Lost my first one with rifle (long read)

Tennessee Lead · Dec 24, 2013

It had been a very tuff season for me this year I have not killed a deer, and only saw one buck briefly. But this morning I had three does feed past me and shortly after a nice 6 point with no brow tines appeared. I watched him awhile and the does busted and ran. I noticed him get in an aggressive stance and a real nice 8 point began walking towards him. It was kinda thick between me and him i watched feed on acorns for a short time until I picked out a shot. I fired got me a nice scope ring the deer jumped and kicked and cleared a log then the 6 point followed suit. After I quit shaking I climbed down and went to look for him. I found small amounts of blood and several bone fragments for 200 plus yards before he went to the bottom field and crossed the creek. I can't find any blood past this point I have been crawling since 9:00 am. I am very sick at this point and I know I have lost him unless I can find him in the next few days. I am thinking I have hit him in the upper portion of front leg. Having never done this do y'all think he will survive or die later? I am hoping that he will make it.

HuntFish714 · Dec 24, 2013

If whietails are anything like muleys when there injured theyll go down hill as much as they can and take the path of least resistance. Id go back to where you lost the blood and look all around from that point, think like an injured deer and look for down hill openings. Theyll also sometimes back track to find a new path. When you get to a spot where its hard to tell where he could have gone look for his body in thick bedding areas near by. Muleys anyway tend to not cross fields etc when hurt. Ive found these little tips to help, ive found a lot of mu deer this way. A couple years ago I liver shot a small 4pointer(10 pointer) and he ran down hill in the direction of a field. I knew he would not cross it so I checked all over in the thicket strip that lined the field and found him expired bedded down in a big bush. Good luck and hope uou find him, I know the feeling sucks but deer are very hearty and can survive some crazy stuff.

stik · Dec 24, 2013

HuntFish714 said:
If whietails are anything like muleys when there injured theyll go down hill as much as they can and take the path of least resistance. Id go back to where you lost the blood and look all around from that point, think like an injured deer and look for down hill openings. Theyll also sometimes back track to find a new path. When you get to a spot where its hard to tell where he could have gone look for his body in thick bedding areas near by. Muleys anyway tend to not cross fields etc when hurt. Ive found these little tips to help, ive found a lot of mu deer this way. A couple years ago I liver shot a small 4pointer(10 pointer) and he ran down hill in the direction of a field. I knew he would not cross it so I checked all over in the thicket strip that lined the field and found him expired bedded down in a big bush. Good luck and hope uou find him, I know the feeling sucks but deer are very hearty and can survive some crazy stuff.

an injured whitetail is liable to go any direction. they will cross fields, don't necessarily go downhill or seek water.