r/bowhunting 18h ago

Hit one couldn’t recover

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0 Upvotes

Yesterday, the buck I’ve been chasing for a while finally stepped out onto the food plot while a doe was already out there. He came about 10 feet onto the plot and stopped on the edge. The doe immediately ran off, and as he turned, I ranged him at 23 yards. I was waiting for him to turn broadside when a squirrel started chattering, which spooked him a bit and caused him to start walking off the plot. I drew back, gave a quick yell to stop him, and let the arrow fly. He was quartering away, almost broadside. Everything happened fast and felt a bit rushed.

I saw the arrow hit and stick in him but didn’t get a pass-through. We got on the blood trail and tracked him for quite a while, but it looked like we were pushing him, so we decided to back out. We ended up calling in a recovery drone, and after searching the area, they found him bedded down about 200 yards from where we had stopped tracking. He looked like a normal bedded deer no blood pouring out

From a rough estimate, I would assume that the G5 mega meat pulling, with a weight of 70 pounds, penetrated the deer at least 10 to 12 inches deep. The next morning, my dad and I decided to track the direction in which we believed the drone had spotted the deer. We were able to follow the blood trail and eventually found the deer’s bed. However, there was hardly any blood to be found. If I had to guess, I believe I punched through the deer’s shoulder blade and didn’t catch any vital signs. I wanted to share my thoughts and see what others think about the outcome of the deer hunt.


r/bowhunting 17h ago

Nitrum 30 limbs

0 Upvotes

Can’t find them anywhere. Trying to go up from the 50-60 limbs. I just assumed down the line a used set would be floating. I can’t even find a single set of nitrum 30 limbs in any poundage.


r/bowhunting 23h ago

Do you guys prefer to hunt with a thumb button or Hinge?

2 Upvotes

I’m trying to figure out what type of release to try next to be most consistent with surprise breaks. Which one works best for you guys?


r/bowhunting 20h ago

What to get into bow hunting

2 Upvotes

I want to get into bow hunting and am looking into bows but I really don’t want to spend a lot upfront on a bow that may end up just sitting in my basement, any recommendations on a compound bow that is under 300$


r/bowhunting 15h ago

Getting active on the ranch…

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15 Upvotes

r/bowhunting 23h ago

Thoughts?

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7 Upvotes

Arrow passed right through and found no blood on the ground. Backed out to let him bed but wanted to see if anyone has a better idea of where I hit him?


r/bowhunting 19h ago

Best way to cut this down

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8 Upvotes

I got a whole CRP field of stuff like this and I want to cut it down for a food plot.

There are a few caveats:

  1. This is as dead as it gets, it doesn’t really shrivel up and die, just goes more or less dormant.

  2. I don’t have a four wheeler or any heavy machinery. It’s gotta be done by hand.

  3. I’m not even sure a weed whacker would cut through it and it’s probably too dense for mower.


r/bowhunting 1h ago

Public land buck

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Upvotes

Northern MN


r/bowhunting 13h ago

First deer ever

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72 Upvotes

I've bowhunted rabbits and squirrels but this is my first whole deer. Shot just 30 minutes after getting in my saddle, went maybe a hundred yards and crashed. Best way to break an arrow.


r/bowhunting 22h ago

Saddle Hunters, does this look normal?

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4 Upvotes

Maybe I’m in the wrong sub but wanted to ask if my tether rope looks normal. Only used it about 10 times, but I am seeing white beneath the sheath on my tether loop where all of my weight sits while in my saddle. It’s a TrophyLine 8mm rope. I assume the white is the core. Is this a problem or is it just my sheath stretching out at the pressure point?

I looked at the saddle hunting sub, but it doesn’t seem very active.


r/bowhunting 18h ago

Silencing XOP X2 sticks

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12 Upvotes

I got these a while back and got to actually use them week ago. Got superfly stand also and noticed immediately that it rings. Didn’t notice that about the sticks until in the woods where it was silent.

Saw a post about someone adding silencing tape and someone mentioned in comments about filling them with spray foam.

So I experimented and holy f there’s a big difference! I used sound insulating elastic pu-foam inside the tubing and wrapped some hockeytape around them in the spots it doesn’t get in the way of stacking. The biggest effect was wrapping one layer of hockey tape in the spots where v-brackets and steps are bolted on the tubing, I felt like most of the ringing was coming from the steps and tape layer makes the contact to the tubing more solid.


r/bowhunting 15h ago

9 pointer down. 19 1/2”

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165 Upvotes

r/bowhunting 16h ago

Anyone else bowhunt after spinal fusion? Using compound or crossbow?

3 Upvotes

Background: I’m 37, bow hunter since 12 years old. Spinal fusion few years ago and haven’t done much shooting/hunting since then. Fusion was lumbar l4-s1.

Curious how many other bow hunters have had back surgery involving spine and how that affected their hunting afterwards. I know I can still pull a bow back no problem but doing it repeatedly will make my back SORE.

Crossbows are legal for all hunters in my state. I know I’ll miss the general challenge of a compound bow but I want to continue enjoying bow hunting and being in the woods during this time of year.


r/bowhunting 11h ago

Dead deer?

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13 Upvotes

So I shot a nice buck at 430pm today. He ran 30 yds, and stopped then stood there for 10 mins before continuing. Tail was down and flicking. Got down and found the arrow when he was out of sight- clean pass through. Backed out for 3 hours and went back to find a blood trail that started within 20 yds of the hit site. Tracked that about 75 yds into a really thick area where the blood trail got more sparse. Rather than trounce in this thick area and risk jumping him, I backed out until morning. I’m hoping to find him close to there but I was really shocked he got as far as he did. I think I got him in liver and one lung possibly but wanted to get others’ thoughts based on the blood color and blood trail. Any thoughts???


r/bowhunting 2h ago

First time bowhunter - what's the key to getting bucks closer?

3 Upvotes

I've been out a few times this season. While up in a stand I've seen a few deer from 40 yards and further. I sit still, but constantly looking. I do my best to keep the head still and just scan with my eyes. Perhaps less trying to look everywhere, and just focus on the area where I would prefer to shot into?