both lungs and heart. Just kinda hit "no mans land" and stayed there.

So while it is possible that the deer will die from that shot, stranger things have happened...

I also had this happen to me way back when I was in high school. . .shot a nice 8pt with my bow and hit him in the shoulder blade. . .fast forward to late Dec muzzy hunt. . .shot a big 8pt and was telling my dad it looked like the same buck from bow season, after getting over to him. . .it was, it had the broadhead x right on his shoulder. . .he had healed up but still had some infection in the shoulder we had to throw away. . .they are sometimes very tough animals for sure.

 

[1_pointer]

I know the info is dated, but it is something that stuck with me. Years ago I read an article in North American Whitetail about looking at the survivability of archery shot deer not recovered. The study was conducted on a military base, I want to say in Wisc but may be wrong on that, that only allows archery hunting through a drawing. Every day hunters had to report their shots/kills/etc. The military used helicoptors with infrared/night vision to try to help find any deer shot and not found. Their results showed, if I recall correctly, was that 80+% of deer shot and not recovered survived until the next year. They concluded this was in part due to the deer having a high resilience to puncture wounds.

FWIW...

 

[gwhunter]

I think if I did shoot him and call the DNR they may not make me tag this buck. ??

I might call ahead of time and see what they say. There is also an Indiana hunting forum where you can ask the CO questions. That might be a good place to look/ask too.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

I might call ahead of time and see what they say. There is also an Indiana hunting forum where you can ask the CO questions. That might be a good place to look/ask too.

Im real good friend with a couple of the CO's from Region 3, as we teach the Hunters ed class together, I'm going to call Blaine today and see what he says. . .either way, if he comes by me...Bang..flop.

 

[Slam]

My son shot a deer similarly hit with a crossbow bolt sticking out of the same location but at a lower trajectory. When I skinned the deer the top of the back straps and right shoulder had major puss infestation. When I open him up it was a horrible smell. That deer got buried. I had a friend shoot a deer in muzzy season that when he was gutting it found a whole arrow in the top of the rib cage with the broad head stuck in the offside shoulder. The shooter had made a raking shot that went thru the upper ribcage and never hit anything vital. That deer was ok. I think your deer will most probably develop an infection with that open wound.

 

[gwhunter]

When I skinned the deer the top of the back straps and right shoulder had major puss infestation. When I open him up it was a horrible smell. That deer got buried.

Gotta hate that smell But I have to ask, the hind quarters were messed up as well?

 

[Slam]

The hinds looked fine; however, his intestines had black lines running throughout, the lungs were dark colored and as stated the inside looked and smelled horrid. I felt it best to be prudent and limit our exposure.

 

[gwhunter]

Just giving you a hard time. It sucks when you have to throw out an entire deer.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

gwhunter, just looked to see where Mooreland was. . .I went to Ball State University, sorta close to your area. . .GO CARDS!