Well, I hit a small doe tonight. I was hunting my small lease in Delaware. 5 deer came out into the field about 50 yds from me with 10 mins of shooting light left. 1 of them came my way. Stopped about 25 yds away, turned broadside and looked towards the other deer. I let her fly. First time I've taken a shot since 12/31/04.

I tried to watch the arrow through the site to the deer but I never saw it hit. I heard a loud thwack, but the deer only jumped, hopped about 10 yds away and stopped. Looked around, started wagging its tail and started walking away. Im thinking "did I hit a cornstalk?" It walked about 20 yds, stopped and stumbled. Then it just walked into the woods, tail wagging and all.

So by the time I get down, its pretty much dark. As I'm climbing down, the 4 other deer that didnt come my way came back out of the woods and walked across the field. My deer wasnt with them. So I started looking for my arrow. My flash light craps out. I have a back up but its that green night vision light. Walking back and forth. Cant find anything. Pull out my F'd up light, start banging it around and it comes on, flickering on and off (there must be a bad wire, its converts to a hat light) but its working enough. Look straight down and my arrow is right between my legs. Its over half buried in the mud. Pull it out. Theres hair in the broadhead but its all muddy so cant tell color. Not a drop of blood, but theres a streak of smelling green/yellow gunk onthe vanes. I'm like Phuck, gut shot. Start looking for blood, easily pick up the trail. Follow it to where she went into the woods. Marked it and backed out for the night. Where she stood after she stumbled, there was alot of blood on the ground.

She walked into the woods and I didnt here her bolt when I got to the woods edge amd she didnt come out with the others. If she went back the way she came after I shot (through the woods) I would have seen her from the stand before I came down. So give it to me straight, whats the chance of finding this deer tomorrow? Im hoping she laid down and i'll find her tomorrow morning. Since she didnt bolt and I didnt push her, I cant see her going far. IF dont find her, Im thinking she'll live. I'm just gonna keep telling myself that.