I had the same thing happen the other day when my dog attacked a squirrel in my yard.He ran up a tree and it took hours for him to expire,but he took a piece of my dog's leg with him.


Get over it,it is something that happens in nature every day.

I am not saying not to feel for the creature,we should all strive to make the most humane kill we can and be as profficient with our equipment as possible but it will happen,regardless of the weapon.

I had the same thing happen to me Friday except I was shooting a 22lr. I never found the squirrel. He blew by me in the top of the palmettos like he wasn't even hit. I know I hit him and looked all over for it and never found it. Like others have said, practice, practice, practice. Make sure you're proficient with your equipment and try to give the animal as clean of a kill as possible. when it doesn't happen, look at it as a learning experience and do better next time. I know why I made the bad shot. I was in a hurry and didn't take a good steady rest.