RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

well said, Tom. Get back in the saddle Planter!

RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

Thanks Tom, Dan..I'm gonna gear up to climb another tree and get back out there.
I think I first might first head back to the last sign of him and look a bit more. Maybe??? There was enough internal bleeding going on that he is still out there all stiffened up.

You practice and plan and set up and so on and BOOM it all goes down the hopper. The "sorta" funny thing is that he gave me two chances. I let my limb slap a tree @ 15 yards but he even gave me a chance to recock my bow for another opportunity.

RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

Ditto on that.... you tried very hard to find him. Like Tom said, these things can and do happen. All you can do is your best, which you have done.

Last year I'm pretty sure I grazed a doe. (ML) Somehow I believe my scope or I was off. But I couldn't find any blood and looked for several hours. It sucks yes, but don't be too hard on yourself....you looked and looked for him, that's what counts.

chris

RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

Bows can be a funny thing! Sounds like you did everything a self respecting hunter could do, right from the time you first seen him. Also sounds like you did your part in trying to recover him, and that is respectable too.
Time to get back out there and try again! Good luck!

RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

Sounds like your beast is probably alive, pissed and educated. Good reason to use "non-barbed" broadheads the arrow can be drawn back out by mouth or work its way out.

RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

It is bound to happen, and someday mine will happen. You did a good job trying to find it, most people would give up alot sooner. I know the feeling you have. The eight pointI shot a few years back, maybe been four or five now gave me a hard time. It was my first lesson on giving deer time to die, not that you did not, be cause you did. But I got out of tree to soon and spooked him up and then went in looking for him. Spent alot of time that night and then next morning half sick looking for my Buck, it is a bad feeling you get when it happens. Just when I was at my lowest and ready to stop looking we found him in a spot I must have walked by three times. But I know the feeling you have, it sucks. But the grid search is a sign of a thought out search and tells me you did your best. The only thing I could offer is do the grid search again in a couple of days and he may expire and you could find him. Meat will be bad, but you will have closure on it. Did this with a friend that hit a doe in the back. Looked alot and could not find. Went back two days later and found her laying on edge of woods, meat was no good but we found closure for the deer and us being worried about it.

RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

I guess this is why I like OUR Xbow thread the best. I posted this same basic story in a couple of other places and was jumped on faster than a hot doe for shot placement and so on.

I was pretty certain that over here I would not get beat up and that folks would recognize that SHI# does happen.

It's strange but I am really pleased how bad it bothers me that I did not recover the deer.

RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

John, I haven't had a bad hit YET! BUT when it happens it would depress me to no end to have everyone eat you up about it. Yes you are here with buddies that understand what happens is not the intent.

RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

I was also wondering about that. But didn't post it because I honestly haven't had any experience with that type of situation. Maybe you will see him again Planter. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!! Good Luck!

chris

RE: Say a deer hunters prayer for me!!!
 

Hells there nothing else you could do. It happens to everybody at some point and if it doesnt then good for them-Chris