Well it happened, I had a perfect broadside shot at a doe and blew it! I hit a leaf and it deflected enough to throw my shot off and wound up with a gut shot doe. I waited 15 mins to come down to look for my bolt and found stomach fluid and white hair on it! [:@]
I watched her run about 40yrds and stop with her tail twitching and she walked off. I still can't believe I blew this shot! [&o]I gathered up my things and backed out of the woods. I visually marked the spot I last saw her and I'll start looking there in the morning. I'm hoping she bedded down quickly since I didn't push herso she shouldn't be too far away?
I know threads like this aren't popular and I do feel like crap about it but does anyone have anyhints that may help the recovery?Like check near water, ect?

it happens to the best of us. you can bet if she took even a gutt shot she may be down.. was it a pass threw shot?

Yes, it was a pass through.[:@]I am bummed, big time!

A gut shot deer is a dead deer. The problem is, finding it.

There probably won't be much of a blood trail, so you will need to rely on tracks, turned up leaves and ground disturbances.

A gut shot deer will lay down quickly. If not disturbed it won't go far. It will lay down for a while, get up and walk a bit, then lay down again. It may bed down several times.

It is real uncomfortable and it will take it several hours to die.

If there is water nearby, it may head in that direction.

So what is the terrain like? Thick woods or open?

good luck. you did good thus far. temps should be cold enough tonight youll be ok. she hopefully didnt go too far. id follow the direction she went and see if you cant pick up a trail. if you can try to follow it. if not start circles getting bigger and bigger. then a grid. take some man power if you have any available. check the thickets long and hard and anywhere theres a hint of water. all the dead deer ive found that others didnt recover in the woods were near water or in nasty thickets. good luck..read the recovery post..lots of info. atleast you knew better then to push her..you have a decint shot at finding her.

Yes, there is a real small creek that runs the leangth of this property. Also, there are some serious thickets of rose, briar and mile a minute which she was eating when I shot her. Thanks for the help guys, I actually prayed that I find her tomarrow!

Hope ya do. And let us know how it went.

You did the right thing, getting out of there and letting her be.

Did she walk all hunched up?

Chances are good, that she will bed down not far from where you last saw her.

Be aware, that deer will smell awful when you gut her but the meat will still be good. Alot of guys think it is spoiled and won't take it because of the smell. When the gut is busted and it lays all night, it will reek.

I think you have a good chance of finding her.

Watch for crows, ravens or turkey buzzards also.

Good luck. Let us know how it turns out.

sometimes they'll walk a bit and then make a semi-circle to try and see what's following them.