Guys, I know these lost deer treads get old, but I am pretty confident I will find this guy. I shot a deer the other night and hit him about 4" in front of where I was aiming. I heard a loud "crack" when it hit him, so I knew it hit the shoulder and he spun and took off. I found decent blood up to the point where the arrow broke off, then the blood trail got really tough to follow. Upon inspecting my arrow, about 10-12" of arrow broke off inside him and there was blood 4" down what was left. I checked the weather that night and it said that it was supposed to rain the next evening, so I thought I had at least a few hours to look(more like 7 or 8 since I planned on getting there at sunup to look). I backed out since we couldn't find much blood and had tracked him about 150 yards. That night I was awaken at 4 am to the sound of pouring rain (I hate weathermen by the way). We went back the next day, still in the pouring rain, and did a grid search since the blood trail was completely gone and turned up nothing. I have full intentions of finding my deer, although I still feel horribel the meat will be gone. I got to thinking that there is a pond about 250 yards from where we last found blood and in the direction he was running. I know gut shot deer will run to water, but will one that may be hit in one lung? I plan on looking there anyway, and walking under the wind on saturday afternoon and trying to smell him. Thanks for your help.

I believe most theories to where they run after the shot, (downhill, to water, circle back around) are just that...theories.

You can make a case for all of them (they do all of the above).

Let's face it, they run to where they feel safe.

You are just going to have to continue your grid work and go as far as you can.

Listen for crows and look for circling birds.

You are right, the meat is gone, however you can still do the respectful thing by doing all you can to retrive the carcass.

I believe the reason a deer or any animal will go to water if it is injured is to try to get relief from fever set on by the risk of infection or the infection itself so I don't think it matters how or where the animal is injured it could still possibly go to water.

i hit a buck last monday got about 8-10 inches of pentration.. found him 80 yards away.. if you think about it a deers body is maybe 18 inches thick on a good deer.. not to mention that prollyo nly 12 inches of of there chest cavity is holding vitals. if you got that much i have no doubt its a dead deer.. i hit should on my 07 buck and blood was good but stopped.. when i found him i noticed bone chucks had filled the hole

if the yote got him he'll be spread out over acres...i would take 5 friends and grid it some more...gl

Any deer that loses a good amount of blood becomes dehydrated...the pond would be a great place to start in my opinion. Good Luck.

I too would try the pond.

Another problem is getting penetration into the shoulder and not having enough ke to make it thru the ribcage. Learned that one from experience. Losing deer sucks... dont matter if its a fawn or a 200 class.

I know that feeling!! It does suck!

Thanks for the tips guys. I am headed out tomorrow to go looking for him again. Havent gotten a chance to look this week since monday, but I still think I will find him. He was a great 10 point, actually the best I have seen in eastern Oklahoma. Probably a 155-165" deer. Long tines and great spread. I'm still pretty sick, but I am done on that ranch for the season even though we have a 2 buck limit. Just does over there during rifle, which starts Saturday. I will keep you guys updated on anything I find.