So, no major organs were hit, but something was cut good because the whole front of his right hind quarter was bloodshot even though the arrow entered a good 10" or so in front of it. The vertical angle was steeper than I realized, and like I said it entered about 10" in front of the bloodshot hindquarter and exited through the offside hindquarter low, also opening his abdomen. It was the worst shot of my life. I feel just terrible about it. I waited 5 hours after the shot to go look. He had not expired yet, but was unable to move so I knocked an arrow and put an end to his suffering.
Let my bad example be a learning lesson. I was busier than normal all summer and never made time to shoot. I finally got out there one morning and shot for about 30 minutes out to 40 yards. All were good tight groups and I felt good about it. I never made time to shoot again other than drawing back to check clearances in my stand. So fast forward to today.....
I see a big dark spot out of place about 100 yards up the hill that eventually moves and confirms its the back end of a big bodied deer. Soon after I see him in full view but still 100 yards away up the hill. I grunt, I rattle, I grunt louder, I rattle louder, I grunt even louder and several more times over and over feeling as if I'm about to see him leave. He never looked back my way, but did start making a scrape. Slowly but surely he started heading further away and almost out of sight. At this point desperation has set in as I know he's the buck I've been after and he's almost gone. I get my hand out of the wrist sling on my bow, clip off the release, and I get ready to give him everything I have left in the play book. So with my bow now cradled under my left arm, Grunt tube/snort wheeze in my mouth, and the horns in both of my hands; I struggle to see the last glimpse of hide. Then, right at the exact moment I am about to hit the horns, He spins and hits a dead run right towards my position. At that moment, you would have thought I was auditioning for a rodeo clown position. I had mere seconds to swing around and throw the horns over the hook, get the bow back in my hand, clip on the release, and draw. At full draw, (grunt tube still in my mouth) he stops at somewhere between 8-11 yards, quartering to me. The rest is history.
Moral of the story:
Practicing isn't so much about being able to put 3 in the 10 ring from 40-50 yards. Most of us can do that. It's more about building muscle memory and committing the repetitious movements to instinctual memory. So when the buck you've been after gives you but a few seconds to put an arrow in him, you can focus on the moment and obstacles in your way. Rather than trying to remember to...put the string on your nose, squeeze your shoulder blades, breathe out on the release, check your level, slightly open the hips, loose grip, follow through.....etc etc.
Glad this story had a happy ending, but the deer suffered greatly because of my own irresponsibility.
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