Hunter: Charles Knight
Points: 8 (4L, 4R)
County: Dooly
Season: 2017-2018
Hunt Story
On Saturday 11-18 2017, I was able to shoot a 215-lb. 8-point with a 20-inch spread. I was hunting in a hardwood bottom on private land. At 9:00 a.m. a yearling doe fed through the bottom feeding on acorns. I was expecting to see the mama doe come through next. At 9:30 I glimpsed what I thought was a doe in heavy cover. A minute later I realized the deer was a buck, but thought the deer and rack were small as his head was down feeding on acorns in very thick cover. Two minutes later the deer moved into clearer view with head up and I realized the deer had a large body with a very nice rack. I placed a shot just behind the right front shoulder. The deer ran off as if going to puddle up at any second. It was impossible to get a follow up shot with the deer running through very thick hardwood bottom land cover. I went to the spot of the shot and found hair, blood and meat, but no blood trail. After searching where I had seen the buck run there was no blood trail to be found. At this point I called for a tracking dog and waited. The tracking dog team showed up and found the buck about 400 yards from the spot of shot in very thick cover near a creek. This was a case of the shot hitting where aimed and the deer not leaving a blood trail that a human could follow. The tracking dog was able to follow the deer's path, we did find one spot of blood about 200 yards from where shot. Would never have found without the dog. The great little tracking dog turned what could have turned into a very disappointing loss into a great hunt.
