Tealboy, Thanks for coming clean. I' m sure it has lifted some weight off your shoulders.
I' ve personally lost a buck, A couple of years ago on opening day of firearm season. I hit it hard and it went down. Got up after kicking about 15seconds and was gone in two bounds. This is the first and only deer I' ve ever lost but it made me just sick. I spent 3 long days in the woods looking for that deer. We had good blood for 60-70 yards and then it just stopped. I tried in vain to find that deer so I know just how you feel. I however didn' t have the perserverance that you had and I never found that buck.
You have no reason to be ashamed. I' m sure most of us have lost a deer at some point and if we hunt long enough it may happen again. You' ve obviously learned from this and that is most important.
The way I see it is you can hang those antlers or you just got yourself a great set of rattle horns. Either way you' ve earned them the hard way. If you' d like some venison send me an Email and I can overnight you a couple of fat juicy Maine doe steaks. Hang in there and stick with it!!!