this evening I hit the largest dear I have ever seen while bowhunting. a heavy beam 12 point. i shot while he was stopped broadside about 35 yards away. he bolted, stopped once after about 50 yards, looked back, ran stopped at about 100 yards atop a hill looked back again then ran.

I waited about 20 mins, went to site of shot recovered arrow. it was in fine condition with slight amount of blood from tip to fletching with a little hair. there was also a decent amount of white hair at scene. I tracked for about 150- 200 yards finding nickel and dime size blood. at the top of the hill where he stopped the second time there was a spot about six inches by eight of blood and he only stopped a second. after this if found a few more drops then the field opened up and I lost the trail. it was almost dark so I decided to wait until tomorrow morning.

what would you do and what do you think are the chances of recovery. I think i hit him low and it could be a nick, but did seem like a good amount of blood considering he was running and still leaving a trail.

I think you probably jumped the gun on pursuing him, unless of course you had reason to believe it was a double lung. If you suspect it was a gutshot, then you have some tracking to do.....any smell like guts to the arrow? Or was it all blood? Any bubbles in the blood? Did the buck look injured as he ran or when he stopped?

shadow

I was a little quick pursuing, but it was close to dark and i was just trying to gauge the dirction etc. the arrow, did not smell or look like a gut shot arrow. just red blood, not too dark. the dear did not run or look injured either. hope i didnt just nick a leg.

Where exactly did the arrow enter? Toward his chest or butt?

shadow

towards the chest

Any brown hair on the arrow? Any of the blades to the broadhead or mechanical messed up in any way?

shadow

when ya go back take your time. if you cant pick up the trail try to get some friends and broaden your search. Like i said before take your time and don't get discouraged. try and keep a positive outlook. and good luck let me know how it turns out.

only white hairs, long white hairs. broadhead and arrow in fine condition

Sounds like you hit him in the lower chest/front belly area...White hair! Sounds like you may have just grazed the bottoms of him some. Not sure if you can shoot out to that yardage and get white hair, plus hit vital? Anyway I hope you did get a lethal shot on him and make a Quick recovery...sounds like a great buck!
Good Luck!
keep us posted!