I found a suitable tree fairly close to a heavily used trail and climbed about 25 feet up with my TreeLounger. After a spell, I rattled antlers a few times and this buck responded. He approached cautiously and then bounded away. I waited 10 minutes and rattled again. After about 20 minutes, he approached from a different direction but I was able to move in my tree stand un-detected. But the buck always seemed to keep himself partially screened by brush and limbs which was both frustrating and exciting. After several tense minutes he presented a clear shot at approx 22 yards and I fired my crossbow. This crossbow is amazingly accurate. The ghastly hole is the entrance wound. My high speed bolt (arrow) exited behind the shoulder on opposite side. My tree stand was about 25 feet off the ground which explains the shot angle. At the shot, the buck dashed away at and vanished into thick cover. I waited 45 minutes and descended my stand to follow the blood trail. After a short walk, I found my prize.
The bolt broke through a short rib in neck/shoulder area and cut through another as it exited. Yet it had enough remaining power to imbed itself up to the fletching in the damp soil. Sadly, I bent the bolt pulling it free from the soil.
Crossbows have been widely used since
before The Crusades. Modern materials and engineering have been a blessing to those of us who enjoy these amazing venison-getters.
TR
