Nightmare
 

Well, probably my worst nightmare concerning hunting has come true. I lost a doe on Tuesday night. I feel terrible, I take full responsibility for what I caused, and I won't be hunting the rest of this season. Had a good broadside shot at 23 yards so all I can attribute this to is myself. I believe that I hit too far back, but still in the ribs. Spent all night Tuesday looking and about 5 hours yesterday. I finally found the arrow yesterday very far uphill from where I originally shot. Arrow appears to only have penetrated about 6 inches and the broadhead shows no sign of encountering bone. I can't fix what happened this year, but what do I do to increase penetration with my set-up? This year I was shooting 47# with a Muzzy 3 blade 75 Gr. tip. I also shoot GT 5575's which I will be changing next year. Please give me some advice and I really hope that this doesn't happen to anyone else!!!

RE: Nightmare
 

First of all, what is this business about not hunting again this season? You get back out there and redeem yourself. Don't let this get you down. We've all made bad shots and that is part of hunting. I once made a bad shot on P&Y buck at 20 yds. He was quartering away and I aimed too far back. The exit hole only caught the back of one lung. I searched for that deer all day long for a week straight. Never found him. I was very depressed. P&Y bucks are very uncommon here and I thought about that hunt everyday for about 3yrs. Anyway, I know how you feel, but do not let that get in your way of bowhunting. Go back out there and get after them.

As far has your setup, I think you have plenty enough power to punch through a deer with a well placed shot. The only question I would ask is how are your arrows flying? Is your bow well tuned. A poorly tuned arrow can lose a tremendous amount of penetration. Go to a pro shop and have them check your tuning. And once again, get back out there and do your thing!!!

Hunt the thickets

RE: Nightmare
 

I agree that you should get back out there and keep going. Everyone makes a mistake and sometimes it stings for awhile but that doesn't mean you should quit.

I think you set up is good for deer it all comes down to shot placement. You might check your bow for tuning to help.

RE: Nightmare
 

Hey Lady, Like everybody else said, if you hunt long enough, it's going to happen. It feels bad until the big boy comes strolling in then for a time it's all forgoten.

RE: Nightmare
 

What! not hunting for the rest of the season,no no no that is not the right attude, so you could not find the doe you gave it your best shot ok, but that is a part of hunting.It mite still be alive, maybe not, but the yotes have to eat too.Its all part of a learning prosses, get past it and get your butt out into the woods and hunt.I do know what you are going through and so dose the rest of the board.I am sorry but giving up now is not going to fix things.So take the advice we are giving you and get back on that treestand and feel good about yourself for you are a bowhunter and a lady bowhunter at that.Now go do it..... Texas Tracker

RE: Nightmare
 

Lady, like the others said it happens. You just need to get back up on that horse and try again. I would check your setup as belle suggested to make sure it is tuned. Otherwise, it sounds like your set up has plenty of punch to take a deer. Remember, there are guys out there that take deer with 50# stickbows. So, make sure everything is on the up and up and get back out there!

RE: Nightmare
 

Lady Arwen,
Almost anyone and everyone who has spent much time bowhunting can relate to your circumstances, and to the feelings you are experiencing right now. Speaking solely for myself, I've been there.
Pulling your stands, and quitting the hunt for the year is a place I've been too. I will tell you the same as the others, go back out hunting, when you are ready. You shouldn't just forget this incident, and by your post, I know you aren't going to, but you need to turn the negative into a positive. You can't change what happened, and all the self a$$ kicking you do wont help a bit either, although you will still do a lot of it, it comes with the territory of being a caring, ethical person and hunter. Contemplate the things that might have gone wrong this time, and work on correcting those things, whether it's more practice, more patience, shorter shots, whatever. You will be the best judge of that. And even when you swear you've done everything in your ability to make the best shot, sometimes things go wrong. I'm not suggesting anyone should just shrug their shoulders and say "oh well", better luck next time, but beating yourself up does no good either. A friend told me once in this situation, you need to find a way to put it behind you, but learn from it. Don't quit, dont give up. Take a few days off maybe, shoot a few targets again to restore your faith in yourself and your equipment, then go back to the woods. Good luck to you.

RE: Nightmare
 

Lady,

It happens to the best of us. You will get over it and use it as a learning experiance.

If you knew the shot was to far back, you should not of tracked it that night. You would of been better off waiting till the mourning to start on the trail. It can be a tough night of sleep but your odds of recovery might of been much better.

Your setup sounds great, I wouldn't change it over this one shot.

RE: Nightmare
 

Rack-Attack had a good point, once a deer is injured severely, it will usually lay down once it doesn't feel threatened. Having it lay down means it stays closer to the area where it was shot, which increases it's chances of being found if it expires over night.

If the shot was far back with less-than-optimal penetration, best to do some initial markings in the hit area, denote the path the deer ran, and let it be for several hours, perhaps overnight.

Bad shots happen. Learn from your experience and get back out there and hunt! Oftentimes we learn MUCH more from the mistakes, than from the victories.

RE: Nightmare
 

Lady,
I second (or third) EVERYTHING said already! Go back and keep at it!
Learn from your mistake and wiork very hard at not making the same one again.
Tracking game is an art form that you can only learn well by doing it.

Good Luck the rest of the season!


Greg

"Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus."

Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!

RE: Nightmare
 

Everybody has really surprised me in saying that I should continue to hunt the season. I guess at this particular moment I feel like I have already "taken" my deer and it isn't right for me to try for another. I am also worried about the penetration issue. My bow and arrows have been paper tuned and group tuned. I even paper tune with the broadheads just to sort of double check. If the paper is lying then how else do I check? Thank you for helping instead of bashing.

RE: Nightmare
 

Maybe you hit a twig
Maybe you just had a terrible release under the exitement of the hunt.

both of these could really hurt your penetration.

Have confidence in your set up - It is good for deer

RE: Nightmare
 

Lady-The most important thing to me is you cared enough to own up to the situation on this board. We can all relate and understand and you need to go back out and make a clean kill. This thread can help others a lot. Thanks.

RE: Nightmare
 

A friend of mine in his seventies, shoots with a 45 lb compound, at a 28" draw and he blows through every deer with his set-up. His broadheads were tuned using the bare shaft method and he uses brand new blades on his Muzzy's. Don't use blades that have been shot at a target. Don't even use blades that have gone in and out of a quiver several times. This will dull them. Penetration requires straight arrow travel and absolutely razor sharp blades. Once you've got this, a shot in the ribs is going to take them out every time.

Don't worry that you've "taken my deer". There's ton's of deer out there, now go get yours.

RE: Nightmare
 

It was probably just a flesh wound anyway. Hunt away.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Nightmare
 

It really hurts our pride and our conscience to think that we have made a poor shot on an animal, but we have to keep on going. The coyotes need to eat too. Don't let this get you down. Get back out there and put a good shot on that next deer that comes down your path. Don't worry about your setup, it sounds very good. You will penetrate far enough into a deer if you put the shot in the right spot. Learn from your mistakes and enjoy the gift called hunting.

RE: Nightmare
 

Keep hunting! The only recomendation I can give you is to wait 2 hours before you begin any tracking. Even if you shoot it 5 minutes before dark, wait. When I was younger I shot numerous deer with a 45 lb. rig. My shots weren't always perfect and I got several deer that penetrated only about 6 inches. Wait 2 hours. If you think its not the best shot, wait more. If the tempature drops into the 30's or lower at night.......just wait till morning. It works!

I now shoot 70 lbs. and still wait 2 hours.

PRACTICE....PRACTICE....PRACTICE......SUCCESS!

RE: Nightmare
 

lady,

everyone has lost a deer before, be it with bow are gun. it happens to the best archer,or shooter. jump back up on the horse and ride!good luck on the next one.

tracey moore

RE: Nightmare
 

Lady take your stand in hand and get back out there.You havent taken a deer till you have tagged it.

I personally know the disapointment your feeling.You have to lift up the chin.Get your confidence back.Its one of those things we hate to have happen.The worst thing you could do is hang your bow up for the year.

It's not how big the Deer,But the size of the experiance that matters!!

RE: Nightmare
 

listen to ratliff. that is the best advise. i admire your commitement. some would give up after a hour or two. also, GET YOUR BUTT OUT THERE AND HUNT. THAT THE BEST WAY TO GET OVER IT.

RE: Nightmare
 

LADY, I can't say anything that hasn't been said above. I firmly believe alot of animals are lost due to what happens after the shot, perhaps some of this post from the past could help your endevours. It has some fantastic tips and suggestions from everyone.....What happens after the shot sometimes is the most critical.

http://forum.hunting.net/bbs/topic.a...00&FORUM_ID=19

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

Edited by - Rob/PA Bowyer on 09/19/2002 21:38:30

RE: Nightmare
 

Lady Arwen...please do not despair. Get back out there and hunt. No one wants to have a deer get away wounded but it happens. You show what a strong person you are taking full responsibility for what happened. Shucks even I made a bad hit once on a buck and he got away. But it was because I was high in a tree that was swaying in 40 mph winds and raining sideways and a bee flew into my ear right as I was releasing <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

To make you feel better you should know that 500,000 deer are hit by vehicles every year and most are not recovered and end up feeding the scavengers.

On a broadside shot you have to go right up the front leg and aim for that spot just behind the shoulder. Too far back you can still put it thru the ribs but miss the lungs and that deer might go very far.

We all want you to go out and get a deer and post the pic.

RE: Nightmare
 

Even though you have heard this about 20 times already I wanted to let you know you are not alone. It has happened to most of us. The fact that it troubles you shows that you are a true hunter and have learned a lesson from this. There are many factors that may have contributed to this, but you need to dust yourself off put yourself back up the tree and wait for a shot at redemption. Make the next one count and it will that much sweeter for you. Let us all know when you get one this year and we can all celebrate. Hang in there and don't be too hard on yourself.

Flip

RE: Nightmare
 

First of all Lady Arwen I think you need to take a long honest look at what you did and decide for yourself if you did everything you could to prevent what happened or if in fact your actions are the cause behind this situation.

I am not being nasty at all............just honest.

By the sounds of your arrow findings you did not get much penetration at all........with a fixed Muzzy that is not good. Either the arrow did in fact strike bone or you lack the power to get good penetration at 23 yards.

23 yards is not a SUPER far shot but it also is not a slam dunk piece of cake either. I believe the avg distance a deer in my state of NY is taken at is 17...........Are you sure you are comfortable taking a shot at 23????......if so why did you miss??? Was your form bad?? Were you nervous?? or Did you just blow it???

You said you &quot;believe&quot; you hit too far back.....what makes you &quot;believe&quot; that?? What did the deer do when hit? Did you see it run away?? If so you should have seen your arrow sticking out of his side if it only went in 6&quot;.

Now for the last and harshest question of all..........Why did you get on the trail of a poorly hit deer instead of waiting?? Judging by the distance you found your arrow away from the hit I would say you pushed her all the way across the county by now. Ask yourself if you knew this BEFORE you went in the woods.......if so why didn't you trust your knowledge and wait........if not, you just learned the hard way.


In conclusion......only you know if what you did was more your fault or just something that will happen statistically if you hunt long enough. If I were you I would be making sure your bow is tuned right, that your heads are sharp, and that your bow packs enough punch to take a deer at 20+ yards........if not then shorten your effective shot range......go to the range and make sure your grouping tight as ever so your form isn't to blame................

THEN GET BACK IN THE WOODS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It speaks volumes that you have enough remorse and feel responable for your actions in a situation where you could have easily just said &quot;Oh Well....it happens I guess&quot; You looked for her hard(too hard probably<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> and you know you could have done better.


Now you sound like to nice of a person/hunter to give up........we need more people like you in the woods(understatement of the year!!!)


Find out what caused the bad outcome......was it you?? your equipment?? both?? none of above?? and fix it. Then get back in your stand ASAP and post the pics of your next deer......and you better be smiling!!!!!


Keep your head up kiddo

RE: Nightmare
 

Atlasman: I have asked myself many of the same questions that you have asked. Yes, I was pretty nervous about the shot and that could certainly have been a factor. I group well enough in practice to shoot a deer at 30 yards, but I had previously set a limit of 25 yds. to stay well within an equipment and personal comfort zone. I believe that I hit too far back because during the follow through I think that is where I saw it hit. Everything happened too fast. I shot, two other deer came running toward my deer, I heard a sort of &quot;thump&quot;, my deer sort of bucked in the air and then swapped ends(hence I couldn't see the arrow sticking out of her) and went running hell bent for leather along with one other deer straight up a hill. It is possible that we bumped her. We waited an hour before starting to look for the arrow, then because of darkness we started tracking when we couldn't find the arrow. I'm pretty darned convinced that I didn't hit bone because of the perfect condition of the broadhead. I have one week of season left and I just don't think that I feel comfortable enough to go back out. I really think that I want to work on raising the poundage on my bow and perhaps going to a two blade cut on impact. I don't know how to fix being nervous about taking a shot. I hope that in time I will get used to it.

RE: Nightmare
 

Lady A,
This kind of situation affects eveyone differently, it bothers some people more, and longer, than others. Like many sports, bowhunting involves a lot of work, dedication, practice, and personal involvement, and there will be wins and losses. The thing that sets bowhunting apart from many other sports, far apart in my opinion,
is the intense level of personal involvment, and that the losses are not just numbers on a scoreboard. I dont believe anyone can understand the depth of this until they have been there. I still encourage you to go back out hunting, but as I said before, when you are ready, and only you can be the judge of that. You will probably be nervous about taking the next shot, and the next one, for a long time, I kind of hope you always will be. Hopefully it will come from wanting to make a good clean shot, and not from worrying about having bragging rights. I think I will quit hunting when I dont feel that way before a shot. Practice, (and MORE practice), time and experience
will all help. When you have developed confidence in yourself and your equipment, the nervousness can be controlled, (in theory, anyway!), and channeled into positive shooting. I will stick with my original advice. Don't beat yourself up, work on the positive learning that can come from this, regain the confidence you need, and when the time is right, go back hunting. You have our support, good luck.

RE: Nightmare
 

It sounds like you bumped her when you started on her too early. Don't allow darkness to dictate when you should track an animal. A 4 hour wait should have been your decision with a hit back in the area you described. Thus the &quot;After the Shot&quot; thread. I don't mean to preach but I believe bumping causes more lost deer than shot placement.

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

RE: Nightmare
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I even paper tune with the broadheads just to sort of double check. If the paper is lying then how else do I check? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

The paper don't lie. Just keep hunting. You will make mistakes like we all have but it will all fall into place.

Protect your hunting rights, &quot;Spay or neuter a liberal.&quot;

RE: Nightmare
 

Rob, I agree with you 100%.