My 2024 deer season ended with a "Bang"

[deadeye]

The weather looked great for a bow hunt this morning, so I got up early and made the slippery trip to the land eager to see the woods come alive. I was all settled in shortly after 7:00 AM. Just at sunrise I saw a very nice buck heading my way. Just a glimpse of his antlers and I knew I was going to shoot him. I followed him in the crossbow scope as slowly walked out of some thin brush and into a clear shooting path a mere 35 yards away. Thats when things took and ugly turn. I failed to notice that while following him in the scope, the left cam of the bow was now positioned too close to the tree trunk. When I pulled the trigger, the left cam struck the tree rapidly forcing the bow to my right causing several of the bow strings to break and the server string to come off the cam. Basically, it's a mess now and I don't really know what is all damaged. Too add insult to injury, I now had to watch the big buck walk away ending my bow season.   

[mike89]

that darn buck fever...

[LPS]

That's the best deer hunting story of the year DE.  Too bad about the bow and that you didn't get hurt too. 

[Rookie]

That's really tough. Well, maybe he will survive until next year.

[deadeye]

I had a chance to check the crossbow for damage. The strings are shot. The right cam is missing the keeper (c-clip). The right bow rockers are missing, probably on the ground below the tree I was in. The limbs look to be in good shape. Pride is a bit bruised but will recover with a bit of time. The buck was not wounded so hopefully he will be around next year. Hard to tell but it could possibly be the one pictured below. His rack was symmetrical and about the same size. Aside from the broken bow (I'm assuming it can be fixed) and not getting the buck, (I may encounter him next year) what disappoints me the most is I probably will not get out deer hunting again this year. Heck, bow opener is just 9 months away. Now, where did I put that shotgun, there's some grouse I need to harass.   

[deadeye]

On the day before Christmas, I got my repaired crossbow back from Archery Country. They replaced both cams, the strings and the missing limb rockers. Oh, yes, the bill was $507. I put the scope back on and fired a few shots and all looked good, so I went hunting yesterday (Thursday). While in the stand I saw a doe and fawn and a small flock of turkeys but didn't shoot anything. If the weather forecast is correct, I may go again on December 31st. It's possible the bucks may have started shedding antlers.   

[fishwidow]

I’ve had two bucks not far from the house this week.  One was fairly small. Looked like a small six point and needs a couple years to be a shooter. The other one showed up this morning and had a nice widespread rack. I couldn’t get a count because his East-West profile was against trees and brush behind him. His North-South profile was pretty impressive.