my first ever year bowhunting a got a shot at a pretty decent PA buck...not huge..probably 90-100 inches...would been an awesome first buck...

had 2 buddies squirrel hunting in the area and trying to move deer a little bit for me..i didnt ask them too..cant even remember if i had knowledge of it prior to shooting..

anyway, a doe and yearlings came by quick...i grunted at them a couple times..nothing...a minute or 2 later here they come running again...same way they just ran in...but behind them is the buck. im already standing...i ID him as legal(atleast 4pts to a side) and something id LOVE to kill...hit full draw...he was heading into my last good lane...."BAH!!" he froze and as he froze i released...i was so quick on the release it wasnt funny...but he froze and swung is neck and was looking right at me...

watched the arrow fly PERFECT for hit vitals...lighted nock made it even easier to see...

as the arrow is flying, i watched him start to sink towards the ground......

sure enough by the time the arrow got there, he was much lower...arrow hit him high in the back above the spine and lungs...still trailed him...200-300yds of pindrops ended and it started raining...called out the crew for the next day...i think there was like 7 of us....we ground pounded for 4 or 5 hours...im convinced he was fine...

almost quit bowhunting and sold the bow...glad i didnt...but i came VERY close..i was sick...

rifle hunting, that was my common practice...either shoot them on the run or stop them...

in the tree stand, i will now let them pass before i stop them and shoot them...just not worth the risk....

only thing to do without letting them blow completely outta range is maybe stop them and HOPE they feed or walk slowly and drop their guard...then shoot...

my view is you didnt likely spook the buck...its running from someone else or chasing does...chances of that buck coming back through are pretty decint...he uses the area and you went undetected...on the other hand, you shoot him and wound him or miss him....your gig is up...chances of shooting him from that stand again are slim to none for the most part...

tough decision...what ive done since then was stop them when needed...the buck i shot last year i stopped...he actually watched me stand and draw...but i waited till he dropped his guard before releasing...worked out...different deer react differently to different things...observing deer and how they react is probably the best way to go about it IMO