Mixed Emotions...
 

Well after 3 bow seasons, i finally shot my first deer last night. I was ecstatic. I finally got a chance to take a shot and i guess i kinda made a bad decision. It was a good sized doe and she walked under my stand about 10 ft out from the tree i was in. I took the shot that was almost straight down and hit her right in the spine. The shot paralized her, but she wasnt dead, and didnt seem like she was plannin on dying anytime soon. So i climbed down the tree and packed up my stuff. I took it back to my truck bc i was only about a 10 min walk from the tree. When i got back, she still wasnt dead. So i decided that i needed to end it for her bc she wasnt loosin much blood and i felt like she was sufferin. Soi got out the knife and ended things. Still took her a while to go. Just the kicking and the suffering killed me to watch. When she was still kickin, a yearling dear that looked old enough to live without her mother walked up and just stared at her, and then she bleated, almost like she was calling out to her. It broke my heart. I mean, i have no problem taking a deer or squirrels or anything, but watchin that killed me. I gutted my dear and carried her to the truck. That scene just keeps replaying in my head. Anyone else been in a similar position? Im still stoked about getting my first kill with my bow, but that just sucked to watch.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

I'll be that was tough. But you know what? That's the right attitude to have. If you weren't a little sympathetic, you wouldn't have any respect for the animal. Learn from it and go on. I think I would have just put another arrow in her, but hey, it got the job done.

Congrats on your first archery deer! It's an accomplishment, and nobody can take anything away from that.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Live and learn. It happens to all of us. Next time end it as quick as possible with a follow up. Congrats on your first deer.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Why dint u just shoot her again?

Its defenitely hard to watch thats why we need to make our kills as quick and painless as possible. Its all part of hunting.

Congrats on your deer!!!

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Just had my first spine shot about 2 weeks ago. It was a small doe, and she started bleating very loud and thrashing around. I grab another arrow to finish her off, but rushed it and gut shot her. I realized that I needed to take a breath and calm down, then put another arrow in her to finish her off. She was bleating the whole time, and it really bothered me to see her there suffering. I hope I never have that happen again.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Have it happen every so often,usually just shoot the Fawn too.

big rockpile

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Oh yeah, Congrats on your first. It sure is nice to get that first one under your belt.

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RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Been there, done that, next time shoot her again in the lungs.. Sucks I know, but you know the saying Poop Happens..

3 yrs ago I hit a buck HIGH, spine shot, dropped him, he crawled away before I could get another arrow into him.. Climbed down, watched him try to get up, and then he just stared at me while I shot him again in the lungs.. Only took a few seconds for him to pass, but that look he gave me before I shot was tough.. He was a NICE 8 though..Good eatting too..

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

This also happened to me when i first started. My buddy came over and told me to just shootit again she wasdone in a couple seconds after that. I did feel bad[&o] when I saw the deeralive after the shot but you will get over itTrust Me;). Anyways congrats on your first kill :Dnow just adjust your shooting a little and you'll be fine.

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RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Yah i rushed my second shot and put it in her shoulder, once again, a bad decision and a bad angle, she bleated super loud and just struggled to get up. Thanks for all the support guys, i just love being out there and being so close to em, it just kinda got to me.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Yah i guess i've learned quite a bit from my experience last night. I made it a goal to take my first deer with my dads old bow, and now i have. So now im lookin at some new ones. When i called my mom to tell her i had shot a deer, she told me that my father never even shot a deer with that bow, so it made me feel good. The bow is well past its prime at about 25 to 30 years old. I have put a new sight, arrow rest and some other stuff on her. She shoots straight, i guess thats all that matters.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

I've always told people that if you don't feel at least some kind of remorse for taking a life, you shouldn't be hunting. That's just my opinion obviously. I feel we as hunters owe it to the game we pursue, to treat that life we take with some respect.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

you live and learn, as good as we try to be ,things will always happen from time to time.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Congrats on your first, I think everyone else covered the rest.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Congrats on the deer, but next time just shoot her again ASAP.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Congrats on your first bow kill!

I agree that a second shot should have been in order but I'll even go farther than that. "I" would have let her get out a little farther from my tree to reduce the steep angle. Straight down or almost straight down shots should not be attemtped IMO. The odds of "spining" a deer under these conditions will increase greatly. Sure the deer will not go anywherebut I'm like you and hate seeing the deerin a paralyzed state.Just constructive critism. We've all made bad decisions but what makes a bowhunter a good bowhunteris the fact we learn from those mistakes.:)

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Well said, well said.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Congrats on your first. Same sentiments as previous posts.

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Congrats on getting the monkey off your back.

My view of this situation is this. The not so great start may one day seem like a blessing. One day you'll be faced with a decision about shooting or not on a iffy shot and you'll know the consequences of your actions. May help you sleep better at night in the future.

Anyway poop happens.

Tom

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Congratulations on your first deer. You got your deer, and you learned some good lessons for next time (ie wait until it's farther out to get both lungs, quick follow up shot). Everybody makes mistakes, especially early on. But the main thing is you got the deer. Good job!

RE: Mixed Emotions...
 

Good job CONGRATS.