Congrats!!! I know your disappointment, as my first buck followed a very similar story.  You did what you felt was the best thing, and you found your deer.  Take pride in a true hunt and your first buck, he is a beauty!!

Congrats, nice buck. Too bad about the coyotes.

Happy Birthday and congrats on your buck, he looks like a bruiser!  Sorry the yote's got to him first, sometimes things turn out poorly even when you make the right decision.  
Jon

Well done Dirtnap!    

Great buck and a great journey, for sure, David. Nothing to hang your head about. It's all a big circle of life and this simply affirms that we are a part of that circle as hunters.  

homebru

Thanks for sharing a great, true hunting story. You killed a nice buck and made the call you did and I think it was right. I probably would have done the same thing. Congrats!

Kenny        

Congrats! Unfortunately I have been there with predators before more than once.

Sorry the yotes got him but that is a great buck.

Great Story! Congratulations too. Tom, I like your idea on the Coyotes. I've had them start tearing into a deer after less than an hour in a perfect shot!

Congrats!  That's a nice deer!

Thanks all! Your words of encouragement have helped me realize that there are certain things we will all experience as bow hunters. I don't regret my decision to back out. Such a great hunt and I will be posting pics once I get him back from the taxidermist!

Can't believe I missed this amazing adventure...Congrats my friend!!

Congrats Dave!! Heartbreaking to lose the meat but what great B-Day!! He is a super buck for sure!

Nice buck.  Shame the coyotes got to it before you did.  Given he wasn't out there that long, should have been able to salvage the front quarters, maybe the front part of the loins, etc.

One takeaway from this is something I learned long ago.  If there are a lot of coyotes in the area, I keep tracking until I find the deer or the blood ends.

Thanks again fellas. It was quite a shame to lose the meat like I did. Orion, I seriously considered the shoulders and fronts of the loins but the yotes had been all over and in the carcass, as I feed my young children all of my wild game I just wasn't comfortable taking any chances. I too have learned a great and valuable lesson in this.

Definitely a bummer, but as has been said, that's a part of the natural cycle.  

It's still really exciting to harvest your first buck with trad equipment.  Congrats.