arizonaelitefreak Report post Posted October 30, 2009 well the last day of my daughters hunt was quit exciting, started up the hill shortly after school right off the batcame across a giant coati tried to get a shot and forgot to flip up the scope covers oops, finally made it to a glassin spot and ten minutes later glassed up two bucks (one nice 3x3 one alot smaller) hop in the truck and got to a closer spot and tried to find the two bucks only to see them flaggin. Couldnt figure out why and then he showed up the giant. Got my daughter set up made sure she was steady and had the buck in sight, and then told her where to aim. After a short pause BOOM! And the buck flinched then I saw the blood coming from his left shoulder. looked like a great shot! I stayed on him but light was fading fast, so we watched untill we couldnt anymore, (the only reason we didnt track tonight this is in a rough area and no way to navigate at night0 then I called g&f to find out if we could go recover tomorrow even though the season was over they said it was, also called the unit manager and left a message as to the situation, so in the moring the recovery mission starts. this is by far the biggest buck i've ever seen after watching him im gonna say he'll tape out at 130 to 140! So keep your fingers crossed fellow couesers, and I'll keep you all posted! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted October 30, 2009 hello - can only hope the coyotes dont get to him! you made the choice not to track tonight so guess you'll have a sleepless evening - no guns tomorrow _ good luck - we've tracked a lot of game after dark using the good old lanterns - I always like a fresh blood trail ! gary Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
otdrsman Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Good Luck and keep us posted!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cactusjack Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Good luck, can't wait to see the pics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AzBuckCHaser1 Report post Posted October 30, 2009 good luck cant wait to see him Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joeybari Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Good luck but I think for the next time if it were me I would have called anyone or everyone even post something on this discussion forum to ask for help last night im sure there would have been many people who would have helped in a new York minute especially if it was for your daughter . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cohntr6 Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Keep us posted.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WOODSAZ Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Buddy of mine shot a good buck last saturday and we couldnt find him, Absolutlty no blood at all so we started second guessing if he had hit him. We searched throughout the day through the thickest nastiest crap you can think but didnt find him. I had to leave that night but the next day he glassed up a bear walking up the ridge when all of the sudden it made an abrupt turn and dove down into the bottom where we had last seen the deer. He went back the next morning and found his buck, but the bears had already gotten to it. He recovered the head but unfortunatley the meat was ruined. Turns out we were within 100 ft of him while searching. Great buck though. 100+. Keep searching and look for crows. Hopefully you get him soon enough this morning the meat is still good. Good luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arizonaelitefreak Report post Posted October 30, 2009 well guys the search didnt turn out so hot, we hiked in 3.5 miles up one of the steepest moountains out there and found the spot were the buck was standing, found just a couple drops of blood, needless to say Im glad we didnt try to navigate this in the dark we would have gotten lost in a heartbeat, after the last drop we marked it and started circling around it, nothing, went back to the spot and tried to follow the tracks and still turned up nothing, I had a buddy of mine down below to guide me to the spot and guide me down to where we last saw him and still nothing, I know i should of tried to search last night but due to the fact of the rugged terrain we didnt and I guess now were paying the price, hopefully he makes it through the year and we catch him out on the slopes sometime soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted October 30, 2009 If you want help searching for him again, let me know. Call my cell 928-200-0544. You might spend time glassing the area and looking for ravens or eagles. On the two bucks we killed in 27, we saw eagles and ravens around both carcasses picking at the bones we left. Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arizona Griz Report post Posted October 30, 2009 It is a shame you could not find the buck. Maybe it survived and will pass the genes along. There is always next year to try to find him if he made it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted October 30, 2009 needless to say Im glad we didnt try to navigate this in the dark we would have gotten lost in a heartbeat, I know i should of tried to search last night but due to the fact of the rugged terrain we didnt and I guess now were paying the price, hopefully he makes it through the year and we catch him out on the slopes sometime soon. hello - you did the right thing under the circumstances - rugged mtns. is no place to get lost especially at night - sorry to hear you lost his trail - unless you found lots of blood in different spots - the shot may not have been as good as you thought - a few drops here and there doesn't make for a good blood trail - sorry - gary Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arizonaelitefreak Report post Posted October 30, 2009 well thanks elkaholic for understanding not wanting to navigate rough hills in the dark, we do plan on continued search for him even if its an attempt to locate him as my buddys gf has the hunt that is on right now and will be back in the area for the next several days, thanks amanda for the offer to help, we are still continueing the search as i am sick and realy want to find him even if he is still alive! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king4wd Report post Posted October 30, 2009 Bummer Dude! I know the feeling, I shot this carp opening day of the archery hunt. Followed the blood for about a mile and then nothing. Spent the whole next day looking for him. Nothing. Since I shot him we've gotten three pics of him and couldn't be happier. I'm so glad my shot didn't kill him. If you look closely, on the last picture you can see where I hit him. It's just a little dark spot. Just skinned his belley. The last 3 pictures were taken after I shot him. He didn't show back up in the area for almost 2 weeks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Archer Report post Posted October 31, 2009 Keep us posted man. Hope you find that TOAD!!! Oh ya make sure you pray, If you really did hit him good then you will find that toad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
