RAM96,

Hope ya find that deer! I still don't understand how ya missed the "spot" 3 times if ya practice all year (just a run of bad luck i guess). I know how ya feel about loosing that deer. My first buck I shot with the bow I had a liver shot (arrow hit small branch i couldn't see). Since I was excited & it looked like a good shot I went after him a lil early. Ended up jumpin him and he ran to someone else's property. Left him then came back about 5 hours later (could see him laying down in the corn stuble). When went to retrieve him had a woman come flying out of the house using words that are quite unlady like telling me to get off her property. I explained what happened & where the deer was. She didn't care wouldn't let me get him. She feeds the deer & considers them hers. Called Fish & Game and they tried to help me retrieve him but she stood firm and still wouldn't let us get him. Fish & Game told her if the deer was gone she would be ticketed and it was now her obligation to remove the deer and bury it at her expense under Fish & Game supervision. That didn't even change her mind. Have to hand it to Fish & Game for trying everything at their disposal to help me get the deer. Thought about going in at night to get it, but with all the commotion & law involved decided against it. Anyway that was about 12 years ago and to this day every time i go deer hunting I remember that awful feeling. If you are a true sportsman and hunter and really care about the animals those thoughts will never leave your mind.
It was truly a waste for that deer to die and i still feel awful being the responsible party that contributed to his death for nothing. If I only was more observant/careful w/my shot perhaps that situation would not have happened. It took me along time before I was unable to shoot another buck w/my bow as I lost alot of confidence in my abilities.

So my advice is make sure your equipment is properly working and climb back in the saddle again. This incident will never leave your mind but you will become a better hunter for it as it should increase your desire to do everything you can to make the perfect shot to recover an animal you choose to harvest.

Best of Luck & hope yours changes