Well after watching this axis over last 2 years she finally decided she wanted to go after him. We set the day and had them patterned really good. Got setup in her blind and the wait was on. Feeder set to go off at 4pm and knew axis wouldn’t be far behind. 4:07 seeing a row of antlers creeping through the woods headed right for feeder. Row of axis bucks came filing out of the woods. Got her all set and gave her the green light. Shot rang out and heard solid thud as he bucked and took off! Just knew he wouldn’t go far. Waited 30 mins climbed out of the blind went to last place he was standing no blood! Crap, walked slowly to last place we seen him no blood! At this point I am getting worried. After about a hour I found 2 pin drops of blood 100 yards out. Decided to back out for the night and meet Clark with his dogs in the morning.
Next morning we get the dogs going, They were off at a good pace, circled 300 yards out and came back and tried again! Same thing the axis played a trick at some point and doubled back. Oldest dog came back and sat at the edge of the woods and just thought long and hard for a few minutes! At this point Clark and I figured it was a low muscle shot.
Not 10 mins after Lulu bolted back with pup in tow did we hear the dogs with something bayed up 1700-1800 yards out! We jumped in truck and hauled butt to them. We found both dogs in a fight to the death with a wounded axis! Having a hard time with both front legs injured, one completely broke. We were able to position and finish Madison’s trophy axis off. What a relief! Went she got out of school she would be surprised, kept it a secret until she opened walk in cooler door to see her axis and put her hands on it for the first time. She was in tears all night and all day at school but they turned to tears of joy when she grabbed his antlers!
After she looked him over she wanted to see what she did wrong on her shot. She hit 3” to low and went through one leg, cut a gash in brisket and broke opposite leg. Deer ended up 32” and 32.25” on mains.

Super proud of her and the way she acted showing emotion about wounding a animal. 28 animals taken in 14 months and this is the first bad shot (only missing her mark by 3”) and being 8 years old.

This was a good lesson for her and one we always use on the ranch. Whether it’s a buck or a doe we owe it to the animals to use every tool to find the animal and in this case it was dogs otherwise we would of never found it.

Congrats, good dogs can make all the difference. Congrats Madison

Call the fire department.

Good looking Axis

Awesome, congratulations to her for a great deer.
Congratulations to you for using good dogs , I am a firm believer in a good blood trailing dog. Forrest

Awesome and congrats

Beautiful buck, congrats to her!

Have you since fired the weapon to see if it was her or the gun? They do move, sometimes. Good on y'all for sticking with it!

Great trophy!

Really nice

Awesome. Congrats!

Great Story, Nice trophies and MMMMMM Good Eating Axis! Good Job Y'all

Yes gun is solid. She had major buck fever on this one. She rushed the shot and didn’t wait for me to give go ahead. Was afraid one of the other axis would spook.

Congrats to the little lady

Suprising how are an wounded animal can run even with good shot placement.

Great job yall. Glad yall found him. Teaching that young lady right.

Nothing like having some good dogs!

I luv a happy ending! Congrats!