Praire Buck,

First, welcome to the forums. I can recall many years ago a similiar shot on a buck. It was high on the shoulder, in front of the lungs. I let this particular buck lie for 2 hours and I jumped him. He didn't seem the least bit stiff or injured. I saw that buck again later in the season. He didn't seem to be having any problems. Deer, and most animals are hearty critters and can take alot. Look how many get hit by cars amoungst other things and live. I shot a buck yrs back that was hit by a car, he was walking on his hind leg which was locked so that he was walking on the top of his hoove down. His major femur bone was sticking out at his "knee" and healed over. He was a nice buck but I was still glad to take him out. He hangs above my computer as I type. He wasn't my biggest buck but I wanted to honor him as the hearty whitetail he was.

I know it leaves a pit in the stomach, but there are such things as nonlethal hits when it comes to arrows. One reason I personally feel that a sharp broadheaded arrow is more human that a bullet. One often reads storys of animals taken with calcified broadheads in them so keep your head up, you might just get a second chance on her.