ladydiehard Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Cause I feel really bad right now. I finally connect with the bow and end up not finding the deer! Shot a 4 pointer about 5:30pm yesterday. (More details in my journal will follow). I felt like the shot was good. By the deers reaction, I thought we'd find him laying dead. But the arrow told a different story and when we went looking, we jumped the deer and he headed for the swamp. No blood trail...no deer. The buck was broadside at about 12 yards. But the shot was a bit too far back. An avid bowhunter friend of mine said I hit the "no man's zone" inbetween the kill zone and the stomach. I had a little blood and a little stomach contents on the arrow. He said the deer will live. I know he took a step just as I shot and my friend said that is all it takes for the shot to just miss the kill area. I feel lousy. *SIGH* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeslice Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! hey dont feel bad i just started bow hunting last yr and i missed a nice 6 pointer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! Not to add to your pain, but if there was paunch on the arrow, then that deer is dead. Your best bet is to get as many folks as you can and spread out to walk the swamp........it will be there. Remember that every bowhunter has a bad shot at one time or another, and any bowhunter that tells you they never have, are either going to at some point or they're lying to you. Keep your chin up and keep at it, but exhaust all efforts to find the one you shot already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unioncountyslayer Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! It happens, don't let it eat at you. Although it's a bad feeling, I've lost/missed deer before. You just have to get back out there and keep hunting. Best of luck on your next hunt, keep your head up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnatecsteve Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! VTBowhunter is probably right, I had this happen to me before too. Did the deer bound off a few leaps then start walking??That's a sign of a gut hit deer. They will usually bed down not too far, but will probably eventually head for water since they become dehydrated. I shot a buck that was quartering away tnd the hit was far back too. He was jumpy and I should have read his body language better. Since he was nervous, as soon as I shot, he reacted to the sound and dropped and turned to run, changing the angle of the hit. I watched him walk off into the tall weeds. I let him go several hours since I too saw stomach content on the arrow. Me and the wife went out after about 7 hours and we jumped the deer. I watched the direction that he went and backed off. The next morning, I headed for the ditch, there he was...Don't get too down, just learn from the experience and move on.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! I had the same shot last year on a big doe at 11 yards with my long bow. Massive blood trail after we finally figured out which way she ran once hitting the field, but by then the rain washed it away. I could of swore I would find her dead within 40 yards but we never found her. I even took the day off to grid search the entire property and some of the others around mine. Makes ya sick to your stomach but it happens. Chin up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted September 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! [ QUOTE ] Not to add to your pain, but if there was paunch on the arrow, then that deer is dead. Your best bet is to get as many folks as you can and spread out to walk the swamp........it will be there. Remember that every bowhunter has a bad shot at one time or another, and any bowhunter that tells you they never have, are either going to at some point or they're lying to you. Keep your chin up and keep at it, but exhaust all efforts to find the one you shot already. [/ QUOTE ] I don't have the manpower willing to search the swamp without a blood trail. I'd go but theres little I can do alone. The swamp runs for miles and is at least a mile wide. We don't know exactly where the deer entered the swamp due to a hill he went over. Its a HUGE guessing game with a HUGE swamp and no blood trail. *SIGH* I'd be out there if it would do any good even though by now the meat is ruined. Its been too warm and too long. I'm kicking myself for not waiting longer to check on him in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted September 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! [ QUOTE ] VTBowhunter is probably right, I had this happen to me before too. Did the deer bound off a few leaps then start walking??That's a sign of a gut hit deer. They will usually bed down not too far, but will probably eventually head for water since they become dehydrated. I shot a buck that was quartering away tnd the hit was far back too. He was jumpy and I should have read his body language better. Since he was nervous, as soon as I shot, he reacted to the sound and dropped and turned to run, changing the angle of the hit. I watched him walk off into the tall weeds. I let him go several hours since I too saw stomach content on the arrow. Me and the wife went out after about 7 hours and we jumped the deer. I watched the direction that he went and backed off. The next morning, I headed for the ditch, there he was...Don't get too down, just learn from the experience and move on.. [/ QUOTE ] The deer whirled and ran off with his tail tucked. He wasn't running fast though. He was obviously hurting when we jumped him. He ran but he was running funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! hey atleast you didn't kill the buck. I saw one deer the whole weekend and don't even know if it was a doe or buck. Some guy was shooting with a revolver or something off in the distance and when I noticed the deer across the power lines all I saw was its tail vanish in the woods. It was really Cloudy, Rainy, and Windy all weekend not the best conditions for hunting for deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted September 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! [ QUOTE ] hey atleast you didn't kill the buck. I saw one deer the whole weekend and don't even know if it was a doe or buck. Some guy was shooting with a revolver or something off in the distance and when I noticed the deer across the power lines all I saw was its tail vanish in the woods. It was really Cloudy, Rainy, and Windy all weekend not the best conditions for hunting for deer. [/ QUOTE ] Well, I hope he survives. Its questionable though. Even though my "professional bowhunter friend" is of the opinion that he will live, I've been gun hunting for many years and I know that gut shots are deadly. As for the day itself, it wasn't the greatest. Only saw two deer all day. My husband only saw the one I shot when we jumped it. Otherwise, he didn't see a deer. Only turkeys. We didn't have any rain but the wind was unreal! My treestand was swaying. I had to brace myself as I prepared to shoot the buck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! It happens. It happened to me last year. I made what I thought was a questionable shot, and even with my brother and cousin wanting to go get the deer, I said I wanted to let him lay overnight. He was obviously dead seconds after the shot, but he was just as dead the next day when we found him. I know the weather wasn't good this weekend, but the meat probably would have been OK this morning. I shot a doe a couple years ago on opening weekend and we let it go overnight. VTBowhunter is right. I would definately consider this a learning experience, especially if it was your first deer with a bow. If there is ever any doubt about the shot, let him lay. If you don't see or hear the deer fall, give him at least 45 minutes to an hour. Keep at it and don't get too down, you'll have more chances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! It happens even to the best of us but I know how you feel. I've had 2-3 deer in my years of hunting that I racked, lost blood and couldn't find and then I kick myself and feel horrible because it is a waste of meat and some deer, until died, was wounded. But you got to get back in the saddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! Sorry to hear you lost it. It happens and you just have to learn something from it for the next outing. Hate to disagree with your friend, but I don't beleive there's a "no-man's land" between the vitals and the guts. Maybe high on the deer, but not back. In the future, once you realize it's a gut shot, I'd recommend you wait 6-8 hours. They'll generally bed down within a few hundred yards and die. My Dad was the king of gut shots when I was a kid. He'd drill the target dead on all day long, then gut shoot the deer. We'd leave them at least til midnight or the morning and recovered them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! [ QUOTE ] Hate to disagree with your friend, but I don't beleive there's a "no-man's land" between the vitals and the guts. Maybe high on the deer, but not back. [/ QUOTE ] I agree with Craig. I was surprised when I read the "no man's land between the vitals and guts". I haven't heard of that one. Just the one between the spine and lungs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUTNSTRUT Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! I will gaurentee that deer is dead,there is no "no mans land" between the vitals and the guts. I am not flaming you just trying to inform. Bad shots happen to us all,you just have to learn from them. Remember WHEN IN DOUBT BACK OUT. Also if you think there is even a chance of a gut shot back out for at least six hours. Sorry about the bad luck but keep your chin up and get back at it you will get one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! Ladydiehard, sorry to hear of your misfortune. It happens. Learn from it. If there are guts or the smell of intestines on the arrow back out as quietly as you can and come back no sooner than 6 hours later. The deer will lay down in a short time and you will more than likely find him dead. I know you feel bad, but the lost deer will turn to earth and feed a whole bunch of other critters out there. It is part of bowhunting. I don't know anyone who has bow hunted for any length of time who has not lost a deer. Stay positive for the next one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! [ QUOTE ] Remember that every bowhunter has a bad shot at one time or another, and any bowhunter that tells you they never have, are either going to at some point or they're lying to you. [/ QUOTE ] I'll 2nd that. Been there before too. Try not to let it eat at you too long. About 10 years ago a guy at our club shot a 9 point in the same spot. We did have blood but after a couple of hours of tracking we backed off and waited until morning. The next morning we jumped the buck. There was a little blood in his bed but not what we expected to see. 2 weeks later a good friend of mine shot the same buck running a doe. The 2 week old wound was virtually healed up with the exception of hair missing from the wound area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted September 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! Thanks for all the input guys. I still feel bad but I'll be back out there as soon as possible. This would have been my first bow kill. *sigh* There are a good number of coyotes in the area so I'm sure the deer won't exactly go to waste. The coyotes will eat well at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted September 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! I did want to add a comment that I was pleasantly pleased with the performance of my equipment. I have a great pro shop guy. He made final adjustments to my bow day before season started and I'm glad he did. I use a PSE Bruin, 25 inch draw, pulling 40 and a half lbs. I have a wisker bisquit rest, a peep and a kisser button. I use carbon arrows - 100's and 85 grain Thunderheads. The arrow went clean through. No equipment can be faulted for the shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! Happens to us all Becky. Dont feel too bad. Will never forget my first bowkill. She was dead although it was not a great hit, I knew she was dead. Unfortunately we did not find her the night I shot her and the coyotes ended up getting to her the next day before I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! It happens to even the most experienced archers. Do feel too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter47 Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 Re: Ok, somebody make me feel better! keep your head up, its happens to everyone at some point in time, weather you hit the deer or not weve all missed at some point. now on to some advice, maybe next time give him a mouth grunt and stop him in his tracks, but always when in doubt dont force the issue, theres more deer and always more oppurtunity, get back out there and try it again!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.