TygerJ
FNG
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2017
- Messages
- 71
This weekend I shot a bull at ~25 yards and broadside. My arrow struck him higher than ideal. Believe it was behind the left shoulder, but perhaps top of lungs or below spine. Arrow didn’t get great penetration; I’d guess ~8-10 inches.
After being hit, the bull ran off into some scrub-oak, arrow sticking out his side with blood down
Waited an hour before moving in to find him. Once in the location of the last sighting, it took us hours to eventually find a blood trail - which was perhaps 100+ yards directly up a nearly vertical ridge face. The blood trail was weak; occasional drops and bloody brush were he walked by. Blood confirmed he was bleeding down his left side only and blood was often very low...only occasional blood higher on brush.
Spent a total of seven hours on the blood trail the day of shot. Trail led me to the spine of the ridge with no indications where he went from the last blood spot I found.
Next day I spent an additional 3.5 hours trying to extend the blood trail. Only minimal extension achieved.
No birds circling, no smells to follow, no further blood trail found. Searched and searched and have no indication where the bull went from the last blood spot I found. Additionally, I never found my arrow either. For all I know my arrow was still in him - clogging the entrance wound, limiting blood trail.
Thus far I have not recovered nor seen the bull since. Haunts me.
Anybody have any insight on similar situations? Think this type of shot was fatal?
Attached is a diagram showing where I believe I hit him - green dot area.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
After being hit, the bull ran off into some scrub-oak, arrow sticking out his side with blood down
Waited an hour before moving in to find him. Once in the location of the last sighting, it took us hours to eventually find a blood trail - which was perhaps 100+ yards directly up a nearly vertical ridge face. The blood trail was weak; occasional drops and bloody brush were he walked by. Blood confirmed he was bleeding down his left side only and blood was often very low...only occasional blood higher on brush.
Spent a total of seven hours on the blood trail the day of shot. Trail led me to the spine of the ridge with no indications where he went from the last blood spot I found.
Next day I spent an additional 3.5 hours trying to extend the blood trail. Only minimal extension achieved.
No birds circling, no smells to follow, no further blood trail found. Searched and searched and have no indication where the bull went from the last blood spot I found. Additionally, I never found my arrow either. For all I know my arrow was still in him - clogging the entrance wound, limiting blood trail.
Thus far I have not recovered nor seen the bull since. Haunts me.
Anybody have any insight on similar situations? Think this type of shot was fatal?
Attached is a diagram showing where I believe I hit him - green dot area.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk