Late last month while hunting on a cold, drizzly evening I was trying to fill my doe tag. I was wearing my heavy hunting/rain coat and a RealTree compression sleeve on my bow arm. Upon the shot, my bow string raked down the compression sleeve and the 15 yd shot struck the doe right in the shoulder, possibly hitting the shoulder blade and the penetration was very minimal. I was using a Rage 2-blade and shooting 62#. I observed the doe for over 100 yds running full tilt with the arrow quite visibly hanging off her right shoulder. I found a fairly steady blood trail which I followed approximately another 150 yds before the rain finally washed any sign away. I never did find the doe or my arrow. This is the first time this has happened to me and as best I can remember it is the first time I had shot a deer in the cold while wearing this particular heavy coat. I know I will deservedly catch H... from you for not practicing while wearing my heavy clothing but I am convinced the compression sleeve did not provide enough protection for my arm. I purchased another type arm guard that I can pull quite tight but have not yet had a chance to test it out while wearing my coat.
I have learned my lesson all too well about practicing in ALL of your hunting clothes and hope this incident serves as a reminder to all bowhunters. I have beat myself up pretty badly over this.
The deer deserve better.