Well team, I made it back from W Virginia. I survived the Gauley again (took a swim at Initiation and Sweets Falls for those that are familiar). Sadly, a fellow Hoosier lost his life in the Lost Paddle rapid. Happened about 1/2 hour after we went through.

Anyhow got in the stands Sunday (10/4) AM and PM. Nothing at all.

Work had me tied up on Mon and Tues, but was able to get in the stand last night. About an 1hr in, I see a doe walking up the dry creek bed. I get ready as I had decided to take the first adult doe I saw. As she is approaching, I can tell she is watching something behind me. I hear rustling. Undure if it is squirrles or what as I can't see behind me. The a little BB walks into the dry bed and starts drinking. he is about 15 yards. Oddly this guy had enormous buttons sticking of his head about 1" and were half dollar sized and still in velvet. I know he was a BB as he was with mama and she dwarfed him. Just never seen a BB quite like him. Anyway the original doe is still about 40 yards away. The BB and other doe are just under my stand. The BB is oblivious to me. The doe doe does the whole head bob for a minute or two but soon ignores me and proceeds on down the trail. 20 yards 1/4 away head down BB and other doe are now acknowlewding each other. All systems ago. Draw back place 20 yard pin on the rib cage and squeeze my release. The whole woods sounded like it exploded. Not sure what all transpired but does and BB tear off through the thicket. I see the arrow stuck in the ground directly behind where I shot . All 3 deer calmed down about 60 yards away regroup and took off together. I relax for a few minutes trying to replay the situation. I can clearly seen my white flecthings with no sign of blood. I am think I shoot over her. Get down and check my arrow, Clean. then I notice some brown hair in the O ring of the Rage as well as just a little flesh. But nothing on the shaft or fletchings. I am gonna go get some help at this point now that I know I "hit" her. I follow the trail she took as it leads to my truck. about 70 yards down the trail I cut some blood. Dark Red. Not a lot just drops. Get my helper (wife) and we procede on the trail. We follow a sporadic blood trail another 200 yards untill it finally peters out. Blood trial was not much more them thumbsize drops the whole time every 4-5 yards. We tracked her across 2 fences that she crossed with ease and up a hill to the road. At the road we found nothing. At this point we pretty much gave up and reserved the hit to a high back flesh wound seeing as how the arrow shaft and fletchings had know signs of blood flesh or fur, Just one blade on the Rage.

Anyhow I am bummed. Been hunting for 25+ years, but just my second withh a bow. I have never hit a deer that I did not recover. This is my first. Granted I think the hit was non-lethal and she will be fine unless an infection sets in, but am still feeling like crap today.

Sorry guys!