Oh Deer....

So last night I accomplished one of the goals I set out for myself each fall.  Before the firearms season gets here, I always make it a goal to harvest a deer with the bow and arrow.  It simply ranks up there with catching a 50+ muskie.  If it weren't for muskie fishing, bow hunting would be my fave. This year has been very similar to years past for my bow hunts.  Many does and small bucks, but little big buck activity.  With last season showing me 7 different shooter bucks for the wall, I was pretty jazzed for this year.  Well, other than one shot of a big boy in August from a borrowed trail cam, I haven't seen hide nor hair of any of the bruisers.  Instead, I have doe, after fawn, after spike buck, after doe, each time out.  Very exciting, but no big boys.  I have had a couple of what I will call "Oops Outings" this year, but last night I made it a point to put the smack down on a deer.  being that I haven't hunted this season without having a deer in range of my bow, I thought I would have a descent chance even though the field edge I have been sitting on was recently plowed under.  Before I go much further, I just want to warn you that this story gets gruesome, and I have a picture that is even worse.  Now that you know this, keep going if you would like.  As the sun started to set, the woods came alive yet again.  In a matter of minutes, I had deer filling the field in front of me.  I watched and called at 6 of them until I was blue in the face.  Finally, I got one to respond, and a not so smart button buck walked right up to me.  At 5 yards, he ate until the other deer decided to follow him.  When the perfect shot presented itself, I flung an arrow at the chosen one, and gave a fist pump at what I believed to be the perfect shot.  A text book bowhunt if one were to write it, but wait...there is a twist to the story.  I decided to wait a few minutes as any hunter would do.  When I got down, I just decided to go straight to the truck to drive it out to pick up the deer. by then it was dark...Dang...I forgot my flashlight.  Ok, back to the house I go, then back again to the field.  By the time I got back, probably an hour had passed between when I shot and got to the deer.  To my utter amazement, I walked up on the deer and the grass matted down in a 20 foot circle.    A pack of coyotes had obviously found the deer before I got back.  She was torn to pieces like you would see on National Geographic.  Unbelievable was all I could think.  An evening that started so perfectly, came to such a bitter end.  Now all that is left is a feeling of revenge...Looks like I'm going Coyote Huntin'