Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Shot a big buck last night. I rushed the shot and hit him right in front of the shoulder and about the midpoint of the neck for up and down. Yeah, I rushed the shot...and yeah I feel terrible about it. Please don't rub that in. I had him at 10 yards. Totally blew my chance to get my first bow buck. I got trailcam pics of him so know how big he is.

What are any opinions you guys might have on recovery. He bled BAD for 150 yards then I think we got him running. The blood petered out and we can't follow after 300+- yards. I know we should have stayed off him last night now that I think about it, but I did leave him be for over 30 minutes. Hindsight is always 20/20.

ANY ADVISE APPRECIATED!!!

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

30 Minutes.................

You should have stayed in your tree stand for longer than 30 minutes.

It sounds like you definately rushed it by 4-5 hours. Be more patient next time.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

HE"S GONE..

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

well if u hit the deer where the neck meets the chest , dead center , id think you woulda got some of that juggular vien sorry about the spelling , or the wind pipe , or somethin , spine? and he would have been down within 300 yards. Maybe not however , ive seen neckshots that just simply go under the spine and behind all the vital stuff in the neck and the deer live for ever! my uncle hit a buck in the neck one year , like i said between the vital areas , and 2 yrs later ended up gettin him in gun season. when we skinned him out we found the piece of aluminum arrow through his neck , the exact arrows my uncle has shot for about 10 years now!!! i have also done about a half dozen deer with pieces of arrow in them , those buggers are hardy animals!!!!

But you mighta got him to stiffen up and get a fever and die if u waited overnight. on any marginal hit i like to use stan potts old saying " when in doubt , back out"

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Look harder

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

go back out and look... shoulda waited, that's for sure. My hubby has lost two by not waiting, and he definitely learned his lesson, when I shot my button this year, he waited 3 hours before going out... ended up finding him 40 yards away.

I know hindsight is 20/20 though, so learn from it... as hunters, we're always eager to see what exactly we got, but it isn't the best policy to chase him around for a mile! Just learn from it and know it happens to the best of it. I lost a doe last year because my husband was coming from his stand and kicked her up (didn't kow I shot one), she had laid down. Then 1/2 hour later we took off tracking, kept her going and apparently she went too far, cuz we never found her, it is sickening, but at least the smart ones of us learn from our mistakes. Keep your chin up, maybe he'll show his face again if you're lucky.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

I would get out now and totally comb the area!!! Dont give up now!!

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

There will be no giving up....until I'm satisfied he's ok.

I know we should have waited....and it was my fault on the poor shot in the first place.

I'm going to learn from this obviously and when I get another shot at one like this try and do the right thing :(

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Hindsight is always 20/20??

Is that your excuse for knowing nothing about what to do or knowing what to do and not having the willpower to do it because it was a good buck??

You made a terrible shot.......you are the only one who knows the reason for that and has to live with it. Once that happened there is nothing you can do about it but accept reality and stick to the proper follow up........you did NEITHER.

You hurried down and after a poorly shot buck.............he was bleeding bad you said in the beggining.......if you had left him for as long as you should have he would have bedded down not far away and you would have had a MUCH better chance of finding him.

You come here crying for advice????.........there are hundreds of pages of advice available 24/7 and 365 days a year. Maybe if you had taken advantage of all that advice BEFORE you went in the woods you wouldn't be here looking for everyone else to bail you out.


BTW..........I am getting sick of seeing people come on here and say "I know I screwed up bad so no need to pile on or rub it in"..........BS!!!!!! Don't be playing the "I already feel bad" get out of jail free card and expect everyone to feel sorry for you..........the only reason you feel bad is because everything went to hell. You didn't care enough to be prepared and do the right thing in the woods but now we are all supposed to believe you are truely remorseful.

Yea right................this forum is full of guys EVERY year that are only sorry when they don't find their deer.


How someone can post that they did EVERYTHING wrong and then tell people not to point that out is rediculous. You ask for advice???..............AFTER you shoot a big buck poorly and then chase him 2 counties over in less then an hour...........you gotta be kidding.

If you got on him in a 1/2 hour and got him running you must have practically hurried down from your stand right after the shot...........people don't even do that for double lunged deer. The only way you should get down that fast is if you seen him fall.

These kinds of posts turn my stomach.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

You are so heartbroken that you are sitting on your computer in the middle of the day instead of looking for that deer???



[:@]

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Go to where you lost sign and start making small circles and increase the circles kind of like a target. This has worked for me in the past. Go very slow and watch for signs of blood on the folaige neck high on the deer. He may not be dripping blood but it will rub off as his neck touches things he walks by.

Good Luck!

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

atlasman...not everyone was born an expert. You will find that just about everyone has made dumb mistakes in their hunting life time. I know I have. The first doe I ever shot with a bow was twenty five years ago and I took a straight on shot into the base of the neck. Yes it was a bad shot but I didn't have the knowledge and experience I do now. I see all the "I lost my deer" threads also but see no reason to jump their case. Maybe they just want to get it off their chest and maybe get a few pointers. At least in the world of the internet young hunters can get a lot of information that can accelerate the learning curve but it will still take real world experience to make them good hunters.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Not trying to say I'm an expert. I bowhunt probably 30 days each fall....beenbowhunting for 5 years. I have plenty of experience in the tree....and know what I'm SUPPOSED to do....but have no experience once it is actually happening in the heat of the moment. Not looking to give my sob story. I'm looking for any advise I can get before I get back out there.

I'm trying to learn by experience...not by reading internet boards. Alasman, why don't you just copy / paste your post so next time someone does somthing like this you don't have to waste time typing to respond to inferiors like myself. Thanks alot.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Amen. When I was growing up we only cut their shirt-tail off. Now we set them on fire. Way to encourage new hunters. If someone is willing to admit their mistake I think they are on the way to becoming better hunters and have one advantage over a few people on this forum.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

My advise as someone who is entering their 2nd season as a bow hunter.

Never take a shot unless you are 100% confident you can make that shot.
Stop looking at the antlers once you have decided he is a shooter.
If you are not 100% sure you hit your target area (double lung) wait 1 hour before you climb down to check your arrow. (only)
You can't wait too long before you start tracking, but you can start too early.

We owe it to these animals we hunt to place an accurate shot which will cause the least amount of suffering.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Atlas, you need to back off and give the guy a break. He realizes he did the wrong thing. That is one thing I hate about these sites there is always some jerk who thinks he is perfect and goes off on people. I am sure you have made mistakes as well. Ease up he was asking for help.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Any chance you have someone in your area with a trained deer-recovery dog? That is your best chance.

2nd, keep looking, a hit like that will force a mature buck to try to get back to his safe area, his bedding thicket. I know I hit a mature buck high in the shoulder and I found him in his bedding area 250 yards away with no blood trail. He will probably crawl up in his safest place, hes been around long enough to have these places established...if he lived long enough to make it there thats where he is headed imo. Do you know where he bedded. You said you have trail cams of him? You should know some of his patterns right?

You did make a mistake, you admitted it and now its time to move on, learn a very important lesson, decide what its gonna take to not make the same mistake again, I know I did......and last... Many of us have been right where you are... at one point or time. Anyone that says they haven't hasn't hunted much or they are just flat out very fortunate to have everything always go right.... It's like the guy who says he's never been whipped. Truth is... most of the time...he hasn't been in many fights.

Good luck, keep your head up and learn from this....Find that deer. use the birds, yotes whatever...but as of today, you know the direction he was heading..look for him to go back to his security area, his bedding area. If you know where he liked to bed...get a couple buddies and search that area on your handsand knees if you have too...Good luck. 150 class or 50 class...it doesn't matter, I hope you find him.

Troy

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

I have to side with Atlas here.

Ok bad shots happen in the "heat of the moment" but after the shot there is no "heat of the moment" and you have all of the time in the world to think about your plan of action as to how and WHEN to track your wounded deer.

That's not bowhunting, but hunting 101. So what do you want from us??? You want us to tell you he's fine and probably survived the shot? Odds are he didn't and is about 5 counties away deadbecause you DECIDED to go running after him right away knowing it was a bad shot.

If you have been hunting as long as you say you have, and really wanted some help, you should have posted this last night with something to the effect of: "I made a bad shot ona 150 class buck, hit him in the neck, saw lots of blood then backed out of the woods. What is my best plan of attack to find him? Should I wait till morning or search later tonight?"

Not much you can do now but go to your last blood spot and start a circle search. I know if I shot a 150 class buck or ANY other deer for that matter. The LAST place I would be the day after is here crying about it.

Like you don't know what to do????? Go LOOK for it!

I not trying to be too mean here but I think comming here asking what to do after a deer has been hit by a bad shot should have beed done BEFORE you shot him eh??

Edit: Before anyone chimes, this guy is not a newbie, he said "I bowhunt probably 30 days each fall....beenbowhunting for 5 years. I have plenty of experience in the tree....and know what I'm SUPPOSED to do" I'm all for helping new hunters but come on here....5 years! If in five years he can't take the time to learn what to to do after a bad shot, then how much respect does he give this sport or the quary he chases?

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Also get some "flagging" and tag all signs you find. Gives you a good idea of direction of flight. Anyone ever shoot another arrow into the ground to mark where they shot the deer before they get down? I haven't, but thought it might be a good suggestion.

As far as tracking dog, if you're really desperate and your law allows, and there's no trained dog available, you can try this: If you have a dog of any sort of hunting lineage (beagle, foxhound, lab, retriever, terrier, dachsund, etc) put them on a leash and take them to the site. Take them to the spot where you shot the deer and put their nose down on the spot and then lead them to the first spot of blood and then the second. If you're lucky their genes may kick in and they may get the idea. I've seen it done with an untrained black lab and I've read of some non-hunting variaties of dogs having been trained for tracking. Even lousy sniffing dogs are better than any human.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Wow, thanks for the encouragment. Though he did a bit of zigzagging I think I know about where he was heading (thicket). I will look as much as I can I promise. I got to work late this morning and will leave early today to look again....at work now. Thanks again for the help and words of encouragment.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

For my area Water is where they head. I have fond two bucks one I shot and my Dad near the river or in it. I just walk the bank or float down it in my boat. Don't know if you are near water, but I hope it helps.
As for the ohters guys beating you up, well I know you just need to get this off your chest. I have been there, made mistakes myself. My Grampa hunted for years told me what to do, and guess what until I screwed up myself is when I learned.
IMO what you do after the shot is most important. Even on a bad shot the deer can be recoverd if done right. A decent shot and you go after to quick, well you could loose the deer. My uncle shot a deer in the shoulder with his muzzle loader. He went right after it, he fond pools of blood in three spots, large pools. He never fond the deer, next spring I am out shed hunting on the other side of the farm(about 1/2 mile) guess what I find in the thick stuff. His 10 pointer, he has hunted a lot of years and made the mistake. There is a post about tracking, I suggest you print it out and get it laminated. Read when you are in the stand, then after you shoot and have watch the deer as long as you can read it again. I think this will help you. Just so you know I do the samething. I have been hunting for 21 years now. It just helps calm me down and think before I act.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

You don't have to be an expert to know not to chase after a poorly hit deer in 30 minutes. BASIC knowledge. He has been in the woods with a bow for near 150 days and doesn't know this???


If you don't have the BASIC knowledge of not shooting at the base of a deer's neck then you shouldn't be hunting IMO.........Here's an idea.......learn proper shot placement ANY way other then by trial and error on live game. What the heck are they teaching in your states hunter ed classes that you didn't know this??


Well that is where we differ on opinion. Keep coddling them and telling them it's OK because he said he was sorry and you will continue to see this and every other hunting board full of posts like this year after year.

Sorry..........not the way I was raised. You didn't go in the woods with less then lethal accuracy or not knowing what to do if and when something happened...........and if you did something against what you KNEW was the right thing to do and it resulted in a lost animal then that was even worse. If you don't know what the heck you are doing or have no care or respect for the animals then do everyone a favor and stay home and play video games. Don't go wounding animals and leaving them to suffer a slow and painful death because of your ignorance.


This isn't hunter'stherapy.com...........if they wanted the pointers they would have got them BEFORE they screwed up........they are looking for people to do exactly what you are doing.......pat them on the back and tell them not to worry and just "Get 'em next time"

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

If you knew what you were SUPPOSED to do...........why didn't you do it??


Pretty stupid thing to say..............seeing how you started a thread begging to learn from advice on an internet board.

What is the point of everyone giving you advice???.........You have already said you don't do what you know you are SUPPOSED to do when the time comes.

Maybe if you HAD learned from the great amount of info here at this board you wouldn't be in this situation.......but maybe you would because learning it doesn't mean much if you are just gonna ignore it all and go running after a deer like a maniac before it even hits the ground.

Your welcome.........if you don't like it too bad. I don't like seeing guys like you wound deer for no reason and then come here and beg for help and a pat on the back. If we all have to suffer through reading garbage like this I don't see why you should be exempt from the truth.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Atlas,
You are correct, but if this guys has any ethics he feels this way. Beating him up is not going to fix the problem. If he does not feel bad then us jumping all over him does no good either. He screwed up, and I think he knows that, and I think no why thinks "Go get him next time". What we need to do help him understand what he did wrong, I think he knows. I will agree with you, but you are being a little harsh(IMO). You have the right to say what you feel and I respect the fact you came out and said what a lot of peole think. Just try to be more helpful then hurtful. I hope this guys already feels this way.

PS
You seem a little grumpy today, have the carbon suit guys been bothering you again? LOL

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Keep sugar coating it and treating him like a baby............grow up man..........we are out there killing things, it is not the time or the place to be doing things half-azzed. There is a BIG difference between a hunt going bad and bad hunt........see Rob's post about what he did after making a poor shot........THAT is how you handle it when things don't go right. You go to your knowledge base and THINK about what your best plan should be. The problem is when someone has no knwledge base to work off.........or even worse like in this case they just say screw it and do whatever they want anyways.......then come here crying that it didn't work out.


No he is not...........he is asking for all of us to fix his mess and make it all better for him..........if he wanted help it is here EVERY day of every year. It's like watching a child who was told 100 times not to play with fire sit there and cry because he burned his hand...........He was told what not to do and why.......yet he still did it anyways.......now he wants everyone to make the sting of that burn go away.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

I think treating him like a baby will not only not fix the problem but increase the probability it will happen again. If everyone acts like it's no big deal.......how long before people start believing it IS no big deal??

That is the worst part.........KNOWING you are doing something wrong and still doing it is unacceptable behavior from an adult. That is why people cut little children a break........"He didn't know" is something you say to a dog or a child........not an adult. That is why ignorance of the law is no excuse. An adult SHOULD know.......and of you don't it doesn't excuse your actions........sorry or not.


Exactly............everyone thinks it yet only a few have the stones to say it.........that is obviously not working judging by how many of these threads we have year after year. Maybe some more tough love would turn the tide on these kinds of things.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Cmscat, Sorry for some of the flames you are taking. I'm sure you feel bad enough without all the BS piled on you. The truth is bad shots happen to even the most accomplished archers. The only problem is you brought this one on to yourself. You admit this by "rushing the shot", That arrow is gone and a buck is wounded or worse. No flames or encouragement will undo what's done. Go out and look, look hard like shed33 said. Search the thickets and the water and anywhereelse you think he could or would go. you will either find him or you won't, but once you gave it your all..at least you can have some inner peace.
Whatever happens learn from it. One mistake is a learning expirience, making that same mistake a second time is unexcusable.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

If you hit him in the neck, and he ran for 300+ yards, I would say that you missed any major arteries, the spine and the windpipe. Severing any of those would bring him down fairly quicklike.
Did the arrow pass through? What kind of tissue was on it?
I have cut my finger before and bled like a brutal murder just occured.

A buck my brother took in gun season years back had an arrow wound in it's neck, in one side and out the other. It was healed over but looked NASTY. You may have not hit as center in the neck as you think. The arrow could have only gone slightly under the skin and out again.

In any case, keep looking. Many times a buck will circle back near the spot where he was hit and bed down and die. I would try doing the increasing size circle search both at the stand site and the last blood site. If he was heading downhill at last blood, have another guy go in that direction slowly, looking for the buck. If any prominent travel routes are going that same direction, put a guy on those trails searching.

My brother hit a buck on Saturday and the shot was downward and quartering away. We found no blood in the direction of escape. He kept searching for blood and I followed the escape route. I soon ended up on a defined trail so I kept going. Sure enough, after 100 yards or more, I found blood on that trail. I kept on it and found where the blood dropped off the trail and started downhill. I knew he was a gonner at that point and sure enough, at the bottom of the hill, there he was, belly-up. Get some fresh eyes out there to help you.

Good luck and learn from mistakes.
Bad shots, in time need lots!
Remember that....very important.
(And others shouldn't throw stones.)

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

I'm not going to bash but I do agree with atlas if he's been bow hunting for 5 years he should know what to do and what not to do especially when it comes to the recovery.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

My buddy shot a little 7 pointer, same spot you say you shot yours at, he ran for 300 yards with lots of blood and then blood quit. 3 weeks later i saw the deer running around with a scab on his neck.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: atlasman

Hindsight is always 20/20??

Is that your excuse for knowing nothing about what to do or knowing what to do and not having the willpower to do it because it was a good buck??

You made a terrible shot.......

Lighten up Frances!!!

The guy admits his wrong doing and is asking for advise. His tone suggests that he is more worries about the animal than his trophy. Let's all try and focus on the positives and not dwell on the negative. The guy was out, legally hunting, with a tag, and a big buck surprised him. Adrienne kicked in and time started coming to a crawl. Maybe he rushed the shot, but in his moment of hypertension, he was doing everything right.



CMSCAT50,

You should be looking for that animal the very next morning if this was a sunset shoot. Other than that, all I can do is share my experience on lost animals.

Last year, in S.D., I lost a nice Mule Buck. Sunset hunt, I was set up in a turkey blind along the trees that bordered a harvested corn field. The Buck came from my left a 50 yards in front. We had a shooter (this was muzzle loader season, by I was with the bow) another 100 yards in front of that buck. He either caught the shooters scent or what ever and got spooked. I didn't expect this buck would be mine! I ran, at an angle toward me! He got to the tree line to my left and slowed down to a trot, still coming right by me. I drew the arrow, but did not expect anything, but I figured that maybe I can give him a bleep and stop him. In the worst case, I would spook and already spooked deer and he would continue running.

He Stopped!!!! Dead in front of me at 10 yards! No Bleep! No Nothing! Just stopped, Broad Side, Looking back toward the gunner!

THWACK!!!

I hit him, dead on in the side! Clean Entry, Clean Exit! He fell dead in his tracks and already bleeding from the mouth!

I sat there in total disbelief. It was still early! There were already about a dozen deer in the field and four does were making there way toward me before I spotted this deer. After he fell, they looked up, but continued feeding. They were still feeding in my direction. I still had 1 more tag left and thought that this might be my lucky night!!!!

The does were within 30 yards and the buck was lying 10 yards in front of me. I was hoping that the does would not catch the bucks scent, but I and the buck was down wind. Nonetheless, I nocked an arrow and was preparing for a 20 yard shot.

30 Minutes has gone by now and the does are taking a LONG time to feed 30 yards out. Sunset was 20 minutes ago, shooting time is almost over and the light is getting pretty dim. There was a nice mature doe, 2 yearlings, and another somewhere in between. I had my eye on the big doe, but I would have taken a smaller one, or just wait until tomorrow. One of the yearlings trotted 5 yards closer looking for more food. Then another 5 yards. She is within 20, but she was the smallest one. I figure I'll wait to see what the others do. Sure enough, the small doe starts feeding and the others follow her to her newly found food. 20 yards, 4 does, and a dead buck. None of them notice the buck! I am waiting for the other yearling to pass by the mature doe, she does. I slowly get up on my knees, aching from being in a crouched kneeling position for the last 15 minutes, stretch out my left arm....

What the F*$&?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Out of nowhere, and for no reason at all, the buck jump to life, gets on his feet, runs 10 yards to the left, then make a 90 degree turn to the trees behind me!!!!!!!!! Spooks the 4 does, I have no idea where they went because my eyes and ears were on the buck!!!! I no longer saw him, but I heard hooves, rustling leaves, and fallen branches breaking. Then nothing!!!!

No buck, no doe!

Just then I heard a shot. My partner got his!

I didn't know what to do now.

I went out to where the buck first fell. There were two nice pools of blood. One from teh exit wound, and another small one from the mouth. But that was it! I found a few drops about 5 yards away, then a nice long trail into the tall grass. It was really dark now, so I figured this buck is spending the night out here, but I just wanted to get an idea wehre he went and mark my trail. I couldn't find anything through the tall grass, so I figured that mark where he entered the grass and woods with a couple of sticks and head for camp.

I go to where my buddy was staked out. He's gone. Probably field dressing, I'll go warm up the truck so we can pick it up later. On the way back, I see him. He is out of breath and tells me that he shot a white tail doe and it hauled but. He said it was a clean shot, but cant find her. It's too dark. He said he heard her fall, but cant find anything. I tell him my story, and he can't believe it! We get back to camp where we meet the other guys. One of which is my uncle. A VERY experienced hunter and has more animal heads and skins in his house than the San Diego Zoo! He believes it and spends most of the next couple of hours telling us similar stories. He said the best thing to do is do our hunt in the morning, but each of us should reserve our tags for these two escapees and we'll find them when the sun is up (If the Coyotes don’t get them first!)

The morning up turned up nothing for anybody, so we split into two groups, each of us had experienced hunters. My uncle had a hard time tracking mine. He believes that is bled out while laying there and didn't have much left to give. He still found the blood trail literally one drop every 5 or 10 yards. Foot prints were hard to see and the forest floor was drenched in pine needles. He tracked this thing for 3 miles before discovering that it had jumped the fence into Sioux Territory. Bad News, he is gone!

My partner found his within 10 minutes. Is fell in some cover about 40 yards away from him. He walked past it about 10 times the previous night!

Well that's it, I guess even under perfect conditions and scenarios, they still get away from you sometimes!!!!

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

I agree alasman! Those of you who feel sorry for a guy that comes to this forum admitting he did everything wrong when he knew what to do in the first place is crazy! Plus he wants advise but says he doesn't come to these forums to get advise because he is an experience bow hunter and already knows what to do??????????? What. Anyone who wants to pat this guy on the back and say "thats ok you'll get him next time" isalso crazy.He must have still been in the heat of the moment whenhe wrote hisposts,because hispostsare makingno sense either! Take the criticism because from whatI have read you diserve it!

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

hope u find him and best of luck. ull find him.. jus keep lookin

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Maybe you take wounding animals and leaving them to suffer a pointless death all because of ignorance lightly................I don't.


If you mean advice........then he could have gotten here any day of the year BEFORE he screwed up. He doesn't want advice.......he wants everyone here to fix his mess. This board and all it's members provide advice and information all day every day.......he had all the information he could ever ask for. He just decided not to use it and run after a poorly shot deer. I'm just telling it like it is.

There are no positives in this story.........even if he finds the deer it will be spoiled. Please point out all the positives you speak of.

What does that even mean???

No one cares that he made a bad shot.........no one is even talking about his bad shot. Bad shots happen. His choice to ignore all common sense and what he KNEW was right and wrong is what lead to the disaster he is now in. People make bad shots all the time........the ones who not only KNOW what to do next but also have the brains and willpower to DO it are the ones that end up finding their deer even if the odds are against it. The rest just take off like wild eyed fools and run after the deer only to chase it into the next county..........then they come home and post a thread saying they feel bad and need help..........Well I am sick of seeing it EVERY year.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Atlasman - we get the point. In fact, we got it way back on Page 1. We know he messed up and now he is paying the consequences for it. Beating him up over the matter for 4 pages isn't helping the situation so please do us all a favor and lay off.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

I do agree with atlasman about knowing the right thing to do and not doing it. If we should feel sorry for anyone/anything, it should be the wounded animal. But however the damage has already been done so there is no sense in beating a dead horse. My advice is to get out there and look. Like other theads, search the shoulder high areas of brush/leaves looking for blood, and check near water if any is near. Good Luck in your search and just learn from you mistakes.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Bottom line the way I see it is if one can sit here and tell me you've done nothing wrong or even flat out stupid in the woods then I'd be inclined to call you a liar. Maybe some of you have perfected hunting to where it's no longer even hunting. I certainly have not. Now granted, setting trail on a deer only 30 minutes after a known bad shot is rather doltish for even a rookie, but for a hunter with some experience is just flat out mind blowing to do such a thing. (I'm sure you have picked up on that by now.)

This is my 25th season in the woods and have taken 20+ deer over the years. Some of those were easy, some weren't so easy. I found a deer the next morning by going to the crows. I've found deer with dogs. I found a deer by crawling on my hands and knees through the snow following only tracks and no blood (among thousands of other deer tracks). I've made bad shots and worse, bad decisions. I've also lost deer and it's a feeling that makes me sick and haunts me the entire season. Being a bow hunter comes at a price - the price of putting in time to be a proficient shot, putting in time to learn everything you can about the game you hunt, putting in the time to learn deer behavior and their habitat to figure out where they're going after being hit, and being a good bow hunter in most cases certainly comes at the price of sacrificing time to look for your game.

It's hard to say either way if this deer is alive or not but you have no choice but to go look for him.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

wow that's a cool word (whatever the heck it means). Mind if I use it?

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

I'm trying not to pile on but I agree with atlas. Nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes but expecting our fellow hunters to know some basics is not asking too much. Bad shots happen but knowing what to do whether its a good shot or not should be basic knowledge. Sometimes a good lashing sticks in the memory bank better than a "you'll do better next time". I doubt there is hardly anything a bowhunter who was trying to learn could not find on this site alone. The standard I use for myself is if I don't know the basics I will learn them before I do something. Good luck and hope you recover him.

RE: Shot a big one need advise (150 class)
 

Wow, I wish I was like atlasman and had never made a mistake in my life, then I could get on here and rip everyone else a new arse. You make mistakes in life and learn. If you make the same mistake over and over and don't learn, then you need some serious butt chewing. However, if you learned from your mistake that's what counts.

Now, deer like to circle around to get down wind when being chased. There's a good chance that buck is still around. Go back to the last place you saw him and start a circular search pattern working your way out from the center. If he was mortally wounded, you should find him.