Last year, I lost the first deer I ever shot at with a bow, and it was a sickening feeling. Broadside, 20 yds, the shot was high and left, with about 8 inches of penetration. I must have struck the shoulder bone. I bloodtrailed for 3 days and finally lost all sign. I hope it never happens again.

Others have mentioned we shouldn' t talk about this, but as soon as we start acting like we have something to hide, we are betraying our sport. These types of discussions can help others grow in their learning and understanding, including me, a fairly new bowhunter. The antis will be against us and try to destroy hunting no matter what we do, so lets focus on making ourselves better hunters.

Lost what would have been my first opening weekend. A doe I shot high behind the shoulder. Trailed her with very little blood. Really want to believe she is alive.
GREAT Topic.

Screw the antis, this site isnt for them

So far, Knock on wood, I have killed 8 with my bow and never lost any. Only one that I shot had to be tracked down the next day, but still found it about 300 yards from the shot location.

great posts you guys he wants to practice and does i just think he gets anxious in the stand and wants to shoot a deer so bad he dont think but yea this is my first year bowhunting and he has been bowhunting for 3years so yea i dont noe but its just my opinion and all but thanx for the post it been very interesting

I' ve only lost one animal and it was with a rifle. Never lost a bow kill.

well...first of all, there is no such thing as LUCK! is doesn' t exist and the word might as well not even be used. yeah i' ve lost a few deer, just bad shot placement, not luck, it has a whole lot to do with how bad you wanna find the deer too. if youll be patient after the shot...remember the last place you saw the deer, listen for it, and really look for a blood trail then you may have a better chance of finding it. tell your buddy to practice and take good shots and he' ll most likely recover his deer.

Wow, I must be a complete slob....

It took me a few minutes to relive them but the best I can come up with is 5. Two in one year, both neck shots....end of that experiment. The first deer I ever shot at, gut shot and never found. Two deer I found the next day that the coyotes got.

I have killed 32 deer with my bow and have been bowhunting since I was 14 (22 years, do the math). I have not shot a deer in the last 5 years that didn' t end up on my dinner table.

I have never lost a deer with my muzzleloader or rifle.

BTW-

Rico

GREAT POST!

2 in 28 years.

Hmmmmmmm. Charlie, your number matches mine, what a coincedence!!!!!!!!