Why ain't he dead? (Archers only)

[Nutterbuster]

Why is the last deer that you shot at and didn't recover not in the deep freeze? Feel free to elaborate, and include:

• Yardage
• Experience Level
• Height
• Deer O'clock Angle
• aim point
• rough indication of entrance/exit
• whether deer was calm/alert
• whether deer was still/moving
• post shot recovery plan
• any other details you feel are relevant or that you learned from

PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT UNLESS YOU ARE DESCRIBING YOUR SITUATION. Let's try and keep this uncluttered and a good resource for new guys. I will refrain from airing my thoughts and ask that others do the same. Clarifying questions are allowed, but lets try to limit it as much as possible so as to not dilute the info. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST MORE THAN ONE LOSS, AND LET'S TRY TO NOT DO MORE THAN ONE STORY PER POST TO KEEP IT EASY TO READ. We can only vote once per member on a poll, but more stories equals more data points for folks to draw their own conclusions from. Again, to draw their own conclusions from. Let's try and stay as objective and detailed as possible. This is a great group of guys. We can do it!


I'll go first. The last deer I didn't recover was about 25-30 yards away. We were both on the ground. I've been bowhunting for about 12 years or so, and have maybe a dozen to 15 kills under my belt. Deer was oriented 3 o'clock (broadside, facing right), stationary, and was investigating me but not tense and alarmed at the moment (he caught a glimpse of movement as I shouldered the crossbow). I was shooting a 23" DCA arrow with a 100 grain muzzy 3 blade out of a hickory creek mini cranked up to 150lbs. I settled in the shoulder crease, slightly low of middle line, and pulled the trigger. Everything felt good, but I head a thwack and watched the deer and its companion run off. The area was quite thick and it was quite early, so I chalked it up to a deflection after a short search of the area where the deer was standing and the direction of flight.

 

[Wyatt_burp]

35 yards, broadside, hit too far back because she took a step while I shot, sitting 23' high. Waited half hour before I looked for the arrow, arrow was greasy, backed out for 12 hours. First blood was over 100 yards away, followed blood for 200 yards. Trail split 3 ways, couldnt find any sign beyond that. 7 hours in the woods looking for a doe. Rage 2 blade, the one with the oring. The area she ran into is stupid thick with mountain laurel and briars, but clearly defined deer trails and bedding areas.


Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Hunter260]

Last deer I didn’t recover a buck. Broadside 15 yard shot. I was using a 1 pin slider set at 25 yards, aimed lower 1 third deer duck/combined with 25 yard pin meant a shoulder blade hit. I was shooting a ~500 grain arrow at 30” draw and 70lbs. I had a mechanical, steelforce SOB head and got pretty poor penetration.

 

[EricS]

This some kind of trick question? The last deer I shot at and didn’t recover was a doe at 22 yards. I was about 20 feet up. It was mixed hardwoods and pines between a beaver swamp and young pines headed toward a peanut field. I had a very small window. Ind hindsight it was less window and more peep hole but the deer had been skirting the two major trails I was setup on and only giving me brief glimpses of brown. Well this doe gives me a 3” wide look at the crease. Miss a couple inches forward and hit big bone in shoulder. A couple inches back and hit a tree. Well This is where the trick question part comes in. There was some “inaccuracy“ as I missed a couple inches back. I must have “pulled the shot”. Then it ht an “external obstruction” in the form o fm a sapling. At which point there was “poor penetration” I’m not even sure if it even touched the deer as there was no hair or blood on the arrow. What I do know for sure is it failed to penetrate the lungs. The blades deployed but once again there was some “poor cutting” they were sharp but apparently they have to make contact with the animal to cut. Even if they are ranch fairy sharp.

 

[Jmiller]

I shot a small buck earlier this season. He was at the edge of my range, guessed 35. When I checked later, it was more like 39.
He was just slight quartering away. I thought I had a good release, pin where I wanted it but it hit him WAY back and low. Like a ham shot.
Arrow penetrated well, but never found great blood. Was able to track him several hundred yards til the blood petered out. I gave it an honest effort.

Deflection? I guess if I have to blame it on something other than my mediocre shooting skills, that's what I'll say. Ultimately I just didn't do my part.

 

[Letemgrowitllshow]

I’ve been bow hunting 5 years. Have roughly a dozen kills under my belt with the bow. Last deer I missed was a doe from a ground blind at 20 yards. She was broadside, somewhat alert but no string jump. I was shooting a bear wild bow at probably 60lbs (not sure I just adjust till it’s comfortable) 175 grain tooth of the arrow 4 blade broadhead 29” draw. The ground blind was one my father in law set up on the field edge, a good spot to sit in the morning and kill a freezer queen. He had just thrown it up and put it right on a hump in the ground. I should have just shot from my knees but instead I stayed in the chair. Ground blind was a shorter one, so from the chair I was leaning forward, chest almost parallel to the ground. Felt questionable about my anchor points, but let one fly anyway. Hit just off the lungs, liver hit complete pass through. Shot didn’t look bad, but arrow said liver. I watched her out in the field for a bit and could see I hit a little far back. She walked off into know bedding, so we gave her 5 hours or so then took up blood trail real slow. From where we entered the bedding area, she had already gone 500 yards after the shot. We blood trailed for 2 hours on hands and knees looking for specs. She had never bedded down at this point. After about 500 yards of that we ran out of blood. We were close to a beaver pond so I did a body search for about a half hour but no luck. Buddy was gunna hunt in the relative area so I didn’t push on toward his spot.

In hind sight, I shouldn’t have taken the shot knowing I wasn’t confident in my anchor points. I also learned that I don’t go to anymore preset spots unless I have either made them or checked them out. Also wonder if I was shooting a big cut expandable if I would have recovered that deer.

 

[boyne bowhunter]

Unfortunately after 46 bow seasons i have several of these but my last unrecovered deer was a decent 8 point. I was 20 feet up in the tree shooting an unobstructed 20 yd straight broadside shot. The kind you dream about. It was a warm afternoon several years ago and I had left my jacket unzipped after climbing to cool down. My bowhunting jacket has a large collar you can (and should) zip up around your chin. When I released the string it caught the loose collar of my jacket and torqued the bow in my hand. I hit the buck right in hind quarters with my rage tipped arrow. Did not get a complete pass through but subsequently found the arrow while tracking. Backed out for the night and returned the next morning. Was able to follow blood for about a 1/4 mile and scuffed leaves for another 100yds or so. I did eventually find hthe carcass 3 days later in some pines with the help of the crows but between them and the totes all that was left was the head. My lesson learned is I always tuck that left hand collar under now if I'm not fully zipping up the jacket.

 

[Unshackled]

I’ve only lost one deer with a bow out of ~15 years of it. It was a hard quartering away shot on a doe, I aimed on the front shoulder and should’ve lined up on the opposite shoulder. She only went about 30 yards but bumped her. I’ve actually lost more deer with a muzzleloader and rifle. Reason being too quick on recovery most of time.

 

[Matki15]

Last year, doe and yearling came in to the foodplot I was hunting. She started to leave, ranged her at 25 and drew. She caught my movement 3/4 the way through my draw and locked eyes with me. Split my 20 and 30 yard pins as low as I could while still being a lethal shot if she didn’t duck. Released, arrow looked great until she ducked and went over her back by an inch

 

[kyler1945]

First Elk Opportunity Blown

Three of us set up to glass across a valley to some dark timber. About ten minutes into sitting down, he came out of the timber and started feeding. As the crow flies, he was about 3/4-1mile away. We had not yet figured out a way down the sheer cliff we were on, to the valley below to make a...

saddlehunter.com

Wanted to save @gcr0003 the trouble of reading if he doesn't wanna.

Link TLDR - I missed an elk because I hunt with a dovetail sight, had the sight bar slid in for packing, didn't intend on being the shooter, got an opportunity, and shot/missed three times before connecting on the fourth because the bar remained in storage mode not shooting mode.

23 years of bowhunting experience

50-65 yards

Height above the animal roughly 50 feet of elevation

broadside shots 1-3, quartering away shot 4.

shot appears to have hit the leg, severing tendons, but not passing through, just one blade cutting.

Plain and simple I lost the elk because I had a step in the process that proved both unnecessary, and difficult to remember in the heat of the moment. As much as I preach simple, I got a dose of my own medicine. I now have the sight zero'd with the bar slid completely in and it stays that way.

When I say a single pin sight, and under 30 yards, it's from other experiences like this on whitetail as a younger hunter that still burn to this day. Something that seems simple, and innocuous, can cause you to screw up in a monumental way when it's go time.

 

[rhagenw]

Staying out of this one...

 

[Backlash27]

I lost a doe a few years back. Last evening of a drawn hunt in Texas. Thick cover in the edge of a bedding area. Shot a slightly quartering to shot from 8’ up in the tree. She might have been 10 yards. Shot looked good up and down, but hit 5-6” behind the shoulder, may have nicked one lung and guts. Complete pass through but came out near her opposite ham. Think it may have hit a rib. Zero blood trail, wasn’t able to go back the next morning because the hunt was closed.
now that I have more experience and better knowledge of anatomy I aimed way too far back and never had a chance with where I hit.

 

[Texar]

This evening after seeing few deer over the last week hunting public land in southern Indiana. Leaving for home in the morning.
-7yds
-25 yrs bow hunting, 4 years national 3D
-20+ ft up
-Head at 5 hard quartering to me. -I took a shot that I have taken many times and am confident in taking. It has always worked out.
-Honestly have no idea on entry. I have killed 2 deer this year and no different than making a good shot shooting 3D, I saw the arrow all the way into the deer. This one I did not have a clue, never saw any blood on the animal as it ran off. Off side of tree and shooting behind tree from strong side. I had my single pin set on 30 and was aiming low because of the closeness/angle of the shot. Exit was white hair more than likely bottom of brisket or armpit outside of ribs.
-deer was calm and standing still with head down
-post shot-The deer donkey kicked and grunted loudly. Arrow fell out 15 yds from shot. Watched the deer till it stopped at app. 100yds. It flicked its tail a few times and slowly walked away. Arrow was mostly like I hit just meat with a few white hairs and rich bright red blood on wrap/vanes.
I was on public and walked back to a walk in trail intersection, sat and waited 2 hrs before tracking because friends were still hunting and wanted their opinions/help/support. We tracked a sporadic tough blood trail to an obvious bed and never found another speck of blood.
I learned a couple things. Pressure makes the pipe bust!
I’m still working on the “offside” shot from a saddle. I normally pick a tree small enough to shoot the backside on off side shots. If you have a deer that close and you get away with drawing then you can let him pass and get away with drawing anyway for a qtr away shot. The consensus of the group is he will be breeding does in 2 days and I likely brisket shot him.

 

[dalton916]

Why is the last deer that you shot at and didn't recover not in the deep freeze? Feel free to elaborate, and include:

• Yardage
• Experience Level
• Height
• Deer O'clock Angle
• aim point
• rough indication of entrance/exit
• whether deer was calm/alert
• whether deer was still/moving
• post shot recovery plan
• any other details you feel are relevant or that you learned from

.

22 yards and 30 yards
Embarrassingly high
About 8’
22yds was my 1 o’clock and same elevation
30yds was my 10 o’clock and 25’ lower
22yds entered the earth below the deer
30yds entered the earth above the deer
Calm and calm
Still and still
Walk to glowing nocturnals and pick up my dirt stained arrows
I suck at bow hunting.

I used to not suck at bow hunting. The above “non recoveries” happened about 10-15 minutes apart. Now I know I suck at bow hunting. Not really sure how it happened or when it happened, but it happened and I’m perfectly at peace with sucking at bow hunting. At first I wasn’t, but now I am. I have a rifle. In fact I have a few rifles. And I don’t suck at rifle hunting. Yet.

 

[NATHAN]

20 feet up, strong side. Stopped the deer a little late. Had to lean way out. Aimed center instead of low, combined with being closer than I thought and ducking. Clean miss barely above It. I can still see it in my mind

 

[MattMan81]

I can put 3 down for improper fitted bow. If your draw length it too long. Your arm sticking out really turns into the string travel path. I can recall 3 I shot at, and the string slapped my arm. One went right into the rear leg. Low FOC. No penatration. No recovery.
Another slightly back hit liver. No pass thru. But only went 60yrds. May have had the arrow cut into the lungs for an assist hanging out.
Last was back as well cut the artery under the spine. Recovered that one as well. But none of those shots were any where near the "vital V". I was very lucky to recover them. I shortened my draw legnth and for the most part has resolved the issue. I was never fitted right at the big box stores. What's your draw legnth. Okay. Here's your bow.

 

[TreeCreep]

My 2 bow hits this year were similar to @Texar and @EricS
-they saved me a verbose and meandering response.
I’m Less experienced at 11 years.
Both deer were at about 10 yards.
Dog tracker on first rainy no pass through Steep angle like the SH logo dude, no vital exit on #2 ( without the Kung Fu knee on tree )

I got into saddles largely to be more minimalist and efficient, HAHA

 

[Weldabeast]

My first example has a little back story that I think directly contributes to the unrecovered deer.
2 weeks prior to an upcoming quota hunt I took my bow to work with me. I was shooting at lunch break and walked inside to pee and when i.came back out I found my coworker at full draw with no arrow nocked ....dryfire. I took the bow to the shop and they inspect and both cams are bent slightly. I discuss my options and they warranty and bear is mailing new cams but not sure if they arrive in time. The tech turns the limbs down to 40 pounds and we retune the bow. He says if they show up we get it switched out but if they don't he assured me the bow is save to shoot. This is my 1st season bow hunting so I don't know anything about anything. 29" arrow with aluminum insert and 100gr 2" expandable.

18yd shot at a semi alert doe off the ground. Hit perfect lower 1/3rd right behind the shoulder. Loud impact and she ran off. I backed out and drove over to pick up my guest. We head back in and find the arrow. 30yds from impact with 5-6 inch of blood up the shaft and the broadhead had mangled.blade. what little blood I did find was bright red and small amount of bubble. Tracked for 200yds and then hit the flooded woods. Grid searched in thigh deep water for 2hours.

My inexperience and equipment failure are what I think gave me that outcome. With a fixed blade head I think maybe different outcome. I started researching and then.started.building heavier arrows and better broadhead choice and fixed those issues....and learned to not let anybody touch my bow unless they are under adult supervision.

Second example is kinda special circumstances.... Shot my big magnum load into a doe and arrow passed thru with no issue and hit a second.deer standing behind the intended target. Shot off the ground. That 2nd deer carried the arrow and I was trying to follow both of them so I didn't get a great mental picture of where she was running. Intended target fell in less that 20yds so I backed out to go get my pack to carry out the meat from the canoe. When I got back I tracked the second doe blood for 200yds but the blood was very few and far between. It started to rain and I still had to quarter a deer so I gave up. It rained for the next couple days and I never made it back out to look again.

I wasn't able to see an entry point and wasn't able to see where she ran to. Never found the arrow. Blood was bright red no bubble. In my mind the arrow was far forward and low but I'm not 100% sure. Not sure what else I could have done

 

[redsquirrel]

• Yardage 10 yards
• Experience Level - 27 years
• Height- 20 feet
• Deer O'clock Angle- facing 10-11
• aim point - behind the shoulder
• rough indication of entrance/exit- entered around the shoulder and probably caught some bone with poor penetration
• whether deer was calm/alert - alert. Cruising during the rut. Heard me move and bounced off 5 yards, stopped and I shot.
• whether deer was still/moving - stopped briefly
• post shot recovery plan- waited 4 hours
• any other details you feel are relevant or that you learned from

The buck came cruising right under my tree during the rut. I expected him to continue moving to my left when he turned and came right down the trail under me. It was still and I was bulked up with clothing. When I moved around the tree to shoot him as he passed he either heard something or caught my movement. He bounced off 5 yards and stopped. I drew as he bounced and when he stopped I put the pin behind the shoulder and shot. The arrow must have caught bone because while it had at least 8 inches of penetration the penetration wasn't great and I had arrow hanging out. I watched him run off and lost sight of him.

The whole situation happened so quick and my instincts went to putting that pin right behind the shoulder but I needed to aim much further back. I suspect it was a single lung or even just a meat shot and no recovery was made. Assuming it was a single lung shot I gave him 4 hours before I tracked but never had a good blood trail and eventually lost it and was unable to find anything with a grid search.

 

[OspreyZB]

Yesterday 11/12/20. Giant 8 point locked down with a doe in the middle of a standing soybean field. 40-ish yard shot after an hour plus long crawl through wet soybeans. Quartering away, un-alert deer. He was near the end of my range and slowly walking farther. I guessed him at 35 yards, drew back, settled my single pin zeroed at 28 yards just under his spine mid-body. He stopped walking, and I squeezed off a shot. He must have been more like 40 yards at that point because I watched my lighted nock fly under his belly, and him and the doe bound off, then slowly walk away into a creek bottom. Played cat and mouse with them the rest of the day. Came to full draw on him 2 more times but thick brush between us saved his life on both occasions. I missed this same buck on Halloween.