I just screwed up
 

I hit a buck this morning but im pretty sure it was above the spine. He was nice too, 8 or 9 pt, probably would have scored about 120,125. The arrow as a little blood but mostly has meat and hair. I misjudged the yardage. But my question is, do you think he'll be back or is hes gone forever? I guess what im saying is, from your guys past expirences, do deer ever come back after being hit? Looking foward to hear what you guys have to say. Thanks.

That sucks! Is this a buck that has been in your area for a while, do you have trail camera pics of him?

I have a buddy that shot a buck last year high in the shoulder, terrible shot. 4 days later we got trail camera pics of the same buck (you could see the broken arrow still it his shoulder) not 30 yards away from the stand he shot it out of. He killed that buck about two weeks after he first shot it, no more than 60 yards from where he first shot it.

I am sure if he survived, he will be back.

No, no trail cam pics. But there is a bunch of rubs in the area, could be his but im not sure.

I don't wanna sound like an idiot, but I don't know why you are giving up on finding him already when you shot him this morning? Just because your arrow doesn't suggest a great hit doesn't mean the animal has not expired or your hit was as bad as you think. Should read a post alittle while back from Christine and what her arrow looked like (meat hardly any blood) and how she put forth a great deal of effort to find the deer. I wish you luck and I would suggest more searching...

I agree with tomkat. Go back out and look for him

^^^What they said^^^

-BH818

Same here, I have seen it quite a few times. Not much blood, second guessing your shot placement. Don't give up till you have done everything you can because you never know, he might be laid up somewhere......and if it wasn't a fatal shot hopefully he'll make a good recovery and you might get that second chance..... Good Luck

There was a guy on here the other day that hit one and had a pic of him a few days later under the same tree he shot him out of.

I wasent giving up guys, i was just asking if he'd be back. I did go back out and look for blood with my uncle and we couldnt find any. We found a little hair and that was it. There is a low spot in the fence that seperates our property with the neighbors(deer like to cross there) and there was some hair on the bottom but there wasent any blood around anywhere. I have to go to work pretty soon so my uncle is going to go get permission from the neighbors and look around there. There's a big pond on their property, and thats where i found my buck last year so this deer might have done the samething. And im sure the shot is above the spine because i dont like to hunt very high. I was maybe 15ft up the tree, if that. So im pretty sure the deer will live. But i think i will go do a grid search of the area tomorrow just to be on the safe side.

If he frequents the AREA He'll be back.. Happened to me Twice over the years..

Hey Wayne,
I hope you find that guy soon. It's gonna be a wet one tomorrow with the rain moving in before sunrise.
It sounds like you might be in his little den so you might see him again before the rut.
Good luck. Team 24 could use a few points right now!
-cp

Well i went out and looked for a good 2 hours and found nothing. Im positive he is alive. Now my question is, how long should i wait till i go back in there? Also my uncle was wanting to put a ladder stand close to where i was hunting at, i dont hunt out of ladder stands much but im guessing this wont affect the deer to much? I appriciate everyones input. Thanks again.

Anybody want to chim in?

I am from PA. On 10/08/09 I was hunting at my parents place in Indiana Co. At about 720 in the morning I shot at a 6 pt. buck that was about 20 yards away. I thought I made a good shot as the buck ran and about fell down 20 yards later. I waited awhile and then went and got my dad. 6 hours later we did not find the buck. Found my arrow and a patch of hair where the deer about fell. Went back to the stand on 10/09/09 for an evening hunt. While in the stand I notice a branch infront of me that was broke, apparently I had hit that the morning before. About 610 pm a buck comes out at about 15 yards. I shot and spined the buck, think i hit a branch or could just have been buck fever. When my dad and I looked at the deer we discovered it was the same one I hit the morning before. The deer had a large slice right across the top of his neck clear down to the back bone. This deer did not act like anything was wrong with him. He came through feeding. So from personal experience they can come back. Hope this helps.

Chad

2 hours isnt long enough, Id look all day...but thats just me.