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this past weekend i was lucky enough to shoot my first deer with my bow. the shot was a little high and grazed his backbone but also got a lung, soon as he was hit he dropped instantly and died within about 5 minutes. at the time i didn't realize my shot had been high and another deer came down the trail within 10 minutes after the first had expired under my stand, i aimed at the same spot and when i shot the second deer dropped like a rock then started crawling away on her front legs. i figured it was a spine shot and knocked another arrow and took a follow up shot at about 30 yards while she was crawling away and hit her in the shoulder blade where she stopped. i waited 15-20 minutes but although she laid there motionless she kept her head up looking away from me with her ears back. i couldn't wait any longer and got out of my stand and went over and held her down and cut her throat. i feel bad about not getting a quick kill and the suffering of the deer.

i keep tabs on this board frequently and haven't seen any topics i remember about spine shots. although definitly not desired is this half way common or am i in the minority for executing such a half-a$$ed shot? if this has happed to anyone how did you finish them off ...should i have just shot her again instead of cutting her throat?

any insight on how you have or would have handled the situation would be appreciated. thanks.
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It is extremely common to shoot high out of a tree stand. Bend at thw waist, use the horizontal distance from the base of the tree instead of the total distance for the range. Practice from the height you expect to shoot from.

Two deer! A lifetime for most bowhunters.

beprepn