We're only getting started. The deer only went about ten steps and stopped. They are still in the 25-35 yard range but my bow isn't cocked. My rope cocker is in my jacket pocket, which is hidden by my fanny pack. I managed to work it out after what seemed like a minute of fumbling. Two of the deer were in some bushes but the other was still in the open enough to see me. With a shooting rail I had to put the entire crossbow over the rail to get it to my feet to cock it. I got it cocked as they started to depart. Dang it. The big doe left first. The only shot I had was at one of the little ones at about 35 yards. THWANG. CRACRACRAK. I wasn't sure if I had hit or not but it sounded odd. They ran a few steps then continued walking. I could tell I had missed because all three walked across an old logging road about 75 yards in front of my stand to go feed under a couple oaks about 90 yards away. I could still see them!
Time to get my stalk on.
I cocked my crossbow and loaded an arrow with a Spitfire since I am now fresh out of Rages. I climbed down the tree and started working my way toward the deer. I got my rangefinder back out. 60 yards. I keep slipping using all available cover. 50 yards. Wait! One of them is walking back out across the logging road. It is a small one. 40 yards. Arghhh! No comfortable shot. It did the slow walk and never stop trick. Then the other two start feeding toward the road but will cross farther down. I stalk forward another 10 yards keeping an eye on the first deer. Finally the big doe walks out into the road broadside at 40 yards feeding. THWANG. Good hit. Maybe a tad high, but a double lung hit anyway from arrow #3. Not bad for a freehanded shot.
I loaded arrow #4 and retreated back toward my stand to retrieve arrows #1 & 2. The first Rage has a few nicks from the rocky soil. It may be a loss. The second arrow hit a sapling in front of the deer. It must have bounced off a couple things because the arrow shaft was broken into in two places back near the fletching. The Rage head was the same as the first. It may be a loss.
Now to track my deer. I found blood almost immediately. Nice and bright red. I trailed it about 75 yards to the doe. While I was admiring her, I looked up and saw two deer about 50 yards out. Game on.
I started slipping toward them. One briefly presented a 40 yard shot but I passed. I moved in closer as they approached a thin shooting lane. WHEEEW. Another deer to my right I didn't see blew at me. I think there were a few actually. The lead doe stepped into the thin shooting lane and stopped. 38 yards. Once again freehanded...THWANG! CRACK! Within 50 yards of where it happened to me last season, a tree jumped in front of my arrow.
I guess the shooting lane didn't have enough margin for error. The deer never moved.I waved my hands and told them to 'Get the heck out of here'! I had to. I was out of arrows.
Here is the doe.
And here is an ugly quiver for only one hunt.
From the left:
1) Limb hit tree, shot in ground. Broadhead toast.
2) Bounced off limbs and or rocks. Broke shaft twice near fletching.
3) Shot into tree. Its shorter. I had to unscrew it from the broadhead.
4) The only arrow that left the woods serviceable was the one that killed a deer.
That was an interesting half hour.
DuckHunt
She just kept feeding away with arrows sticking out of the ground all around her. I had one more arrow left plus my turkey arrow, but I figured that she was supposed to be alive for some reason or else I would have hit her. So I hung my bow back up and watched her untill she left.