Last weekend I was out after sika. I was walking up a fire break when suddenly a sika doe came out onto the break and started down staight towards me. I slowly dropped to the ground, she kept coming ,then stopped about 30 yds from me, she knew I was there . All I could do was keep still, then behind her I could make out antlers about 100yds away.
Eventually she returned to the safety of the trees she gave a few warning barks and I knew then my chance was lost . The antlers belonged to a pair of spikers. They stood their ground alarmed and looking in my direction.
A prone shot was not an option because of the long grass . Eventually they turned to leave. I raised the sticks and they did not run. So with rifle at the ready I stood up I placed the cross hairs on the shoulder /low neck areas and let go with 150gr sp from my 308. I saw the hit and the deer flop over. A conventional heart /lung shot was not an option as he was sort of quartering towards me. I waited a few minutes nothing moving. Then I saw the head and legs coming up and down and kicking out in the long grass . I decided to close the distance and fire again . To cut a long story short I didn't get a chance and he eventually made his way into the edge of foresty, crashing around and both front legs were not functioning . I decided to retreat and walk back 15min to the car to collect the dog. At this time I assumed he would have settled down and died.
On returning to the area which I had marked I could not find a single sign of a hit no blood ,hair or bone. The dog found where he entered the young plantation but no blood could be found as we went . Despite extensive searching nothing .
A friend has a teckel and decided to drive the 60 miles round trip and collect the dog and see if he could help but nothing . So six hours after the shot, beaten I decided to head home .
I had seen this happened to a friend but it had never happened to me before .
What I can't understand is how there was no blood for such a hit. It would be good to hear from anyone who could explain what may have occured So that something positive can come from this.
Thanks
Eventually she returned to the safety of the trees she gave a few warning barks and I knew then my chance was lost . The antlers belonged to a pair of spikers. They stood their ground alarmed and looking in my direction.
A prone shot was not an option because of the long grass . Eventually they turned to leave. I raised the sticks and they did not run. So with rifle at the ready I stood up I placed the cross hairs on the shoulder /low neck areas and let go with 150gr sp from my 308. I saw the hit and the deer flop over. A conventional heart /lung shot was not an option as he was sort of quartering towards me. I waited a few minutes nothing moving. Then I saw the head and legs coming up and down and kicking out in the long grass . I decided to close the distance and fire again . To cut a long story short I didn't get a chance and he eventually made his way into the edge of foresty, crashing around and both front legs were not functioning . I decided to retreat and walk back 15min to the car to collect the dog. At this time I assumed he would have settled down and died.
On returning to the area which I had marked I could not find a single sign of a hit no blood ,hair or bone. The dog found where he entered the young plantation but no blood could be found as we went . Despite extensive searching nothing .
A friend has a teckel and decided to drive the 60 miles round trip and collect the dog and see if he could help but nothing . So six hours after the shot, beaten I decided to head home .
I had seen this happened to a friend but it had never happened to me before .
What I can't understand is how there was no blood for such a hit. It would be good to hear from anyone who could explain what may have occured So that something positive can come from this.
Thanks