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Phil's 2022-2023 season

hickslawns

hickslawns

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Ohio
First morning hunt. I was close to bedding so I got in silly early to let things settle down. Walking in at 630-640am for 740 legal light. Put in four hours to see one regular buck. Farmer shelling corn didn't help. I was hoping it would, but it didn't. Nothing exciting. I've had several exceptional hunts in a row so I really cannot complain. I did pull a couple cards on the way out. They revealed minimal. Almost no does. Young bucks. One travel corridor between corn and woods has nocturnal movement of big boys but nothing with any consistency. No chasing on camera either.

PXL_20221104_121137076.jpg



Hunts: 7
Evening: 6
Morning: 1
Hours: 4
Deer seen: 1
Does: 0
Bucks: 1
In bow range: 1
Season totals:
Deer seen: 31
Bucks: 17
Does: 14
In bow range: 4

Season hours: 20.5
 
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hickslawns

hickslawns

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Supporting Member
40,342
288
Ohio
Got in later than I wanted but it was just in time. Had been in the stand 10-15min when I heard noise and saw a doe. Then heard grunts. Then saw another doe. Then heard more leaves and sticks breaking. Then I saw him. I immediately knew he was a shooter. The does passed thru at 22yds. Bow in hand I drew as the second doe passed and waited for him to follow. He took a different trail and wasn't in a hurry but I had a less clear shot. Loosed an arrow. Saw it hit but it hit high. Watched him run east 50-60yds or so and take a left to head north maybe 10yds. He was behind some thick stuff and stopped. Thru my binos I looked and he just stood there. Then he moved a handful more steps to where I couldn't see him very well. Never heard a crash. Heard leaves but it sounded more like a deer bedding than crashing. I strained to look thru the green brush and listen for anything. Nothing. Never saw him leave the area. I did hear a squirrel barking in the area two different times. Later I saw a smaller 8pt go to this area but he never boogered. In my experience, if a deer sees another dead deer, they generally get all boogery. I waited from 440pm until 530pm. Looked for my arrow but didn't find it. Backed out. Walked parallel to the path he took just outside the wood line. I cut back into the woods where I saw him turn and tuck behind the thick stuff. Nothing. I walked another 10-20yds to the creek because I had seen water rippling at one point. Nothing. Walked back and saw 3 drops of blood. Left for the house. Changed. Grabbed flashlights. Head back out at the 2hr mark. Had a buddy join me. We canvased the area and couldn't find blood. Even the TP I used to mark the blood I found. Couldn't find it again. Called it a night. We DID locate my arrow 10yds from impact. It was broken off with 7" penetration. I'm heading back in the morning to do my due diligence. I'm not very optimistic. I'm completely sick over this. 30yd shot. Hit high. 20' tall tree stand. Ugh. Really hoping there was enough downward angle and penetration but I fear I hit no man's land. The impact my have been a couple inches higher than the red dot. It is hard to edit and get exact placement but that is fairly close.

Screenshot_20221106-165410~2.png


PXL_20221106_230133806.jpg


PXL_20221107_004146023.jpg


Hunts: 8
Evening: 7
Morning: 1
Hours: 2
Deer seen: 4
Does: 2
Bucks: 2
In bow range: 3
Season totals:
Deer seen: 35
Bucks: 19
Does: 16
In bow range: 7

Season hours: 22.5
 
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hickslawns

hickslawns

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40,342
288
Ohio
Found original three drops where he stopped behind some thick stuff. That is where I lost track of him. Relocated the spot. Found one more drop of blood 40yds from the first three drops. Followed that trail to find nothing else. Went back. Followed side trails. Repeated. Covered 300yds from impact. Combed the area. Wandered like a shed hunt in some other thick areas. Walked up and down the creek (which is low and easy to see bottom). Nothing. I don't think he is dead. I think I hit no man's land. I think I buried in the top of the offside shoulder and missed all vitals.

Here is the only blood I found. 50-60 yards from impact and then another 40.
PXL_20221107_150157391.jpg


Oops..second pic is blurry. It was one droplet of blood. Nothing to get hopes up. I'm am really bummed. Farmer is picking the last standing corn on one of my other properties. I'm not even going out. Going to get work done as soon as I check camera cards I pulled.
PXL_20221107_145605767.jpg
 
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