Hi all,

Well tonight I connected with one of the deer I have been chasing. A good 5x5. And for a reason I don't know I hit back from where I wanted. The deer bounded off 50 yards and was slowing down when he went out of sight.
I waited 30 minutes before getting down and retrieving my arrow quietly. No surprise the green slime on the shaft with zero blood. I stuck the arrow in the ground and backed out of there quiet. I did not push him at all and he never knew I was there.

I am embarrassed to a degree, but realize it happens if you hunt long enough. I have been fortunate to take a few good bucks and this is the first bad hit for me. So what I want is your opinion, will this buck certainly die? And if not pushed whats the average distance traveled when gut shot? If hes dead, I WILL FIND HIM. Any help or advice would be great. I am thinking of going tomorrow afternoon to look for him. I shot him at 6:40pm this evening.