I hit a doe
 

to day me and my dadwent out late around 5:45.we were hoping to get an hour or two in the stand since it gets dark at 7:45. I was on my way to my tree and i spooked a doe. she ran up the hill. My dad was hunting way down about a mile to my right. I figured i would try to get in front of her. This way i could either get a shot or i would push her toward my dad and he might see her. I went up top the hill where there is a field and she was standing there. I looked at her stoped and she ran. I followed her and got to about 50 60 yards away. She stood there I pulled back and let an arrow fly. I see it go but i heard a smack i had to shoot through some brush so i thought i had missed. I waited and then went to look for my arrow. I found no arrow but i did find some blood. I followed the blood trail for about 40 50 yards then it got to dark and i was just about in someone yard so i decided to wait until tomorrow since it will be cold tonight No sleep for me tonight.

RE: I hit a doe
 

I'm not going to ream you like some will but why did you attempt this shot? Didn't you feel uneasy about the shot before coming to full draw? Also, where are you located?

RE: I hit a doe
 

Just for your sake, how old are you?

RE: I hit a doe
 

and yall thought my thread was gonna need popcorn :eek:

RE: I hit a doe
 

Good luck!

RE: I hit a doe
 

Wow....I could never do that, I hope all ends well.....

RE: I hit a doe
 

I'm new but I'm pretty sure this isn't going to end well for you. by the way it sounds like you shot at something you couldn't see, thats pretty dangerous.

RE: I hit a doe
 

i'm 18 also its the beginning of the season im a little trigger happy and my days are really limitedfor hunting.thats why i made the shot. Do i regret it yes in many ways but it still gets my heart going and thats why i hunt. Also i hunt in pressured PA

RE: I hit a doe
 

...good luck, hope it works out.

What did the blood look like?

RE: I hit a doe
 

I hope that trigger happiness wears off if not start waterfowling to help!

RE: I hit a doe
 

It was a mature doe i had seen her once before. the shot was not as bad as you think just a little far thats all. also to add to things the freezer is now empty we usually eat 4 to 5 deer a year so it was hard for me to pass on her.

RE: I hit a doe
 

uh oh.....well crabclaw, oneshot, i believe i'll join you. and i think we all know whats gonna happen...

RE: I hit a doe
 

For your sake, Lets hope you find her.

RE: I hit a doe
 

Where are you located?

RE: I hit a doe
 

Sounds like you launched an arrow and hoped for the best. Not good dude

RE: I hit a doe
 

Well depending on what part of PA you live....I wish you luck. Looks like it's raining in part of the state. Hope the "blood trail" is still existent in the morning.

You should really try to find that arrow. That's one of your biggest clues. You'll also learn not to take this "iffy" shots because this is usually what happens. Besides shooting through brush; 50-60 yards is pushing it for most bowhunters. You need to set yourself a maximum shooting distance and 50 yards is not a good idea. Good luck!

RE: I hit a doe
 

western PA

RE: I hit a doe
 

Sutton!! It's time to step back and Punt! All I want to say to you is I hope you learn from your mistakes! All Young Bowhunters make them and you just made one. Learn from it and good luck!

Hatchet Jack

RE: I hit a doe
 

You have one pin for about 50 or 60 yds? Wow!!!

RE: I hit a doe
 

Please:

What did the blood look like.

RE: I hit a doe
 

Unless you're kidding....I can only think of a couple things that would make this worse.......

You know.....like you dropped your joint down your shirt......or yourbow arm sleevegot caught up on your track mark scabs or something.

RE: I hit a doe
 

Guys, really?

The arrow can't be taken back. There is a deer with an arrow in her or through her:eek:

Bad shot selection, no doubt. But I'm pretty sure if you shoot at a deer you can't take it back in mid air. It's done.

So why don't we help point out HOW to go about it, instead of bringing up his INCREDIBLY HORRIBLE shot selection.

Just sayin'

Any reason you aren't out there right now, sutton?

RE: I hit a doe
 

Excellent post Kyle, some folks sure are quick to rip on people instead of helping.

First step is go and look for your arrow, that will tell you a lot. I would get your dad and go have a look at the blood and see what that tells ya, an extra set of eyes is a big plus! Please keep us updated, good luck!

RE: I hit a doe
 

Yes, you're right. That arrow can't be taken back but this "constructive criticism" might prevent another situation such as this. It's almost one of those "its to bad to be true stories."

RE: I hit a doe
 

And you think condoning that type behavior is "helping"?

Have at it.;) I think it's ridiculous, personally. Like Finch....so much so it's almost GOT to be fiction. If it isn't.....then it's just sad.

RE: I hit a doe
 

I agree with GMMAT. Constructive criticism can help! Especially with a shot that is so unethical it gives all hunters a bad name. Regardless of whether you don't have any deer in the freezer or don't have have many days to hunt, taking an unethical shot and risking wounding an animal is unacceptable.

RE: I hit a doe
 

OHHHHH NO.... don't bring that mess over here... espeically because you live two states north of me... what you sky bust today in PA will light wide next week in VA [:@]


Pass the salt please...

RE: I hit a doe
 

Condoning?

I'm not condoning anything. What can be done, besides helping finding the doe with a hole in her.

It was a shot that shouldn't have been taken, but it was. Even the reasoning behind the shot was wrong!

Now the deer needs to be found. You've said it a thousand times, and I concur, the deer deserves better than that.

RE: I hit a doe
 

There's no reason that is right for taking that kind of shot. Personally, I struggle with the reason for this post. IF it has a reason at all it is to give motivation to get back out there and find that deer. There already was a mistake made, that can't be undone. Don't make a second by not giving it everything you can to get that buck.

RE: I hit a doe
 

Kyle....

Only one thing to be done, now.....and if he's here typing....he ain't doing it.;)

He don't need encouragement and "It'll be fine". He needs to go find that deer.

RE: I hit a doe
 

Agreed.

RE: I hit a doe
 

And so it begins.........:(:eek: *sigh*

RE: I hit a doe
 

Wahoohunter, You think this comment is going to help, please explain to me what its going to help?????

RE: I hit a doe
 

i'm not trying to rip this guy or anything, although personally i would never take that shot, but really can't people read? matt provided a post a month or so ago addressing this very subject....if you post something like this expect to get flamed

RE: I hit a doe
 

Help THIS guy? Nope.

Help everybody else who reads this see how freakin ridiculous **** like this is? Yep.

RE: I hit a doe
 

This is actually the TEXTBOOK post I was describing.......

-Little known member (that's sort of irrelevant but seems to be the pattern?)
-Young
-Long range "hail mary" shot (or too dark is another good one)
-Lets throw in some brush to shoot through for giggles
-found blood but no clue about much of anything else to relay to us(not sure how long of a wait to track?)
-At home typing about it when it should sound like crap in his head as it's being typed
-Now going to leave the deer overnight whichat this point wouldn't besuch a bad move.........except the weather in PA is going to suck for 2 days.

I don't know if I should laugh or cry.
Good luck bud you made the bed so you have to lie in it.........check the weather and decide your next move from there.
If I was close by I'd try to help you out of this mess but all I can do is hope you somehow made a miracle happen.
I'm out.:eek:

RE: I hit a doe
 

Jeff,
While I somewhat scoff at the whole thing as well, I think you have to remember that he's only 18, and we all make mistakes. Ridiculing will only make him closed minded to the constructive criticism that he dearly needs. Rather than blast him for his "mistake," remind him that when people see things like this...


That they blame ALL of us HUNTERS, and it gives ALL of us a Black Eye!!!

Sutton,
The object of bowhunting is to "get close." Take each "blast" here with a "grain of salt," but for future reference, make sure you are taking shots that are well within your realistic range, and that are more "high percentage." Everytime on of the above type pictures shows up on a PETA handout, people who would otherwise be indifferent, have their opinions swayed. If you're not sure of the shot, I think waiting till morning is realistic, or at least 4-6hrs, and we all know that you are "NOT SURE OF THE SHOT!!!" Even when we are close, sometimes bad things happen, or appear to happen, ask Matt/PA.

RE: I hit a doe
 

And I own National 3D shooting titles...........
Food for thought.
:eek:

RE: I hit a doe
 

My best friend was almost killed by a shotgun slug that was fired by someone who got caught up in the moment. No deer, no matter how big it is, is worth doing something stupid. Learn from your mistake and become a better hunter. Many people have been killed by hunters shooting through brush at something 50 to 60 yards away.

RE: I hit a doe
 

Sutton, I am a fairly new bowhunter as well. Last year was my first year. I too, only have limited time to hunt. Last year, instead of taking a questionable shot like I could have, I ended up going home with nothing. Did I end up having fun? I had a great season. I enjoyed every minute of it and learned a lot. The people who helped teach me how to shoot gave me a very important lesson.

Never take a shot you are not confident in.

With that being said, I wish you luck in your search for the animal. You need to go check what the blood looked like. I hope the weather co-operates for you and that you can find the doe. I would consider it a lesson learned if I were you, and to not be so "trigger happy" next time you are in the woods. You aren't going out there to shoot anything that moves. You should go out there trying to get a good shot opportunity to take.

Good luck finding your deer.