This really sucks

[armyguy2011]

So last night I shoot my first buck ever with a bow. He was a solid 8 point with a great body. I know I had good shot placement. I found the arrow covered in blood and began the track. I turned up nothing, not even a little blood. So, I call it a night and resumed this morning and find the trail. I hunt 50 acre field so I had really high hopes. I spent all day only to come up with a 100yd blood trail and no deer. What is going on???

[swohiodave]

thats a good question? what color was the blood? any bubble? did the arrow smell bad? could it have been high? you can put what looks like a solid hit on a deer and you will see it a week later. If its too far back you hit liver they can run to the next county.

[buckee]

Grid search time where you saw the last bit of blood.

[stevebeilgard]

can you use a dog legally? time is of essence now.

[Shaun_300]

thats a good question? what color was the blood? any bubble? did the arrow smell bad? could it have been high? you can put what looks like a solid hit on a deer and you will see it a week later. If its too far back you hit liver they can run to the next county.

Ditto, first buck I shot with the crossbow I hit the liver. It went a good 400 yards and I had to finish it off after giving it 2 hours after I had shot it the first time. 400 yards was a long way trekking through knee deep snow.