Yesterday afternoon I got in my stand about 4pm i'm hunting over corn i've put out and the deer have been coming in heavy. About 6:20 I see a 4 pt buck to my right about 40 yds in a bottom coming my way. I'm in a red cedar tree about 10ft. I maneuver around to my left because I can hear him coming to the left of me. As soon as I maneuvered to my left he popped out in the open, I have a jug as a 20yd marker and he was just outside of that. He turned towards me and walked a couple yards in and turned broadside, I drew my bow and put my pin on his shoulder and released I never did see my arrow, but I heard a loud smack. He ran out not at a dead run but a sprint. I went and got my buddy and we waited about 20 minutes to start tracking. We used his dog to track and she found blood about 75yds away. They were just little spots of blood, we trailed the blood for another 200 yds and the blood never got any bigger than spots. I never found my arrow It's still in him and the blood wasn't bright red or frothy, just regular red. We never found him, can anyone give suggestions? I feel terrible being my first deer with a bow and I lost him. Where do you think I hit him? was it lethal? I use muzzy 3 blade 125 grain. I know this is a long post but i'm just upset, thanks.

I had the same thing happen to me last year. A nice big 4pt. 25 yards away. Didn't that my pin was a 20 yard pin and I put my arrow right into his bread basket. Right below the lungs and heart. Tracked that buck for what had to be close to 2 miles. There's nothing you can do really except to go back out and try it again. And try to think more clearly even tho none of us can. Anyway, things like that happen to the best of them good luck and be safe

Knuckles up>>> Brian

Been there,done that and I know it sucks.Best advice I can give you or anyone else....If you dont see the deer go down,wait at least 2 hours before trying to track it.It will lay down usually within a couple hundred yards and die if you dont push it.It might be a superficial wound and it might heal up.

Thanks for the advice, I should of aimed 2 inches to the left and it would have been a double lung passthrough. Does anyone think this deer will die? As far as I know the arrow is still in him because we didn't find it on the ground. We should have waited longer, I'm hunting over corn and deer come in every evening at dusk, I'll have a chance at one this weekend and this time I'll aim where i'm supposed to. By the way I shoot a Darton Ranger at 53# with a 2216 easton xx75 with 125 3 blade muzzy.

I appreciate the two who replied, but why hasn't anyone else had any suggestions or opinions on the shot? I saw shortdraws pic of the doe and it looks like he hit the shoulder too. I may have hit 1/2 inch forward of that. Is that enough to make it a non lethal shot?

On a broadside shot it is best to aim about 2 inches back from the shoulder just behind the joint.

On a quartering away shot I use the off leg as my aim point just run the pin up the off leg that will put you right in the boiler room.

If the arrow is still in him, I would assume he'll die. Eventually it will tear things up enough inside to cause enough bleeding, or it'll get infected.

-Brad
Eastern Nebraska Bowhunter

It's gotta be hard to do and I'm no expert, but from what I gather.......if you aren't exactly sure where you hit him wait a couple hours. Let him lay down and die. Track him too soon and he'll keep getting pushed and run further than you want.

You say you hit 2 inches in front of shortdraws shot but you also say you did not see the arrow. If you did not see the arrow you could of hit anywhere on the deer.

Very possible you hit the shoulder blade if you heard a loud Wack. There is a very good possibility the deer is down.

A couple suggestions:

1) As stated before if you are uncertain - WAIT at least 2 hrs. if not more.
2) Leave the dog home. They speed the tracking up way to fast. If the bloodtrail is very small like you stated, the dog can easily destroy it by turning over leaves. The dog obviously is not that good if it only took you 200 yds. You are better off without it.

Good Luck.

Rack attack, I was aiming 2 inches ahead of shortdraws shot. I know we should have waited longer than 30 minutes, I was impatient, and i will tell you the guys land i'm hunting on brought his dog the dog started on the trail right away and barked within 1 minute after it started. I know that she scared the deer up while he was laying down, it was only maybe 40 yds from where I shot it. If i'd just waited gone out there without the dog I probably would have found it right there. I feel aboulutely sick about the whole thing, I didn't sleep at all last night thinking about what I had done. Even if I do find the deer, the meat will be ruined. Next time when I shoot one i'm going to wait in my stand an hour and not tell my buddy at all until either I find the deer or need help tracking. That way the dog won't come into play. I know now that I could've found it myself if i'd done that.