How many wounded bucks survive?

I often wonder how many wounded bucks survive after being arrowed during the archery season. This one was hit earlier in the year and he seems to be doing OK.

Brad I have personally killed 5 bucks that have been shot before I have found bullet holes, bullets and even broadheads. That’s just me, I wonder how many are in my area that are wounded too. Sorta sad.

Sure make you wonder cool pic

Watched Inside Outdoors hunting show about a month back and they encountered a wounded buck with the area sticking out of him…and he was still chasing does! They never were able to put another one in him but he looked to be doing OK as well. They are a tough animal indeed! Cool pics also Brad!

The first year I bow hunted I unfortunately wounded a big buck. 150″ range. The next day out of the same stand I seen him and was unable to get a shot. The arrow from the previous day was still in him. Thankfully the neighbors were able to harvest him a couple days later.

Quote:

---

The first year I bow hunted I unfortunately wounded a big buck. 150″ range. The next day out of the same stand I seen him and was unable to get a shot. The arrow from the previous day was still in him. Thankfully the neighbors were able to harvest him a couple days later.

---

You bow hunt long enough and it’s bound to happen to everyone no matter how hard you practice. You just get back on the horse and continue to improve your shooting with practice! Some people might think that archery hunting isn’t ethical but I can tell you I’ve shot several deer that have died with in seconds and can be as quick as any bullet placement. The buck I shot this year was dead within probably 25 seconds as I watched him go down.

I don’t know if we can comprehend just how tough these critters are. To think they survive the winters alone.

Looks like a muscle hit, should make it. Gun season wounds WAYYYYYY more deer than bowhunting ever will. If a deer does not fall down while being shot at during deer drives-it is usually is not followed up on. Many leg hits, paunch hits-they can go a long ways.

I’ve processed thousands of deer and have found hundreds that have been hit before.Some by hunters and some by vehicles. I’ve deducted by examining these survivers that they all had no damage to vital organs. Thus any wounds that haven’t penetrated heart,lungs,liver,kidneys,stomach or intestines aren’t life threatening. It amazing the capabilities these animals to heal and fight off infection. If a foreign object is embedded in the animal (bullet,slug,broadhead) deer will form a protective pocket around the foreign object to keep it from further irritation or infections. They are truly amazing!

Amazing pic. Thanks for sharing Brad. They are tough critters.

Wow, great photo. Looks like almost the exact same shot I put on the buck I spoke of in my “It happened to me” post. Steep shot angle, just at the posterior front shoulder. Somewhat reassuring that my buck may survive (I never found him after a week of searching).

Of the dead deer I’ve found on my place in the past few years, one was a kidney shot where the archer shot straight down into the buck, and the others were all paunch shots just anterior to the back leg, with both arrow and bullet wounds represented. I’ve never found a muscle-shot deer dead, yet at least.

My question is do you think a shoulder shot deer, such as the one in your photo, will have a messed-up rack the next year, as a buck with a broken or otherwise injured leg would, or will he grow a normal rack again? (assuming he survives the winter)

I got a pic of a deer last year with an arrow in his head. He was tending a scrape in the pic. I then got a pic of him the next day with the arrow broke off and he seemed to be fine. I also have shot deer that were shot befor. Some of them at least a year or more ago. 1 I even found 8″ of arrow in his shoulder completely healed up, no infection or anything just a little extra cartlidge. I’m posting the pics of the 1 with the arrow in his head first 2 with it 3rd after he broke it off. Hope you can see in the post.

wow!!! you can see it in the first pic!!! I have yet to shoot a deer that has been shot before and it sounds like it pretty prevalent according to people on this site Do you guys keep the used broad head that you find in the deer as a souvenir?

Hey Mike J. Try out Irfanview for a free picture manipulator. It works great and is pretty simple to use and it’s free.I have been using it for about 7 years now.

Ferny