I had a pretty good set up, about 18 feet in the tree with good surrounding cover. I had a small 5 come in about 920 this morning.  I was just about to call it quits when he came in.  I had him milling round in front of me between 5 and 15 yrds.  He kept looking back from where he came in, when I saw a pretty good basket 8 coming in right behind him, ears back, hair puffed up.  I had him dead broadside at about 7 yrds.  I picked a spot on his far front elbow and let it fly.  The shot felt good.  It looked like I hit him high up behind the shoulder, but under the spine. He took off full bore.  I gave him a good hour.  when I got down from my stand, I could follow his tracks where he kicked up leaves for about 40 or so yards but couldn't find any blood. The penetration didn't look bad, but there wasn't an exit hole.  

I made a few circles, but then pulled out.  I'm going to go back in when my buddies get out of work.  I'm thinking that It was such a steep angle that I may have only got one lung.  The longer I wait, the worse I feel.  I'll let you all know how it turns out.

You did the right thing man. I hope you find him when you go back in.

yup its not a good feeling done that a few times good luck on finding him  

I hope you find the deer.

Good luck. Sounds like he will be bleeding internally so you won't get much blood. If you didn't push him, he might not get out of his first bed. Good luck.  

I know that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach..

I'm sorry you're having to go through it but don't throw in the towel just yet anyway.

It ain't over yet.

Good luck with your search!

I hope you have buddies with "no quit" in them. I've had so called buddies that were way to eager to give up. It wasn't their deer.

God bless,Mudd

Every now and then you will loose one ,8 days ago I could not find a 8 point I shot and my buddy came out with 2 catahoula dogs and found my deer...it was above 80 degrees here in Arkansas..I have lost 5 deer in 40 years of bow and gun hunting...no matter what you do sometimes you will not recover them...

good luck man, said a prayer for ya!

You did your best to make a good shot, do your best to recover him. Whatever the outcome, you did all you can do. Best of luck.

I hit one in that location once and I heard him huffing - thought he was down. Went and got another guy and the deer was hurt but sneaking around us, after 1/2 hour of chasing him I put him down. The front side leg meat will be no good and all bloody - you'll find him - work every inch slowly - good luck

Good luck bud!!!

Good Luck Sean. I have a number for a guy that used top run deer search near Mongomery if you need it. He may know someone in your area.

I wish I was there to help out.

Hang in there.

I need Updates Sean!

Bad news, we looked up until dark yesterday,nothing. I had to run to to mom and dads which is 100 miles from me, mom had to go to the hospital.  Shes fine, she had a real bad bug I guess.

We found very little blood. The best I can figure was that the buck may have been quartering abit, or something and I just got a piece of the shoulderblade and back strap.  

I hate this feeling.  this is the first deer that i lost in quite awhile, and only the second that I've lost with trad equipment. Even though I spent alot of time looking, I still feel like there was somewhere I didn't look or I could have looked more.

thanks to all for the support!!

It happens to all of us. If you hunt long enough, you will lose and animal. It stinks, but that's the way of it.

A couple of buddies and I were squirrel hunting yesterday and came on an 8 point (young) that someone apparently hit and didn't find. It was too far from any roads to have been road killed and had been lying there too long for us to want to roll it over and check for an entrance wound. It was pretty easy to see next to a fence line, so whoever shot it may not have spent a lot of time in the search.

I've lost them, so have all the guys I hunt with. We made diligent attempts to recover, but still failed. That's all you can do.

Yeh, this is my 29th bow season, 20th with the recurve. I know all too well.  I've been pretty lucky so far, but man, it stings when it happens!  I did the same on a 130 class buck with a compound about 5 years ago.  same sick feeling!!

It kind of helps whining to you guys!!  a little.

Just food for thought Sean.....

(Not that it will make you feel any better knowing you)

I have shot alot of deer over the years that have had arrows and broadheads in them. (shotgun slugs and bullets too) Deer have enormous survival skills!!!!!

I shot a small 4 pointer out in Salt Point. After walking up to it I noticed a gob of sticky "goo" high on the left side of his back. While dressing him out,I found a piece of aluminium shaft with a Razorback 5 broadhead attached inside of his ribcage. It appeared that it was a steep-angle shot from a treestand and the arrow passed between both lungs,missed the heart,and the broadhead lodged in his breastbone. The hit struck nothing but "dead space"... and the "goo"??? The little buck plugged the hole with pine pitch so his lungs didn't collapse!!!!!

Hopefully, He's fine!!!

Yeah....i keep thinking that.I'll be back in that stand tomorrow morning, hopefully with better results.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! Maybe you'll get another crack at him!!!

(you've got my cell# let me know how you do)