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Lost a Buck Today

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liv4archery

PMA Member
This morning I arrowed a nice wide 4X4. I shot him right at sun up. I had 20 yard shot with the animal slightly quartering away. At the time of the shot I was confident I had made a good hit in the vitals. I gave the animal 30 minutes to expire but the suspense was killing me. I got out of the tree and looked for the arrow. I couldn't find the arrow at the spot of impact but was able to locate some blood. At first the blood was just drops but after 30-40 yards the blood was steady. After about 75 yards of blood, I found my arrow laying on the trail. Had bright red blood from one time to the other with no evidence of a gut shot. I trailed the deer easily on the blood trail for 250-300 yards. For as much blood as I was finding, I was very optimistic that I would recover the buck at any time. I found a huge spat of blood on the ground. And then all at once trailing got very tricky. At this point I called my father-in-law to help me search for blood. We were able to find more blood but it turned into just drops and within 40-50 yards all we were able to find was blood that had rubbed off of him on taller weeds. Eventually we were able to find no more blood of any kind. We kept working on it till 3:00 but were unable to find any more of a trace. I just don't know why he stopped bleeding so suddenly. If any of you have had similiar experiences or have an idea of what more I can do please let me know.
 
My guess would be the shot was alittle too far foward,due to the angle.I would think at 20 yards through the vitals,you'd get a complete pass-thru.Sounds as if it caught the opposite shoulder,and at the most,one lung.Deer can go a good ways on one lung,this is just my guess with what you stated.
 
I think PAHunter is on track here. We had a very similar experence a few years back on a deer my son shot. It could have clotted and plugged you may still come up with him. I would give the search one more try. Grid like bedding areas near last blood.
 
I would continue to sit in your stand as much as possible near this location. If it was simply a wounding only shot you might get a glimpse of him hobbling around. If the terrian is not too thick then the crows should be able to locate him within a couple days, unfortunately the second option will yield only what's left over. If he was that nice I would commit to that area. Good luck!!
 
had the same proble withmy dads 12 point he shot 3 day of season and still never found it he said the shot was same as your and we never found him. but we have hunted the same location sence and i seen him bedded at the bottomof the hill about 50 yards from the stand dad shot him out of.. he is hobbling round but hes still out there hope u get another shot good luck.....ibh
 
My expirience with this type of problem would be a frontal shot. Bright red blood could be a shoulder shot also. I agree with what was said about a single lung, they sure can go a long ways. I would think if you squared him through both lungs, he would have left a better trail and not went much over 100 yards if that.
A few years back, I took a shot at a decent 8 pt, I was on the ground and he was in the rut mode, oblivious to his soroundings. I stalked him to 15 yards and hurried the shot afraid he would bolt if I waited much longer. I drilled him in the shoulder, but thought I had at least one lung. I tracked him through hell and high water two days in a row. I followed blood over a mile away and finally lost it for good. I think when you lost blood, he took off running. Think about where he would have gone, from where you lost the blood trail. I would check field edges paralleling them, or any type of natural terrain that may have made him stop for a second (creek,fence) and see if you can get back on it.

Good luck!
 
I'd give it another try, sounds like he lost alot of blood. If all else fails I'd use Tracker's advice, look for him hobbling around or let the tattletales find him. Ravens find any deer man cannot, usually within a day or 2.
 
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