Hey guys,
Took a nice mature doe this afternoon with my crossbow. Shot was about 40 yards. I aimed for the vitals, but it must have either hit an unseen branch, the deer flinched, or I just flat-out messed it up, but luckily it ended up slicing right through the neck and severed the carotid artery and windpipe. While field dressing I noticed the lungs had some small dark spots on them. The deer seemed perfectly healthy otherwise so I didn't think that much of it at the time. But now, after having time to sit back and reflect, those spots have me thinking. I've done some quick research and found a lot of people online who say that small spots like that are likely from trauma, basically blood being sucked into the lungs - and are especially common in deer shot in the neck. That all makes sense to me, but just thought I'd get some other opinions.
I didn't think to take any photos, and might be able to go back tomorrow to see if I can find the gut-pile, but I'm assuming the coyotes have already made short work of it.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!!
Took a nice mature doe this afternoon with my crossbow. Shot was about 40 yards. I aimed for the vitals, but it must have either hit an unseen branch, the deer flinched, or I just flat-out messed it up, but luckily it ended up slicing right through the neck and severed the carotid artery and windpipe. While field dressing I noticed the lungs had some small dark spots on them. The deer seemed perfectly healthy otherwise so I didn't think that much of it at the time. But now, after having time to sit back and reflect, those spots have me thinking. I've done some quick research and found a lot of people online who say that small spots like that are likely from trauma, basically blood being sucked into the lungs - and are especially common in deer shot in the neck. That all makes sense to me, but just thought I'd get some other opinions.
I didn't think to take any photos, and might be able to go back tomorrow to see if I can find the gut-pile, but I'm assuming the coyotes have already made short work of it.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!!