Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Archived Hunting Pics => Shooting and Hunting => 2018 Hunting Pics => Topic started by: BowEd on October 25, 2018, 01:17:54 am
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Around 4 or 5 days ago I thought I had shot a good arrow into a doe.It was a high on the rib rack but thought it was enough to put her down as it was at a good angle forward.I never did find that deer.
While looking I came across this deer's remains.Ribs,spine,leg bones.and lower jaws were there along with horns and skull.We had shed hunted earlier this spring but apparently did'nt shed hunt well enough.[After further investigation we've concluded here that this deer died from what is called blue tongue.A disease common during prolonged hot and dry periods of time in the summer.Transmitted from a little type fly that hangs around water sources.This buck still had remnants of velvet on it's browe tines so it died in late august.It's very fatal as it is non discriminatory killing old adults as well as young deer in just a matter of weeks].
This deer died far enough away from the trees that the squirrels did'nt do any chewing on it.I aged the deers molars as to be at least a 5.5 year old deer possibly and more than likely over that.It's skull is larger than the deer shot back in 2015 and the mass of the horn is more in circumference at the base also.Not meaning to boast any here but I sure wish I had gotten a shot at this boy because I'm sure he was a heavy weight deer.I do get to see these deer occasionally on the hoof but not in a shootable situation most times.A person can see the horns have that bleached look from setting out in the sun.I bleached his skull my usual way.Anyway so much for what might have been.
(https://i.imgur.com/n7okt5m.jpg)
Now this evening I got lucky to get a shot at this nice 1.5 year old doe.[correction...4.5 year old doe]Shot at a fairly steep angle through the rib cage catching the liver and a lung.She went down around 70 paces away.Used a 160 grizzly on a dogwood off my horn bow.560 grain arrow from a 48# bow.Don't know why my funky little camera flashes sometimes and then does'nt other times....lol.Arrow head was still sharp and shaft is in good shape so I'll leave the blood on her and use it for the next shot.
(https://i.imgur.com/hOm8PDa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6EBADGI.jpg)
I had boughten a scale some time ago to weigh these deer.I was a little surprised as to the weight of her.I wanted to shoot at a couple other bigger does that just would'nt present a shot so I just took the shot that was there at this one.It would be nice to get a couple more of these.Hopefully that will happen but nothings gauanteed.The weather is very favorable with a forecast of the same so that will help.I've been seeing quite a few deer here though and the bucks are pushing the does pretty good already.
After this doe being shot in my little area it usually gets vacant for a few days or I have to hunt a good quarter mile away on the other end of the property but in time they return or I just have to wait is all till things settle down.
(https://i.imgur.com/GVIf46u.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6j9Q5qx.jpg)
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Congratulations Ed. So glad you got your deer hanging on the pole. Very nice shed buck to. Understand you wishing they could have swapped places. Got some nice meat for the freezer though and a hide to tan. Pretty sure you'll harvest to brain and sinew to. So happy for you.
Bjrogg
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Nice job Ed. Congrats. :)
Pappy
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Congrats to you Ed.
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That will be some fine meat. Good job Ed!
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I had to look up where you were from after I saw the weight of the doe, around here (N Alabama) a 120# doe is a monster. Nice deer and even better, killing with primitive equipment.
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Awesome! Congrats
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Way to go, Ed! Nice doe! That skull and rack will look neat no matter how you put the finishing touches on them!
Hawkdancer
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Congrats Ed, and with a horn bow! Very cool.
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Thanks fellas.I won't waste much on these deer.Like the whole process of making it useful.Been turning on a few locals to the concept of primitive bow hunting.It's not for everyone I guess otherwise everyone would be dong it.Beautiful weather lately for bow hunting these deer with the forecast of the same.
We've got 5 weeks here of just clean straight bow hunting only for these deer in this state now before any shotgun seasons start now.With Thanksgiving on the horizon having got a turkey/deer/and vegetables from the garden along with good health of course and friends it should be a thankful time.
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Always love Thanksgiving Ed. My favorite holiday.
You do realize that probably 90 percent of the public is going to think that bow is supposed to be strung backwards. I love that bow. So glad you had successful hunt with it.
Bjrogg
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The bow was fun to make BJ.I've never been one to walk the same worn out trail others want to.Even while fetching dogs treed in the woods.....lol.It's dinged up and scratched but that's what a bow for hunting should look like.All of these trails in bow making have been walked by someone in the past.
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Good job with a really cool bow. God Bless
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Way to go Ed.
DBar
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Had one of those Down home Thanksgiving dinners when my boys were smaller - venison from the hunt, potatoes and veggies from the garden, the only things we didn't grow were the pumpkins for the pie and the flour for the bread, but if Iremember right, I baked the bread! Good feast!
Hawkdancer
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Congress
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Nice Ed congrats I know you been hunting hard !
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Way to go, Ed. That doe is as big as our mature bucks here. (A)
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Thanks fellas....The enviornment has a lot to do with it and type of year.They all don't weigh the same either age wise but generally the older the heavier though.There's big deer up north here in other areas too.It's all about opportunities and poundage over here for me.Usually I can get close to around 50% of the dressed weight to eat in the freezer.
Had a fella from the DNR come over to CWD test this doe.All indications look good on this deer but we'll see anyway.He can age deer very quickly and he himself has boughten a number of Dean Torges made bows but does'nt make bows himself.
A lot of this deer aging knowledge really is for those who want to raise deer.For the average hunter like me it's pretty much a nonconcern but kinda handy to know anyway.I have my own opinions and concerns about the deer farms.
From what he says and has seen is that the larger bodied bucks and possibly does dressed weight will be higher with less percentage of guts compared to most other deer.He has tested a lot of deer.He only lives 15 to 20 miles away.
He says the area I'm in here has been clean for CWD.It was very interesting talking with him.I guess the deer take quite a while like 2 to 3 yeas to die from it degenerating in condition before dieing.
I asked him saying how does a person really know that CWD has'nt been around a long time here with humans eating these deer as they think the prion could be in the meat humans consume.He said OHH...no Ed we've tested 1000's of deer in Iowa and around here too.We know!!!.He was pretty emphatic about it.Noone really has any info on what this prion will do to humans after consuming the meat.
A side note here......This baiting pile routine many try to do increases infection as saliva is a high contributing factor spreading this.The companies selling these are only contributing to the spread of this disease.
He appreciated me involving my deer in the survey.I watched and he took 2 glands from the back of the skull where the spine connects.He aged the deer then quickly by it's molars also.Now after butchering though I freeze the deer and wait till the results come back.Freezing does not kill this prion[they call it]of CWD though.It's a crazy stubborn type bug or virus or whatever for sure.They wait till many tests are accumulated before sending off.They all get sent to Iowa State University for testing.A near 3.5 hours from me.He covers a large area of Iowa doing this and stays pretty busy.He said their quota of tests were about enough to send now which is good.With bow season here the quota of tests does not rise as fast as say during the shotgun season here in Iowa in december as many deer are shot at once during those gun seasons.He also said that they test many road killed deer also of which there are many in my area I know.I will get back here when word of the test on my deer gets back to me.
The deer harvested here turned out to be negative.