I was guilty of making afew posts like you speak of, last season. One turned out great (AM recovery). One turned out bad (recovery after 9 hours in the 90deg. weather). One turned out worse.....NO recovery....and an "unknown". Another turned out good (a far back hit.....with a mid-night recovery).

I found out last year that airing EVERY detail of your hunt isn't well-received by the masses. Lesson learned. From now on.....as far as the forum is concerned.....every hit I have will be a double-lunger with a speed recovery.

What ticks me off is the lack of patience we, as a hunting community, seem to be guilty of. Everyone wants to get on that trail right away. But, if the hunter exercises sound judgement on when to take up the trail.....AND exercises every possible effort to recover his animal......and STILL doesn't.....

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I'd also (like Matt) advise him to keep his story to himself. I don't necessarily think that's "best".....but for HIM I think it is. I have no issues, personally, living through a recovery with a fellow hunter that's giving it his all. Hunters DO lose animals. I honestly think I killed one last year I didn't recover.....though I'll never "know". I still never took a shot last year that I was ashamed of. Doesn't help the fact that I feel remorse for possibly not recovering one.....but I didn't make a mental mistake with a poor shot selection. I can live with that fact, better.

I'm gonna go against the grain a "little".....and say that MUCH can be learned if someone is willing to give all the details and put themselves out there. It just won't be me.