“Lost on Bayou de Chein”

I had not been hunting long and decided to hunt east of hwy 51 on Bayou de Chein.  I had never hunted this area of the creek bottom and was in strange territory.  I had permission to hunt a farm across the creek and a little west of Robert Washburn.

I located a likely looking spot in the bottom and put my stand up.  I waited all day and nothing seen but blue jays and squirrels.  I finally decided this was not a good spot and got down to go home for the day.  Just as my feet hit the ground I heard the sound of running hooves.  I knocked an arrow and looking in the direction the noise came from I spotted a panicked deer headed straight at me.  He slammed on the brakes and I took a head on shot.  I could not tell if I hit him but I saw his white flag just a fanning as he retreated.

I sat and waited a few minutes enjoying my last cup of Joe and went to check for a hit or not.  I found blood on the ground and started trailing him.

My uncle and grandfather were hunters and trappers and taught me how to track an animal so it was usually no challenge.  I trailed until dark and then used my flash.  I did not pay attention to direction but noticed that he was crossing a small drainage back and forth and I kept up with which side of it I was on.  I ran out of blood and knew it was close but could not find it.   By now I was familiar with his hoof print so I followed what appeared to be his.  In a short while I picked up blood again.  There  was no froth to it like a lung shot would do.  I thought I had hit low in the front of the neck.  I missed the spine  completely or he would not have run.  This went back and forth for a while.  Follow blood then follow tracks.  I finally gave up.

This was the first of two deer I ever lost and it is not a good feeling to lose a kill.

I headed east to find my car and it was not there.  Well it was but I was not.  I circled to be sure it was not below the next field but it was not.  It was beginning to look like I was going to spend the night in the bottom.  I heard the unmistakable sound of a trucks tires on 51 and knew  that was west and if I headed out to the south I would come out on the road and then walk east to where I started.  This would be a lot longer but sure.  I cut a small tree about 15 foot long and stripped it.  I drug this behind me so that I would not be as likely to turn in a circle.

I made it back to my car, a little late, but not as late as might have been.  Returning the next morning I found that the drainage I thought I had crossed back and forth was actually several drainages’.   I still did not find the deer but really I did not want to by then.

One thing I learned in scouting is that the tool between your ears is your best and if you get lost or face a problem.  STOP and think.   There is always a way.