Not really any difference between a bedded animal and any other, just have to be sure you aiming in the right spot.
I was in a field with the dogs pheasant hunting and my dad and uncle drive up yelling they just saw a good buck cross a 2 track and go into a corn field. And so they went back and got my dads bow and his arrows. For me to go after it.
I’m thinking, OK, you saw a deer :45 ago, go into a typical 600 acre SD cornfield.
I start out on the track and am talking to myself, saying, Self, this is a huge waste of time.
I’m going row to row looking into the next row, then step. Then repeat. About :30 in and there he is bedded. His butt towards me and is front legs head and neck forming and L shape and his head is in the middle of the corn stalks.
I back out sneak down closer and pop back out just under 30 yds. (No range finder then)
With his butt facing me I need to thread the arrow just in front of the rear Ham.
I draw slowly step out and shoot.
I blood trail and track this deer out of the field and the tracks lead into nothing but a mile of dirt field. So not seeing the deer laying there I regroup and get help.
We take up the trail. Now with my own bow setup. Track the deer to a Swail that is approx 50 yds across. The grass is only 18” tall so he can’t hide in there. We find a bed on the edge with blood in in but no deer.
The tracks go in and don’t come out.
We are all scratching our heads talking for approx :10 And the deer jumps up with grass and mud in his antlers and runs across the dirt field into another corn field.
I stay on the track. No blood now.
After a long track into a huge corn field I find him bedded again in the corn. And make a better shot. Killing the deer.
The first arrow had apparently glanced off the rear lower leg and skipped up and grazed his muzzle.
So the initial blood trail was a lower leg and nose wound. not a fatal hit at all. He bled less than most people’s bloody nose.
My friend stalks in on a bedded herd. With a bull below him on a steep grade. The bull is on a narrow bench.
He waits and waits for the bull to stand. then starts getting nervous when the wind starts to get sketchy.
He figured he can angle the arrow into the pocket and shoots.
The bull jumps to his feet and stands there with his head down. Nose almost to the ground.
My friend is waiting for him to tip over.
So he puts his Binos on him and discovers the bull is standing there sniffing his arrow.
Then the bull walks off out of his life.
He put the arrow right at the bottom of the pocket and missed the bull completely.
As long as I know where the vitals are, I should be fine.
I believe I'd take the shot, if my angle was correct (20 yards or less)...use my "X-Ray Vision" to see the vitals, and place the arrow accordingly.
Read my little tale above.
I’ve done it successfully since that tale. But they have to be laying just right and the wind and terrain have to be just right.
I will say it’s much easier to wait out an animal to stand from firearm range.
Crawling into bow range and waiting for an animal to stand usually doesn’t pan out.
My luck is the wind swirls, they stand up facing the wrong way, or walk the wrong way. It’s hard to be patient when all those thing that can go wrong start going through your head. Making you want to shoot too soon.
I have gotten much better at letting animals go. Instead of pushing a marginal opportunity that I worked hard to get into.
I think it’s due to getting through the (must kill) years and progressing to the (hunt quality) period in life.
Like stated above.... most times you won't have a clean clear shot, often not a great angle. Like any other shot I try not to force it. But given the right circumstances I'll take it like any other. I'd say 3/4 of them have been uphill shots as most times bedded in the shade under a tree or bush and dropping an arrow in on them is tough. Like any other shot.... you need the lane, the angles to vitals..... and need to make the shot.
These axis bucks are funny in that they will bed with each buck facing a different direction. One buck will stand and shift his position after a while and one by one the others will stand and shift their position until they are all facing different directions again. Kinda cool to watch it. Hard to get in on them bedded unless you've got a good wind moving things around. Or you see one close his eyes..... =D
I was out on Saturday and ‘twarn’t purty!
Most times, those targets are less forgiving of any range estimation errors, and vitals are protected by the spine & backstraps if you’re behind them.
Bedded Elk target is easier, but the way it’s positioned, it’s easy to whack a leg if you’re a bit low. That would really suck on a live animal.
I've waited several out only to have the wind give me up and waited a couple out that I blew once they stood because I drew at the wrong time once they stood. Live and learn.
Unless you shoot like Ulmer.
I'd much prefer shooting them out their bed, if I have a clear shot at a relaxed animal. If not, I'll wait them out, and hope for the best. I don't think there's any right or wrong answer, here, and every scenario is a little different.
Matt
