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Somewhat successful/hit the deer. Never found.

Backlash27

New Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2020
Messages
34
Location
Angleton, Texas
Well, after 5 years of learning how to, and putting in a lot of effort to kill a mature buck. I finally got my opportunity. The past two days alone I’ve seen more big deer than in the past 5 years of hunting. He came in to 23 yards right at daylight. Settled the pin and aimed for the top of the heart. (Sitting about 10’ off the ground, so no real angle). Buck was perfectly broadside. Watched the arrow flying towards him and either as it hit him or right before he started to wheel away. Went in behind the front shoulder, pass through, heard a diaphragm pop and what sounded like a bone break. Arrow was buried in the ground behind it. 5 minutes later it starts to torrential downpour. Find 2 drops of blood in 60 yards. Backed out and gave him 6 hours. Grid searched for a couple hours and never found him.
Not sure what went wrong. Maybe it went just in front of the lungs/heart as he wheeled? Arrow had very little blood and some fat. May have exited through the brisket or fatty portion in front of the shoulder.
 
It is awfully hard telling where exactly an arrow hit when the deer is dodging it,or,loading it's legs.
 
I second the dog in that situation just to be sure.

Believe it or not, they can still smell em even after a rain. IMO if you can’t find him even with the dog he lived and you can put your mind at ease.

The ones that got away eat at me forever.
 
I agree with the guys above saying to call a dog handler. Check out unitedbloodtrackers.org to find one in your area.

From what you have said, that’s a dead deer. You owe it to the deer to find him.
 
Calling in a dog is what is recommended but if their are more than a few guys doing a grid search then it might be harder to locate deer as their scent is dispersed everywhere but if you alone did a grid search then your chances doubled in finding him which with a dog you will and I also noticed even if you shoot a perfect arrow in the kill and you don’t always have a massive blood on arrow doesn’t always mean it’s not a good shot as a few deers I killed the arrow comes out nearly clean as the hole is compressing tightly closed as to wipe the arrow down as it goes thru. I feel the broadhead didn’t open up enough especially with a expandable even though it’s deployed in the dirt. I had another example in a deer this year as the arrow was nearly clean when I found it except for a smear and drop or two of blood I found my deer and was surprised of the hole it made but lack of blood on arrow. Just my observation so in all you made a great shot so don’t always go by the arrow as it won’t always have a lot of blood on it. Not saying it’s always the case but it does happen
 
Update: we never found the deer. Used a dog as well. Gonna hang up some trail cameras in the area to see if we can find him still alive. Mainly for closure on the whole situation.

p.s. I posted this as successful due to the fact I shot a deer. After hunting for 2 months without even having an opportunity. In my mind that’s a success.
 
Sorry you didn’t get him hopefully you will get closure with pics of him.
 
Update: we never found the deer. Used a dog as well. Gonna hang up some trail cameras in the area to see if we can find him still alive. Mainly for closure on the whole situation.

p.s. I posted this as successful due to the fact I shot a deer. After hunting for 2 months without even having an opportunity. In my mind that’s a success.
Shooting a deer and not recovering it is NOT a success!! That is a failure. Our goal here is to shoot and recover any deer we shoot. Never should just hitting a deer be considered a success.:mad: It happens to everyone on occasion but it is never considered a success.
 
Shooting a deer and not recovering it is NOT a success!! That is a failure. Our goal here is to shoot and recover any deer we shoot. Never should just hitting a deer be considered a success.:mad: It happens to everyone on occasion but it is never considered a success.
Yep. PASSING up a shot on a deer is more of a success than losing a deer.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 
Folks, the man is looking at the bright side of having an encounter. **** happens. But he put himself within proximity of an animal and got the opportunity for a clean shot. Sure he's got a lot to learn from with this situation. BUT UNLESS HE INTENTIONALLY TOOK A LOW PERCENTAGE SHOT OR HAS NOT PRACTICED WITH HIS EQUIPMENT, there is some success to talk about here. From what he's said, it sounds like he did everything right, which sounds like success to me. This was the culmination of a five year pursuit for him. Imagine how gut wrenching it must be for him. And for the love of Pete, look at him. He's a young guy and a new member here. Perhaps we can encourage him rather that spit curmudgeonly BS his way. And we wonder why young people are leaving the sport...
 
I agree some of you guys might be a little harsh he came on here to tell his story granted it’s not the out come he was looking for but he came back and told of what he did to try to find his deer. Slight possibility someone might have found it and took off with it. It has happen to quite a few people over the years. If the dog was brought in and if the dog couldn’t find it then crap dang it that sucks we weren’t there so I’m sure they gave it hell trying to find it. Let’s be a little more supportive It sucks making a shot and thinking it’s a good shot and not being able to find the deer. I’m sure it has happen to many of us a time or to. I’m sure he will learn from this and try even harder next time. I know every time I go out to hunt wether I killed anything or not I am successful because I went out and learn something new in hopes it will help me the next time I hunt. To the OP congrats to you for your hunt and story and hope next time it will be the outcome you want and don’t let a few comments deter you. Stick with it and your time will come!!!
 
Sorry how it turned out... this sounds like a shot you should have taken, a good high percentage shot, and after five years bummer you didn’t get him. Shake it off, learn, and don’t get discouraged.
 
Sorry how it turned out... this sounds like a shot you should have taken, a good high percentage shot, and after five years bummer you didn’t get him. Shake it off, learn, and don’t get discouraged.
Thanks. A lot of folks seem to think I took a “low percentage shot”. I’d like to know how many people would pass a perfectly broadside, ~23 yard shot, with a buck that has stopped on his own and is looking around.
You never know what that deer is capable of, I definitely didn’t think it would have the ability to wheel away and duck enough to miss vitals.
 
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