If you've been at it for awhile you'll find out bad things can happen no matter how careful you are. I learn from my screw ups.

At least you didn't give up after half an hour. One thing about making a bad shot is tracking a wounded animal through the brush for hours is sure to make you try to avoid a repeat anytime soon. The main reason I'm picky and careful about my shots.
Most of the injured animals I've tracked try to get back to where they came from eventually, most often their bedding area. They may make a large loop. The thing about the Rut is Bucks can be a long way from their normal haunts.
Some Deer migrate to lower altitudes, valley Deer usually have a routine, bed to food, food to bed. The rut upsets the routine. An old timer once told me that the only safe place a Deer knows is where it came from and they tend to backtrack or loop back when spooked or wounded. They are less likely to take off full tilt into the unknown for long. Makes sense to me.

This is a big thing that is keeping me into this. I know if/when I do get one, I'm going to appreciate so much more.

Learned so much from this experience, that's for sure.

When I went out the next day with my friends, I realized how poorly equipped I am. These guys showed up full camo head to toe. Boots, gaiters, vest with calls, seat cushion, camo balaclava, gloves, and orange hats. I show up in a wool camo overalls, flannel jacket over a sweatshirt and the gloves I use on my motorcycle. I have these GIANT rubber boots I wear when using the tractor in the snow. They must weigh 25lbs each. My socks kept sliding down which butchered my feet. I was steaming I was so warm. So I need to sit back and rethink a few things. Hit up CraigsList/Facebook Marketplace to see if I can find a few deals. Big thing is the boots. That's what did me in. I'll be scoping out a pair by next season for sure; probably those Irish Setter boots I see.

I knew a guy who had two different deer "come alive" after believing they were DOA. One was merely hit in the antler. Knocked the deer out for a moment, I guess.

One story goes he was holding the deer in place by the antlers all the while yelling at his brother-in-law "shoot the deer".

One of the guy's I was with yesterday looking for the deer, told a story where his grandfather shot a deer, went up to it, rested his rifle in the antler for a picture, and it took off; rifle included. :lmao:

I'll stop by TSC tonight and see what they have for clothing. I can get away with buy a jacket online, but when it comes to footwear I need try it on in person. TSC probably doesn't have the best quality, but it will be more in my budget for this time of year.

There is a few things the clothing has to have going for it. It has to be quiet, reflective buttons and zippers need to be covered. I use earth colors and am partial to brown and olive. If you want to take it one step further, get a black UV light and see what the dye does. Many places all you can get anymore is Camo.
My Army surplus stuff works as well as anybody else's does and is often well designed. I try for the most bang for the buck, my rifle, binoculars and boots are top of the line. I don't impulse buy any more, I have a closet full of stuff I never use. I bought an expensive pair of insulated waterproof coveralls, brand name, they squeak when I walk or move.:bash:

Went out back this morning. We got about a foot of snow in the past 24. Then rain. So there's a crunchy layer of ice on top now. Went back to where I shot the buck. Not a track in sight. Before I shot and the snow, there were hundreds. Maybe I just didn't give it long enough. I figured I'd see at least one track or something. Nope. Nothing.

I went to TSC last night just to see what they had for boots. RealTree Edge boots? Meh, looked OK I guess. $60. I put on a size 12 and it fit; until I took it off. I felt the release when I unlaced it. Too tight. Perhaps I'll take the family to the city in a couple weeks. Check out BassPro. Pick up a pair of Irish Setter Boots.

So yea, I can't tell if I'm addicted to this now, or still pissed off. All I can think about is getting back out there. I've slept like crap for the past couple days just thinking about this.

Meindl boots are pricey but I've yet to find anything better. The inner liner and the inner sole are the key, after a month or so they mold to your feet. They just work for me. I had a broken ankle many years ago that never healed just right, If I wear anything but my Meindls for very long, the pain starts up. I've been wearing Meindl for forty years or more.
If you try Meindl don't count on the advertised size. I have had a few different models, all were a different size (or half size).
Looking inside the boot is just as important as looking on the outside. Stick your hand in there and feel around some.
The down side to Meindl is the newer style Vibram soles don't wear as well as the old school Vibram soles. And resoling them is iffy, it doesn't often work out well. The tops last forever and the Gortex models have never leaked for me no matter how old they get.

Yea, I need something over my ankle. I'm a hemophiliac and my joints swell up quick. If I'm just wearing something that doesn't support my ankle, they swell up within in 20m.

I'm researching boots now. Making my head spin. One site this boot is the best, the next site it says its the worst. I have no idea.

I don't know if the Cabela Meindl are the same quality as the German made Meindl. I'd look to see where they are made. Now on days counting on any brand name can be an iffy thing.
Darn boots are expensive and sometimes you just don't know until you've had them for a few weeks.
I had to make some large rolls of newspaper and put them in the top of my new Meindls twice now, oil up my Meindls and lace them up to round the uppers a little so they didn't rub the wrong spots. From the factory the tops where shaped like a vagina :) my ankles are more round. Once broken in they are like my favorite easy chair, comfortable.
My left ankle swells also and can get half again as big as normal. Double wool socks helps to deal with the expansion.
I'm not saying Meindl is the best answer for everybody, a lot of different foot shapes out there. I wear a 12-13, my heels are normal width my toes are broad (duck feet), hard for me to get enough toe room and not nave my heel rock inside the boot. Too tight in the toes or too loose in the heel, perfect is hard to find.

https://www.irishsetterboots.com/USD...9-rt-xtra-600g

I think I'm set on those. There's BassPro about an hour from me. Maybe the family and I will take a trip into the city to check them out. I may wait, though. I mean, I only have two days left that I can hunt. I'll probably wear what I have no and wait until season is ending; score a deal maybe.