If it was indeed 6" of penetration you should have a dead deer. 3" and the deer will live. I've been there and done that. Any way to tell from the video the amount of penetration? The reason I ask is because sometimes, due to the circumstances, blood will travel further up the shaft than the actual penetration. Good move to wait until morning. You'll be able to see what you are doing much better. Typical muscle hits start bleeding after about 30 yards. Then they bleed like crazy for 50 - 80 yards, making you think nothing can survive that, Then suddenly..... nothing. He licks his wounds and clots up and he's gone.

I hope you find him, good luck!

I would say a dead deer , you may have to track for a distance . probably one lung that is getting more cut up as he moves due to the arrow braking off in him. the arrow may plug the hole a little with the blood filling his lung instead of coming out . I think you will find him this morning .good luck .post a pic of him or even the video would be cool

Dead deer...

Just waiting for the recovery pictures cause that is a dead deer.

Thanks for the replies guys. Hopefully he is just laying over the hill dead. I think the guys are headed out to look for him soon. Im in the tree again and the deer are chasing like crazy. Yet to see a big buck yet though...

Shawn or I will keep you posted im sure

Well guys,

After looking for the majority of the day we came up with nothing. Turns out the deer got about 3-4" of the arrow shaft broke off in him and it looks as if the arrow penetrated 6-7"

We found a little blood going over the hill and about 20 yards into the timber before it petered out. Im thinking that he must have hit the actual leg bone and didnt get any penetration into the body cavity. If that is the case i think the deer will certainly survive but i just feel horrible...i cant believe that happened. Im at a loss for words....

That is rough, sorry man....however I would have to disagree w/ the not entering the body cavity if you got 6" of broadside penetration. But it is very difficult to say....I have seen a 120 lb doe shot in a identical place (the arrow penetrated 8", through the front of both lungs but no exit). The doe went 1/3 mile. We found her...by luck.

That was my exact opinion of whereithought the deer was hit also. I'm thinking he'll live too but this stuff happens and a person has gottamove on and do it right the next time! Easier said then done though!

Yeah, it is tough to say...

I know that IF he is in fact dead, we will find him eventually. I just hate to see an animal of that caliber get away...he was truely a remarkable deer....