I'm bummed and want to puke

Founder · Nov 1, 2012

I first spotted this buck on day 7 of my hunt. On day 9 I cut tracks of a doe, fawn and big buck in the mud leaving a stand of aspens where I had last seen this buck two days earlier. I thought it might be him. The tracks were fresh....I had just bumped them out of the stand of aspens. So, I took off down a pine sidehill to catch them in the next stand of aspens. It was him, but the shot was too far at that point. I could only watch him go into the thick aspens. So, I got in position and waited 6 hours for him to feed out. Right at sunset, last day of the hunt, he emerged from the trees and presented me with the perfect opportunity to add a trophy to the collection. I had a great rest for the 340 yard shot. I figured it was cake.

But NO, I screwed up and hit him high. I lost him!!! What a kick in the butt. I feel like crap still. I know misses happen, but it shouldn't have happened.

There's a deadhead out there for someone.

I have good video if you watch my webcast in the HAC forum. You can see the bullet flying right in, going through the face and into the high shoulder area. The buck turned his head just as I touched off and it appears the bullet went through his face, broke his jaw, then hit him high in the shoulder area. I just shot 4 inches high.

What a crappy deal. I would have rather missed clean and turned him up next year maybe. I tracked him the next day for 6 hours and 3/4 mile. He was bleeding, but I lost blood in the dry ground where he had taken off bouncing or running fast. I obviously didn't hit any of the stuff he needed for immediate life.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

Zeke · Nov 1, 2012

Not good!
Zeke

PS: I'd say more but there's nothing else to say.

jarheadhunter · Nov 1, 2012

To bad Brian that alsway sucks. Hopefully he will make it and you can get at him next year. Happens to anyone that hunts and it does stand out in your mind sometimes more then the ones we get.

Deerlove · Nov 1, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Nov-01-12 AT 01:55PM (MST)[p]Sorry Jar he aint gonna make it. Sux

Tristate · Nov 1, 2012

That is a definate bummer. I reviewed the tape a few times and it looks like the bullet may have just cut across the bridge of his nose then re-entered above the spine. Maybe I am incorrect in my asessment, but that deer may live another season. Over the years as a taxidermist I have seen all assortment of seemingly fatal wounds that animals actually lived through. I have seen on several occasions pigs, hippo, and deer that have been shot through the face and somehow survived. None of these examples had suffered a broken lower mandible that I could tell. On two seperate occasions I have seen deer that had copper jackets from bullets that had actually fractured the skulls and partially entered the brain cavities of the bucks and they had survived to be shot years later by other hunters. Almost every year I see deer that have survived being shot above their spine. Last year one of the biggest whitetail we mounted had survived a gunshot to the back of his neck. The wound looked at least a month old and the deer was in otherwise perfect health kicking ass and chasing girls when he was finaly killed. You really would be amazed how tough these deer are.

Anyway sorry you didn't collect your critter and better luck next time.

elkassassin · Nov 1, 2012

Bad Deal there!

I know people will cuss me!

But a little High & a little far Back!

I like takin the Front Limbs out from under them,it slows em down!

I hope somebody recovers him!

Hello Mr. Wisz,This is the UDWR Calling....LMMFAO!
15" Bases?
30" 5ths?
GOOD GAWD A MIGHTY!

never_catch · Nov 1, 2012

Sorry to hear that Brian. You know it's part of hunting so don't tear yourself up over it man. I know, easier said than done...

~Z~

ElkSniper · Nov 1, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Nov-01-12 AT 02:42PM (MST)[p]That sucks dude but it happens. It happens to all of us one time or another. If it hasnt happend to you,
you have not hunted long enough.

eldorado · Nov 1, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Nov-01-12 AT 03:01PM (MST)[p]Sorry to hear that Brian. Things do happen and you did your best to recover the buck.

Eldorado

jarheadhunter · Nov 1, 2012

>LAST EDITED ON Nov-01-12
>AT 01:55?PM (MST)
>
>Sorry Jar he aint gonna make
>it. Sux

I would like to know how you know that?

It looked like it just hit the very top of his back. It missed the spine or he would of dropped. There have been animals that live through worse then that.

30Hart · Nov 1, 2012

Sorry to hear it, but thanks for sharing...most guys would have kept quiet especially on a forum. Hopefully he makes it, that was a way nice buck!

YELUM · Nov 1, 2012

After watching it several times, I'm not convinced the bullet broke the nose skin, but am pretty sure the shot was too high to do any lasting damage.

Pretty sure he'll look just like this bucx k, and be just as wise.

Yelum

BCBOY · Nov 1, 2012

Brian,
I've been there done that. If you hunt long enough it will happen. I also do know that deer survive some pretty insaine things. Back in 2006 I shot a buck and lost it. It was my dream buck that I had hunted for 5 years and had several sets of sheds off of. I was just sick! I know that feeling. I was fortunate to have more hunting season left and hunted for that buck for 3 1/2 weeks. Everytime I heard ravens I headed that direction. Finally on the last day of the season I found him. And he was still alive and kickin' and gave me an absolute hunt of a lifetime before I was able to finally put him down for good with only a couple hours to spare in the season. For 3 1/2 weeks I kicked myself and beat myself up. Not eating and not sleeping. How could I have screwed up so badly. I had a bizillion ideas of what happened. When I finally killed the buck the mystery was answered. My wounding shot was a little far forward but still through the brisket and took out oposite shoulder. To this day I don't know how the hell I missed lungs. Maybe he exhaled just before I shot??? He should have been dead. But 3 1/2 weeks later he gave me the run of my life and after hitting him with another lung shot, he still climbed straight up the mountain in knee deep snow. How the hell does a buck do that???

huntinco · Nov 1, 2012

A few words. Blood tracking dog!!!

Justin Richins
R&K Hunting Company Inc.
www.thehuntingcompany.com

Deuce · Nov 1, 2012

Brian, I just watched the video I think you may have missed the nose and just hit him high. Anyway it was just bad luck which sometimes happens.

nripepi · Nov 1, 2012

I watched it a bunch of times and I think it was just high as well, he might still be alive. Maybe he will be back in same place next year.

We all have similar stories that you relive for years, I guess you relive them for your whole life, I am sure you have a few more yourself. You just have to learn from them and get back on the horse next year. I am really glad you showed everyone that video, I learned a lot from watching it. Thanks for your podcasts.

7thgenmt · Nov 1, 2012

Id be sick about passing those bigger bucks before you wounded the smaller of the three,nothing looses blood like that and survives.

gb22 · Nov 1, 2012

I actually admire that you "told" on yourself for losing him.

The one I "lost" was 30+ years ago......and I busted my butt for 2 days trying to find him......makes a guy sick.

Within the shadows, go quietly.

YZF_88 · Nov 2, 2012

Somebody here told me it is illegal to use dogs for blood tracking here. I've never looked into it but I don't understand why it would be. There is a team of blood tracking volunteers in WI that are seemingly always on call for this exact scenario.

swbuckmaster · Nov 2, 2012

>Somebody here told me it is
>illegal to use dogs for
>blood tracking here. I've never
>looked into it but I
>don't understand why it would
>be. There is a team
>of blood tracking volunteers in
>WI that are seemingly always
>on call for this exact
>scenario.

The guys that told you that are dont know the law. you can use dogs to track a wounded animals. It must be on a leash though.

who farted?

hog · Nov 2, 2012

I hate that feeling of losing a buck you hit. I sure enjoyed your documentary/podcast of your hunt.

dreaminbouthuntin · Nov 2, 2012

Sorry to hear that man. After watching it, i will chime in.
I do think you hit him in the nose. I slowed it down and it shows the hair puffing up. Now, what I cant tell is weither or not you skinned his nose or it went through. I am not convinced it was a 'kill' shot to the body. One thing sticks out in my mind..
Last year i was on a short range weapon antelope hunt. One hunter hit a doe in what we thought was the head. We tracked blood for over a mile, good heavy blood. We snuck with in range again and put her down. When we inspected the 'head shot', it turns out she was shot through the ear. Perfect slug hole. That doe would have lived for sure. All it was was a nice earring hole but bled like a head wound.
My guess with a nose shot like that, it will bled and bled alot as all head wounds do. Weither or not it will effect him, i cant say.
But i believe if he ran that far and you lost blood, he is still alive.
I hit a buck low in the leg once, went though the meat of the leg, skinned his underbelly. He took off like a torpedo. Took me a while to get back on him. Ended him with a double lung. He would have survived the first hit, no doubt.
It will happen to everyone someday you hunt long enough.
Lord knows i practice follow up shots just as much as initial first shot.
Boom, fast as i can keeping my cheek on the stock, reload another round, and get back on them for another shot. Its saved my hide several times even with great well placed shots. They are just tough ass animals.
Hoep you have a better go of it next year.

jainoon · Nov 2, 2012

>Id be sick about passing those
>bigger bucks before you wounded
>the smaller of the three,nothing
>looses blood like that and
>survives.

Women

35huntdeer · Nov 2, 2012

I watched the video several times.... Looks like you nicked the bridge of his nose and hit high on the back, maybe an inch or two from the top of back. The head area of any animal, including us, is very vascular! A wound around the head, even though superficial, can bleed quite a lot. All that being said, I think that buck will live.
Sorry about the bad look! Looks like you tried your hardest to find him.

P.S.
I think would have shot the wide buck!!!

CDclub · Nov 2, 2012

Agreed, "It's just a flesh wound!". Look at the bright side, he might not smell ya coming next year...

kickerbuck · Nov 2, 2012

Sorry man that is hard to swallow! I'm sure you are like me and have so much respect for them that you hate to see one suffer.
This one will eat at you for a while.

TheKnack · Nov 2, 2012

It can happen to anyone and it will never make you feel warm and fuzzy about it.
After viewing the film I think that buck just may make it. If in doubt look for him again when you come back to Colorado third season.
Best,
Jerry

gb22 · Nov 2, 2012

I looked in the Hunt Challenge forum.......how do I find the video? You've all talked about it so much, I'd really like to look, too.

Within the shadows, go quietly.

Rambo · Nov 2, 2012

Go to monsterhuntclips.com. to watch. Thanks Brian for documenting your hunts so well I have learned a lot. I feel for you, I still have bad dreams about an elk I lost 2 yrs ago.

beech18 · Nov 3, 2012

Thats about one of the worse things to happen but as other have said. For those who have hunted long enough its bound to happen unfortunately. Appears you did the best you could to track him down. Thanks for sharing your recent expirience.

fly4fish · Nov 3, 2012

I feel your pain Brian. Like the others, I think there is a chance he will survive; probably 50/50. If he dies, I think it will be infection that gets him this winter. It did not appear that you hit much bone or any organs, but you never know what that bullet did inside.

There was a buck that lived around my father's house years ago. He was shot twice, high above the lungs in mid October by a dirt bag shooting from the road onto dad's property. Did not look like he was going to live. By mid November, he was gimping around chasing does in the yard. By spring, he barley had a limp or a scar.

I think the worse thing that is eating at you is that maybe you could have waited for a better shot, but I know how that goes too. Hind sight is always 20/20. Better luck next time. Time will ease the pain.

gb22 · Nov 3, 2012

Thank you, Rambo.

I'm among those guys who think the "nose shot" was no big deal and who believe there is a definite chance the body shot was high enough not to be a kill shot. (Hope)

Within the shadows, go quietly.

doggbiter · Nov 3, 2012

Nice shot!

littlejoe · Nov 3, 2012

I feel your pain. Had a Zebra duck the string in Botswana and hit him high in the shoulder. Tracked him for a couple of days and found blood spuratically but he never ever slowed down and I am convinced he will survive but with a limp. It just sucks no matter what.

soupcreek · Nov 4, 2012

Sorry for the misery. That is never fun. I just watched the video. One thing I noticed was that the buck did not appear to absorb much energy from the bullet. I assume you are not shooting 50 grain bullets. The buck obviously jumps, but doesn't appear to be "pushed" a lot by the bullet. I don't think you hit him super hard. I am no expert, but based on what I see in the video, I think Yelum might be right.
Soup