We all read stories year after year about bad/misplaced shots. I know as a bowhunter, like it or not that the longer I hunted it was bound to happen to me at some point and unfortunately it did. At 7pm yesterday my target buck came down the trail and presented my a 35 yard nearly broadside shot. I took the shot and everything felt great as far as mechanics go, but I watched my lighted nock go a few inches to the right and a few inches higher than I had planned. From what I could tell the arrow hit him a little high towards the rear of the shoulder. The buck took off and the arrow dropped out after about 10 yards. Got down immediately and recovered my arrow which turned out to be 3/4 of an arrow. There ended up being 5 3/4" broke off of part I recovered, it had blood probably 3-4" up the shaft no more than that, also had meat in the broken end of the shaft. After looking for 2 hours in the from the point of impact to around 40 yards in the direction he ran I did not locate a single drop of blood. I shoot a QAD Exodus fixed blade broadhead, 70 lb pull and this is the first deer out of probably 30 with this setup that I have not had a pass through (even on a couple of shoulder shots). I feel as if I rushed and pulled the shot and I feel terrible about it. I did not want to push him last night so I didn't go any further than that immediate area searching for blood. I plan on going in this eve after work to search, looking for any advice an/or experience anyone can offer up. Please nothing negative as far as shot placement as I already know its my responsibility as a hunter to make a clean ethical kill , which I did not do and I feel awful for it! Thanks in advance to all!
UPDATE—
Went and pulled cards out of the 6 cameras I am running on this small place and there he was, last Friday eve! When his pic popped up it was probably one of the happier moments of my life and I am not exaggerating! Even trying not to , I have thought about this buck every day just wandering what happened to him , and to know he is alive is a huge burden off my shoulders. Even if I never get another pic or see him again at least I know! With all that said , the lump on his left shoulder leaves me with a lot of questions as to what it is , that's close to where the arrow went in except it went in his right shoulder. And also noticed that to be early November he does not look the least bit thicker , thinking he may have laid up and recovered and not been eating as much . Any thoughts?
UPDATE—
Went and pulled cards out of the 6 cameras I am running on this small place and there he was, last Friday eve! When his pic popped up it was probably one of the happier moments of my life and I am not exaggerating! Even trying not to , I have thought about this buck every day just wandering what happened to him , and to know he is alive is a huge burden off my shoulders. Even if I never get another pic or see him again at least I know! With all that said , the lump on his left shoulder leaves me with a lot of questions as to what it is , that's close to where the arrow went in except it went in his right shoulder. And also noticed that to be early November he does not look the least bit thicker , thinking he may have laid up and recovered and not been eating as much . Any thoughts?
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