I have never thought this scenario would ever occur to me this afternoon's bow hunt. I had 2 fawns, mid size doe, and big mama doe come in. I had big mama 8 yards to my left with my pin right on here head waiting of her to take few more steps so I could shoot. Well she smelled right where I walked and turned around. Well I turned with her waiting for her to come around the bush when I seen to my left that the mid sized doe was perfect 12 yards away broadside. So I slowly swung back to my left and got that pin right on her and let it fly. I could see a great hit just behind the shoulder and she bolted.( I will borrow that posts pic of where you would hit from yesterday and show you all). I waited until dark due to my brother and his son were in another stand about 60 yards away.
It was my nephews first bow hunt and he got to pull 4 times but no shot.

Well anyways it was a complete pass through with nice blood until I got to one of the vanes. It had this darker green gut type stuff and my heart sank a bit. I had to hit one of the stomachs but for the life of me cannot figure out how. Well my brother came over and told me he heard all the snorting going on and thought they winded me and I told him I shot one.
Well we following the blood trail a bit and he says you know a doe came running almost to his stand then went up the oak hill and he heard something that sounded like a snort but not quite. I said thats what I call the death fart. Usually last thing is that air coming out. So by this time its about 8 pm and we go look where he heard the sound and my nephews is scanning the woods and I seen just a faint shine of eyes. So he gives me the light and sure enough its my doe but she is still alive and laying down about 30 yards away. We kept the lights on her and she wouldnt move or nothing. We heard some deer to the east snort and she cupped her ears towards that but she wouldnt budge. Since it was night we couldnt have our bows out anymore and I made the decision to back out and wait until morning. This has got to be the hardest thing in hunting for me to ever do knowing that doe is laying there. I will be off of work at 8 am and heading right up there. I can tell you this she was laying the same way I shot her and I could not see any gut shot hole. Her left leg appeared to be pretty limp and kind of scrawled out. I will keep you all posted later today, it will be a long morning for me. (at work) Right now it is 56 F and suppose to get down to 51F. This is not good for me.
In the pic the red dot is where the whole was and I was 15 feet up shooting her at 12 yards and she was facing me just like this buck.

One other really strange thing is this doe we found to me looks bigger then the one I shot so that is also driving the mind nuts.

I'm not telling you what you should have done. I'm telling you what I would have done.

I'd have stuck that doe with another arrow.....if I had to hold the flashlight with my teeth. I'll pay the fine.

Sorry you had this happen. I really am.

Jeff looking back now you are 100% correct. The area she was in would of been so difficult but I believe I could of done it.

Hey, good luck with the situation Fraley, they (deer) can be down right tough sometimes.

I say this knowing that I could be faced with the same position some day. That deer was yours after you shot it. You should have left with it. I have had to finish deer before after they were down not an easy task buthad to be done.

Good luck with the rest of the season.

Get out there this morning and find her Captain. Is there a chance that maybe she was quartering to you just a little? Let us know what happens.

That's too bad Fraley. But she will be there this a.m. Really no reason to do something illegal by shooting after dark and putting yer season on the line. I remember reading a post yesterday that someone was getting bashed for something not that he didn't deserve it but everyone kept sating if it's not legal then it is unethical. I know there are certain situations where ethical things may still be illegal but they are still illegal. well anyway good luck this a.m.

Hey one other thing weren't you giving me some crap about making a crappy shot uhuh you were. Well now I amm gonna be the bigger man and just leave this one alone.

Frustrating, but you'll find her this am. Sounds lik eshe was hit hard enough to stay put and expire.

Sounds like you did the right thing to me. Your still not 100% sure it's the same deer. The last thing you wanted was to shoot another! If it's the same deer and she's hit that hard, she'll be waiting for you this morning.


Now if you were 100% sure it wasyour wounded deer than yes it would be a tough decision. A decision I couldn't make until the situation was actually happening to me.

Good luck bud!