Sick

[Gringo31]

It's after 1am, much after my bed time and I just can't sleep after I found out tonight that the one arrow I shot this season 2 weeks ago wasn't a miss.  I looked over an hour that night and also early the next morning to be sure and well.....obviously I wasn't.  I never found a drop of blood or my arrow, I cut the tracks of the herd of deer leaving and followed them to their next beds looking for blood.  Hell, I even went to the spot I shot from (I held for 50 yards) and officially ranged it later and got 70 thinking I shot way under him.  I knew where I saw him last and he was with the herd yet found nothing......I haven't had a  archery "loss" since my first year bowhunting 20 years ago.  I'm just sick over it....what a waste....and he was a dandy buck.  From the story I heard of where he was found, after he left my sight it sounds like he made a big loop.  He was hit perfect and the arrow was still in him, quartering slightly away, broadhead sticking out of front shoulder on the far side.  Short story is that light was fading, he was with about 12 deer, 3 shooters and I waited and waited for one of the 3 to present a shot.  When I touched off, all hell broke loose and I just wasn't sure WTF happened.......   I have no idea how I didn't find him.  I'm usually the guy that my buddies call when they need a good tracking job.

Not even sure why I'm sharing this.....but can't sleep and feel like a H-W confession.....

Later today I'll go retrieve him and punch my tag.  I just still can't figure out how this happened or the mistake I made.  I wouldn't have believed it without the pics and location.  I have a lot of pics of this buck while alive and know which one I shot at.......very humbling...

[firefighter4607]

It sounds like you did everything you should of done no need to  . No one is perfect, it is life. And you are very humble that you are punching your tag and retreving what is left, I don't know many people that would do that. Hope you cheer up!! 

[ICEMAN]

Gringo, fair enough.
 
Agree with firefighter.

[GoldTip]

Hey man, keep your chin up and see if you can think through your mind why it happened and learn from it.  Think of all the bucks that got away without you getting off a shot and what you learned from those mistake, and go about this episode the same way.  Just learn from it, punch your tag and move on.  I fully understand your heartache, but if you hunt long enough, one is going to zig when you were sure it zagged.  You did everything you could, no need to beat yourself up too much.

[Swag]

WOW! Gringo...  Sorry to here about that I know how much you strive for a clean ethical kill.  Sounds Like you are already doing the right thing by trying to figure out what went wrong, & punching that tag.  There are a lot of hunters out there who would just wright it off, as a loss & continued to hunt.  If you need a hand just make it ring, I would be glad to help.......

[demontang]

You know it happends to the best of us, your doing the right thing and stepping up about it and for that I respect you 

[BIGINNER]

sound like you did the right thing....     people make mistakes,.. some people don't learn from mistakes,..  you did good man.     pics? 

[pianoman9701]

Been there, done that. Nothing is wasted in nature, especially the lessons learned. Good luck with your next one.

[jbhtiger]

May peace come to you, man. 
You know your sense of honorable action and behavior is set correct when you feel the crush of coming up short.
I'm thinking that means you are doing everything right. 
Self imposed atonement cuts deep. 

[Gringo31]

I thought that recovering him today would make me feel better....

I was wrong...

[Stilly bay]

if the deer was hit perfect you don't have to beat yourself up about making an animal suffer. In bowhunting I have always believed the next best thing to a perfect hit is often a clean miss.
I wish there were more hunters like you with a deep respect for the animal and the sport.

[dreamingbig]

Not that it matters but did you take a picture of the antlers?  Also you did right by punching your tag.  Not many would do that.

[Machias]

I just still can't figure out how this happened or the mistake I made.

Not to kick a man in the groin when he's down, but maybe it was shooting at a deer 70 yards away in fading light with archery gear?  I HIGHLY commend you for notching your tag and I'm happy you were able to find him, but if you want an honest assesment it was taking the shot in the first place.  That feeling you had when you first posted this thread is why I try so hard now to never take a shot that could potentially make me feel like you are.  Only because I've been there when I was much younger.  I wounded a deer with a rifle a long time ago and nearly quit hunting for the season I was so sick to my stomach.  So I vowed back then not to take risky shots.  Sorry you weren't able to enjoy your trophy and the meat.

[dlaw]

His shot was 50 yards.  70 when he ranged the next day.

[bearhunter99]

It happens Gringo.  I shot a very large black bear with an absolute beautiful black shiny coat about 9 years ago.  I was up on a cliff and shooting down on him, 275 yards, heard the whop of the bullet and knew it was a hit.  He ran over the ridge and I headed down there.  No blood, no tracks, but I was sure I hit him.  Made bigger and bigger circles, came back the next day, same result.  Found him a month later during deer season.  He fell into a hole in a draw, basically covered with brush.  Never would have seen him if it wasn't for the smell.  From what I could tell the bullet went in high and never exited out the bottom, therefore no blood.  An absolute shame, he was over 7' and had a 19-15/16 skull.  Got the skull and the claws, which was nasty!  I notched my tag and still have some small consolation in having the skull and claws.