Confused, Frustrated, Sick at Stomach

[BamaFada]

Here is the view where I shot at 6:45 am:

Shot "AT" this deer at 6:55am and assumed I missed because he only ran 15 yards and stopped. I made a rookie mistake and only had one arrow with me and decided to get down after 15 minutes thinking I missed.

Here are the pics I got of him when I got down:

Again, thinking I missed and getting these pics I went to Walmart (only thing available) and got new arrows and broadheads. Hunted from 8:15-11:30 before I got down again. When I got down, here is what I found:

After finding the blood, I finally found the arrow. It did not have a single drop of blood on it. It did not have any smell to it either. The broadhead busted into 3 pcs, but I think it is because it hit a rock.

What would you do? I searched for about 2 hours the direction he ran off, but after he hit the tree line, there was nothing.

My hope is I grazed him and will see him again soon. Worst case is that he could be sitting out there now and I wont ever find him.

Any suggestions considering no blood on arrow (assuming no pass thru).

Sad thing is that after I got home and downloaded my phone pictures of him standing there, it looks like an exit wound on this right front shoulder. There was absolutely no blood on the arrow though.????????

 

[DntBrnDPig]

Might have just got his brisket. How much blood was there?

 

[BamaFada]

not a whole lot....just little patches of what looks like a couple drips.

 

[bigtex]

you are correct: only having 1 arrow/bolt was definitely a rookie mistake. -that should not happen again.

Yup!!

 

[buckhunter42]

yep i think grazed him .......dont appear to be a killing wound , he probably make it...

 

[hunterncoach]

He will be fine!!! go get his daddy

 

[BamaFada]

I know his daddy is definately out there. I have him and 3 others on camera from 2 weeks ago. This is my first year to hunt with a crossbow and I am realizing it is much more difficult than hunting with a gun. I first saw this one in the same spot I killed 2 eight points last year. It was 50-60 yards away. I was a huge adrenaline rush waiting for him to get into shooting distance.

Loving it!

 

[TNDeerGuy]

From the evidence given: body posture, nothing on arrow, very little and sporadic blood�you gave him nothing more than a superficial wound and an education.

 

[J-WO]

Happens to the best of us. Glad you spent some time looking.

 

[TNGunhunter]

Yeah, now no one will see him for 3 1/2 years and you'll be able to brag that you created this monster!! lol

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

Live and Learn. If you see any vultures out in the next few days you can check where they are circling.
JUst my opinon but I usally wait at least 1/2 a hour on a rifle shot.Seems like you should have waited longer.My rule of thumb with morning tracking is when in doubt back out and wait a little longer. I'm not a crossbow man but it seems like 50 0r 60 was a iffy shot from the get go. The rush is why most of us go. Hope you have better luck the next time.

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

Yeah, now no one will see him for 3 1/2 years and you'll be able to brag that you created this monster!! lol

I recently read a interesting post on here about wounded deer usally don't grow the same rack again. I found it interesting reading.

http://www.tndeer.com/tndeertalk/ubbthr ... ost2948686

 

[TNGunhunter]

Maybe some frankenstein freak non typical creation? lol

 

[richmanbarbeque]

Looks like a superficial wound to me, BUT, you are correct: only having 1 arrow/bolt was definitely a rookie mistake. -that should not happen again.

Not reading just looking at pics, this is what i thought as well.

 

[bowriter]

Hmm. Seems I read somewhere, you never say you have missed one until you are sure you did.

I once shot a pretty nice deer with a mzl. There was about eight inches of snow ont he ground and I could not find one drop of blood or a single hair. However, I did find him about 65-yards into a thicket. No blood even where he fell. Would have been pretty easy to say I missed that one.

Couple things to correct. Never go hunting with just one arrow and even if you find the arrow and no blood, go look a ways just to be sure. Might also wait for a better shot.

We have all made mistakes. Just learn from them.

 

[BlountArrow]

Sounds like a good dose of Karma for shooting at a little buck....just kidding. Hopefully the little buck lives a long, fruitful life and you get a second chance in a couple years.

 

[Tims]

Hope you find him Barney Fife

 

[1shotdrop]

work harder next time on taking more arrows just in case

 

[bowriter]

Looks like a leg hit.

LMAO

 

[BlountArrow]

Shoot a bigger one next time; they bleed more...guaranteed of course.