Well, I'm back. the rest of the story could be called 'the imperfect hunt".
Got out and set up at 5am. 5:30 was legal hour. no calling hear till 6:00am. I had some answering for 30+ minutes, distant. sounded like young birds in 3 locations, all 1/4 mile+. one started moving off. very overcast morning.
But the geese were flying tree top height, and making a racket...but nice to hear, sort of like being in a goose blind. The local nesting bald eagle soared over once, high.
At 7 am fine rain started and I figured another hour then go to breakfast.
Instantly, in comes 3 jake toms, medium size. they walked like a set of joined triplets. Actually had to wait 2 minutes for them to separate so as to not shoot two. (Illegal).
When they were a foot apart I lined up on the 2" bearded bird and released a shaft. BONK!
It just didn't sound correct????
Birds goofed off for 15 minutes, with no reaction from the bird I had shot at. Apparantly unhit, they walked slowly away. Then a large whitetail doe invaded my deks. All I wanted to do was find and check my arrow.
10 minutes latter, found the arrow. Funky sound was the graphite shaft exploding about 1" up from the knock. I assume the shaft had a fine crack and just burst. Arrow landed about 6" below the bird I was shooting at.
Well, my concern about the broadhead was misplaced...shaft failure.
Home now, not sure if any damage to my bow, will check bow and resight with new arrow, as soon as it warms up. This shaft had been shot maybe 10 times at a soft target, and had killed (full penetration) 6 deer. I usually put a black mark on the flechings indicating each kill.
The is the second graphite shaft failure in the last 7 years since I shifted away from Gamegetters aluminum shafts. might want to go back to Al.
But it was an enjoyable (but cold) morning, calling in birds and seeing game was great...and i still have abut 8 more hunting days.
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