IL 2019 Hunt

[Widude]

I was down for the 1st deer hunt, great weather. The deer numbers were a bit lower than long term averages, also less pressure on neighboring properties.

The 1st day, not a whole lot. A relative got a 10 pt, with 1/3 of the tines broke from fighting, wide spread though. At this property it’s expected, wall-hangars or anterless, no 6 pointers. He used a 50 cal Extreme I passed his way.

Day two I was in a good spot, started seeing good activity 1 hour before quitting time. Here comes a badly wounded, average, 8 ptr, normally passed on here. I did a quick debate, then took it at 30 yards. Since we had to come for the down buck, I took an adult doe 20 minutes later, 60 yards. Both very easy recoveries, zero yards traveled, then 10 yards after the ‘crazy run’.

I used my 45 cal Elite, 115 grains of B209, CCIM primer & a 200 grn Hornady XTP, Crush-Rib sabot. A rather simple load, tack-driving with my Zeiss 3-9 Conquest.

Just an after hunt report, nothing exceeding special, fine hunt.

 

[BuckDoeHunter]

Congrats!

 

[toytruck]

Very nice! Always good to put meat in the freezer.

 

[j_jim]

Ethical choice on to take that animal down so as not to suffer or go to waste. Was it badly wounded from another hunter, or something else?

 

[dbowling]

good hunt and as said good choice.

 

[Idaholewis]

Good Job What was his Bad injury you speak of?

 

[Walkingeagle]

Congrats sir.
Was there any meat loss due to the previous injury?
Walk

 

[Widude]

This injured deer would take 3-4 pained steps, then stop. I had about a minute to think it over. There was 1 hour left that eve, then the next morning’s hunt. At most I could do 1 day on the ‘2nd hunt’. It was a $325 non-res tag, FYI.

I think it was a rife or maybe a bow shot near or in the stomach area. The stomach was somewhat bloated on field dressing, but there were no obvious, fresh wounds. I do believe it was a wound or less so a vehicle injury over any disease issue.

We have people lined up to take the deer. This one went to a local processor to be given to one of those. I don’t expect more details when they skin, with all the other deer in the cooler, but maybe. Over the years they find all sorts of things like embedded arrow tips, etc..

I did look a little for another hole, there was a suspect area, but we didn’t remove the hide. The rest of the field dressing was mostly normal. We even have someone who wants the hearts, saved her 3 over the weekend.

Over the years we’ve dealt with a fair amount of wounded deer. A partner tagged a 6 pt that was in rough shape a few years back. Just a lighter limp isn’t enough, a relative had a Doe with a totally broken leg(vehicle) live years & give birth near his MI house.

The day we left IL(Sunday) a neighbor called & said he almost hit a wounded 8 pt walking down the road driving in to hunt. This would be about 2 miles away, the morning AFTER I shot this deer.

Hunt long enough & ‘stuff happens’, but I really try to be picky about shooting. I have no interest in letting 3 shots(IL limit) go with the semi-auto shotgun at the 150 yard running deer.