Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

About 4:00 tonite, a big doe jumped out of nowhere right under my stand...another doe following. Right behind the was a nice enough 8 that I decided to take him. I saw another buck moving towards me, but couldn't see him clearly, so let the 8 pass. Eventually the other buck came close enough that I could see him, and he was another 8, and smaller. The stared at each other for awile, grunted and postured at each other awhile, and the bigger of the two finally gave me a nice almost broadside shot at about 15 yards. I'm up 20 feet. I heard the arrow hit, and it sounded good, and I saw my fletchings in him and they looked to be right where I wanted them for a lung shot. The buck jumped a little, and then walked off slowly with his tail down. About 10 feet from where I hit him, I saw my arrow. I watched him walk about 50 yards into the marsh before I lost sight of him. I waited 20 minutes to get out of my stand, and then went to the arrow. It had broken off RIGHT in front of the fletchings. I've never had this happen before, and I'm not sure what it means. I snuck out of the woods quietly and went home. Gave it 3 hours, and because it's both warm out, and rain is coming, decided to go out and try to recover my animal. I found just a little bright red blood where I hit him. Had just enough blood that I could follow a trail...every 15 yards or so would be a larger puddle of blood...like maybe pie plate sized...but not real heavy. It looks bright red, and it appeared to be in bubbles in places. Keep in mind this basically a swamp, so tracking was a NIGHTMARE. Anyway, about 100 yards from where I hit him, I found the rest of my arrow. Covered in blood. Nothing else on it. Followed the blood another 100 yards, to another of the "puddles", and the blood was just GONE. I spent awhile looking for the blood trail, and finally gave up. I'm thinking perhaps he doubled back on his trail at that point, and I missed where he went off his original course. I'm taking tomorrow off, and will be back there looking for him at first light of course. But I'm VERY confused. I'm not sure how the heck I could have hit him to get this situation..it looked and felt GOOD. I've been blessed to have never had to track a deer more than 50-75 yards until this one...I sure hate for this guy to die for nothing. :(

RE: Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

Sounds like he will die. Good luck on finding him. Post pics too!

RE: Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

I am confident that you will find this buck stoneman...even though at night we feel confident we can see everything, we can't. I know that after sun-up tomorrow you will notice a pattern to his movements.

Vashadowhunter

RE: Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

Yep, I'm confident you will find him in the AM

RE: Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

I think maybe you got a little far back, got one lung and liver, he didn't go far since you didn't push him too much, take some friends, look for blood and if you can't find any more do some grid searches...

Please let us know how it turns out, and GOOD LUCK!

RE: Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

Thanks for the support guys...I'll be out looking come daylight, and I'll let you know how it goes. Looks like the meat will be a loss even if I find him, as it's STILL 66 degrees here. :(

RE: Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

First of all leave your friends at home 2 feet in the woods is enough much less the conversation! Have a arrow nocked, find a drop of blood and look up!!!!!!!! Go on to the next spot, LOOK UP!!!!!!!! Recover the animal then call your buddies. Dont push him or you wont find him!!!!!!

RE: Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

You'll find him. It sounds like you didnt push him so he should bed down. I WOULD bring buddies if I were you. Some people just have knack for finding blood better than others, better vision or somethingI guess. As long as everyone takes it slow and doesnt mess up his trail, before seeing it, they should be a help.

RE: Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

wellI know one thing for sure is that you wont sleep good tonight. Im sure youll find him, sounds like you got a lung with the bubbles. Im surprised he went that far tho. in the morning just slow down and take your time. if the rain washes your blood away, just make circles from the last place you found blood and make sure you have a roll of orange tape.I wish ya luck.

RE: Shot a decent 8 - Didn't find it
 

Well, went out at day break, and hiked to the site of last blood. After about an hour, I picked up some more blood, and got about another 50 yards before the headed into some REALLY swampy areas. I circled around and around for about 5 hours, and had stomped around almost all of the terrain where I can legally hunt. He got away. I'm sick and disgusted, and confused. I know this happens, but I was so SURE that I had a solid hit on this guy, and it looked so good...I wish I knew what the heck happened with this shot so I can do something to prevent it in the future...darn near everything looked/felt picture perfect. Man I'm bummed.