Sick, broken hearted, ashamed, depressed.... My wife thinks I take this hunting crap to seriously.

The Buck I buried an arrow into has not been found. Sure not due to a lack of effort. I did hit him very square on the shoulder andthat is not where I was aiming. I was so certain the deer was dead I called my pals before I even climbed down. I figure I put 10 or 12 inches of arrow though his shoulder and can't beleive heis with the missing.

Ispent 6 hours on monday looking and had a great blood trail to follow for awhile. He then started dropping big clots and the trail just plain dried up.
I was hoping the arrow would have been found to open up the bleeding but it was not and I think that with the shot square thru the scapula the hole isstill plugged WITH arrow.

I also spent 8 hours yesterday grid seaching and found where he had bedded down. He spent some time there because there were three beds within a 10 ft area. Problem was the only blood in the beds was a little bit of clear pink and not much of that.

I like to think I am an ethical hunter who takes high percentage shots and frankly I just messed up. THREE inches to the left and I would be eating backstrap.

I am hanging my head in shame and having difficulty motivating myself to get back on the old horse. I should have gone out this AM but it just don't feel right.