Well, now that almost 24 hours have gone by, the adrenaline rush is over and I am left with a feeling of guilt, guilt for leaving behind the first thing I have killed with my bow.

Allow me to explain...

When I shot the squirrel, I did not even think that I would hit it. I have only been shooting for about a couple months and up until yesterday all I have shot is 3d. But then I saw it, and I stalked him and I drew, put my 20 pin on him and pulled the trigger -- and to the ground he fell, dead.

At this point, I neither had the knowledge or tools to clean the animal, and I knew that my daughter -- who is the biggest animal lover I know -- would flip out if I brought it back with me. So I took pictures, said a prayer and left him in the woods, telling myself that I have provided dinner for another living thing.

Now I am left with this feeling of guilt that I cannot seem to shake. I went back out this morning to try and find the body -- not sure why, maybe just to take his tail as a keepsake of my first bow kill, and maybe bury the body -- but I could not locate it.

I don't know why I am posting this now. I know it's just a "tree rat" -- not something grand like a buck or bear or any other big game -- but I still feel that I have dishonored my prey and disgraced myself as a hunter. I certainly would never do such a thing to a buck.

I most probably will be chastised and flamed by other members here but I just felt the need to let this out.

I will never again will kill anything without eating it....no matter how big or small. Sorry, li'l buddy.