188MULE
Well-Known Member
I found this guy right before the opener. I hunted him last year, he is old and had really slowed down from last year. I nick named him The Flash since he hardly moved and when he did it was slow. I noticed while watching that when he rose from his bed he had too work like hell to get his back end off the ground. One day while he was feeding his back legs gave out and he was just sitting in the stubble looking around. This brings me too my first arrow, on my second stalk I was 35 yards from him and needed too get something done cause I had too get to work. If he bedded late he would lay all day till dark. The plan I came up with was too draw and rush him in his bed thinking he couldn't get out of it and I'd shoot him. Thats exactly what happened. When I rounded the bush he was at 15 yards, front end up, backend on the ground with his back too me, stuck. I centered my pin and released only too watch my arrow slide along his backbone going in about 14". The angle was not as steep as I thought. I knew instantly it was a poor hit. I tracked him a mile and a half over five hours. My thought was him being in poor health already that he would lay up get stiff and expire. My dad and I walked many many miles, I flew in a plane for several hours looking, was out every morning for two weeks looking. One morning while glassing I noticed the two young bucks he had been with this summer, they were looking into a creek. I thought, they couldn't be looking back at him. Yes they were, I was all smiles, not only was he still alive but he looked completely healthy. I had plans for two days and returned on monday only too watch him bed in posted land all day. He made his way off of the posted land but it was too dark for a shot. Tuesday morning I found him and luckily he bedded early without his little buddies. I was 24 yards when I finally spotted his main beam in the brush, there was a chokecherry bush between us which was a problem. After staring at this bush for a long time I found a hole that I could slip a arrow thru if he stood and gave me a shot. A hour and some later I saw his head bobbing as he was attempting to stand. I drew, found the hole which was right where I needed it to be and released. The shot was perfect this time.The first arrow wound was almost completely healed. I will add his age when I get the results. I am very proud of this one.
