4 days of late buck season 11/13-11/16. On the second day we spotted a very big bodied deer at a least 3pt. He was just on the edge of the timber line. Wind howling with gust of 30-40 mph temp 23 degrees and 3 inches of snow. He started getting a little nervous and I let a shot loose for his front shoulder 123 sst behind 28.3 grains of 8208. He just stopped, like what was that. Then I lowered the boom! on him with a second shot. One of my partner's yells he down he's down. As we hussel over there I can't see the deer. He's gone! where did he go? As we get to where I shot at him. You can see where he hit the ground and a good amount of blood. There is 3 of us and no one seen him get up. We think we know where he went. We also think he's hit pretty good. Both my partners want to go after him. I myself want to leave and come back in an hour or so. Let him lay down relax and die. Nope! lets go get'em, and I understand their excitement. Off they went up the hill. Needless to say the deer got pushed from it's bed 3 times leaving fair amounts of blood. Three or so hours later we come out with nothing. Don't have a clue were he went. As it's getting dark we head back home. Talking about tomorrow's hunt and how were going to find my deer. Pisst that we went looking for him so quick anyway. I'm not wasteing the next day morning hunt to look for something that most likely we won't find. The next day were hunting first @ first light. Still very cold and windy were not seeing any animals. About 10am or so we head back to were I shot that 3pt. We have 2 more friends with us this morning. Hopeing for a better out come we give it another heave ho for a couple hours. To no avail he was not recovered. Which is a hard pill for me to swallow. Since I have never lost animal I hit till this last weekend. I'm still upset with myself for not anchoring him down. It was a 236 yard chip shot for the Grendel and I let a animal go to waste. Not a good feeling to have
and hope I never have it again
2014 deer season over and out............
