He looks fine. Good luck getting a second shot at him. He is a BRUTE

Is that the entry side, his left?

Stay after him and try to make a better shot this time! It sucks when you put a bad hit on an animal, but it DOES happen...don't give up because of 1 bad shot.

Oh yeah, looks like you put a hole through his back straps...don't ruin that meat!

Damn how unfortunate but good thing he is still alive and hopefully you get another shot at him!! good luck

Wow. The "void" between the lungs and spine is always debated. Especially when you are shooting from a treestand. I believe most deer survive this type of shot, as evident here. It is nice to see someone admit the bad shot was no fault of the equipment. Obviously, he is still in the area. Good luck.

I did the same thing just recently....through the backstrap.

I hope you get your chance to get him again.....you'll have to be extra sneaky now though, he may have learned your tricks!

good luck!

Thanks for all the replies.....there is alot of season left and I am hunting everday. I researched and researched the "dead spot" days after I shot him. I believe in it now. I also believe that since I was 20 ft up the angle would of got his other lung if it were a pass through. You guys probably know how much I want that shot back to do it again! Like someone said dont give up I know I am not the first to mess up a shot and not the last! lol

It's debated because there is no "void." If you hit above the vitals you're either hitting spine or meat.

It sounds like you hit him in the spine, but didn't break the spine. I've seen that before where a broadhead will smack the vertebrae and break the arrow off but not break the spinal cord. I've also seen where a shot like that will knock a deer off it's feet and then they get up and run off. The good thing is you know he is still out there and alive.

Good luck getting back on him.

darn fine buck...cool to see how resiliant they are huh?

what??? That wound will be ancient history by the time he would regrow antlers.