Guest brianbpn Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Well, we had an early doe season hunt here in MI this year so I decided to go out last night and see what was happening in the woods. I got a shot at a nice doe. I gave it a half hour or so and go get my arrow. The blood looks good but it is now dark. So, I start the tracking process. I find no blood at all. I hate losing deer and it gives me the worst feeling in the world. I give up after an hour. The temperatures are too warm to get it this morning so it is a loss even if I find it this morning . I love to bowhunt but hate when this happens. I just feel sick inside. Anyone else relate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Well I can tell you this. Two years ago my buddy and I were video taping on opening day. That night he shot a doe really far back and we tracked her for about 250 yards and lost he blood at about midnight. We got up the next morning to a downpout and didn't start up again till 11 am. We found her about another 500 yards away by water at noon. It got to about 55 that night and was 70 went we found her. We still gutted her and took her in and had the processor look at her. She ended up being fine... I would still try to find her and see what you got if you can....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardwood_HD Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 i agree.. iv been through it too but id look again even if she isnt anygood.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98chevy Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Ive felt it. I shot a 130-140 class last year. Watched him fall twice. Then he hit the swamps and lost him. I had 8 guys looking and never found him. I know hes down and I know hes dead and makes me sick he went to waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Has to be a terrible feeling. I've recovered all of my deer, but my hunting buddy shot a great buck last year. Shot it a little low. We let it sit overnight, tracked it for about 500 yds with a drop of blood once every 15 yds or so after a solid 100 yd trail. Found a few puddles where he stopped, then lost him and never saw him again on the farm. Sorry to hear man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 If you hunt long enough, eventually you are going to make a poor shot. It happens to everyone and I agree that it makes you feel sick and unresponsible not to recover a wounded animal. It tears me up when I owe it to the animal to put it down quick and humanely and fail. Keep your chin up, it happens to the best of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Yep, happens eventually. Glad to hear you don't take it lightly. What I do that helps is try to think of what I did wrong (sometimes it's a good shot and you still don't find it) and then try to correct it. I know I'm very selective now on evening hunts with minutes before darkness. I avoid marginal shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 I know that it is recommended to sit tight after the shot, and I understand all the reasons why. However, on evening hunts when dark is not that far away (and that's usually when the deer show up), I generally try to locate the arrow and first blood right away. That "first blood" can be so difficult to find using artificial light and only a vague general idea of where the hit really took place. No, I don't go running out there as fast as possible, stomping on branches and advertising my presence as obviously as I can. In fact I try to move like there is a deer in sight that I am trying to sneak up on. Once I find the arrow, and the first blood, I mark it well and then back off for whatever time the sign on the arrow and my own recollection of the shot indicate. Wait until after dark, and it's likely you won't even be able to accurately pick out the location where the deer was standing when shot. Doc 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.