Monday, December 17, 2012

Broken Tine December Buck

It's that time of year where life becomes busy with Christmas preparation and get togethers and that is why I decided to take advantage of an unbooked Saturday morning, December 15.  The only question was where do I sit?  We recently got permission to hunt 12 acres by my moms house, but I was thinking the odds would be better by the bank.  Speaking of odds, any previous year would have suggested the upper stand (also known as the hotspot or killer stand) would be the best choice for success, but this year, for the first time ever, the lower stand has out produced the upper stand with two bucks and doe compared to only two doe out of the upper stand.  So I decided to sit in the lower stand. 

 
I had been sitting for no more than 20 minutes and a buck came strolling in from the south.  It was still fairly dark, but I could tell it was a smaller rack, which got me wondering if it was the deer Andrew hit a couple weeks before.  I figured I would never find out for sure because it was about to step right into my wind, and I figured that would be the last I would ever see of him again, but that is not what happened.  The buck stepped into my wind and put his nose in the air, but instead of taking off, he started heading right for me.  In a matter of minutes, he was twenty yards in front of me, directly in my wind.  He looked away for a brief second and I took the opportunity to draw my bow.  I heard a whack and the deer took off to the north.  It ran about 50 yards up the powerline and stopped, stumbled, and rolled.  It was the first time I have ever seen a deer go down after shooting it with a bow (except spine shots).    

Not only did this buck loose the fight with my Hoyt CRX35 but it appears it lost a fight to another buck earlier in the season because its main tine on the left side was broken off.  It would have been a nice six but was a ugly five instead. 
 
 
The deer had no signs of being hit by Andrew a couple week prior so I got my answer on that question, and this guy solidified the lower stand with the top stand of 2012 with three bucks and a doe (plus the one Andrew wounded).
 
Stats:
Sex - Male
Points - 5 (broken tine)
Shot distance - 20 yards
Weapon - Hoyt CRX 35
Broadhead - Muzzy 100 grain three blade (that's right I'm back to shooting Muzzy's.  They seem to do the trick)
Shot placement - through the the shoulder and out the mid section (Muzzy blasted right through the bone.  You can't complain about that)
Weight - 115 lbs
Didn't have an illuminated nock on so I have no feedback for you. 
Stand - Lower Bank Stand

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Always stick with the Muzzy. I tried a couple mechanicals, and some other blades before but always go right back to my roots and the muzzy! Bad to the bone!

Anonymous said...

congrats again on another deer. I shot one real similar to that a few years ago, with one side broken off. It also had 3-4 round puncture wounds in its throat area, I'm assuming from another buck's antler tines. No deer for me this season, and baby #3 was born sunday, so i think it's safe to say I probably won't be getting out much in the next 2 weeks.
-BK

Chad and Amber Kraker said...

Congrats! I had that deer at ten yards during the rut, it was smelling my doe pee. Wasn't broken then, I wonder who he was fighting with. I don't think there are any other bucks in the county.

Bryan and Katy Kraker said...

I had fun trying different broadheads this year, but for the price, you just can't beat Muzzy's. I never have an issue with how they fly and they usually leave a nice size hole that results in a good blood trail. Plus, they bust through bone and the replacement blades are easy to install and cheap. Guess I'm a Muzzy man.

Anonymous said...

I'm considering going back to fixed blade heads as well. I've had more consistent pass-throughs that end up 6" or so in the dirt with my Thunderheads than I ever did with Rage or the Meatseeker. Also, flight was never an issue with any fixed or mechanical heads I've used. I guess I'm just a sucker for a good pass through, and I don't like the penetration I get with mechanicals in general. Next time I hunt will probably be with Thunderheads and basic, non-lighted nocks. :) Good luck on the remaining week and a half or your season, Krack Boys. See if you can get a deer or two more.
-BK