Hi folks,
Had a good sized NY buck come in this evening. Watched him chase a doe around the edge of a swamp until he left her and finally made his way under my stand. He was facing the tree I was in looking past it into a farm field. He didn't see any does so he turned and started walking broadside at maybe10 yards. I drew, anchored, picked a spot and he stepped behind some brush. I was just about to let down when he stepped out. I adjusted and let the arrow fly. Thwack and he starts running. My brother was in a tree 50 yards from me but can't see him. He turns to run away from me and I see the arrow hanging out from both sides of his chest. Perfect shot left/right but definitely high. We had good light for half an hour. No blood or arrow ever found. My friend Ed has a tracking dog that we will be taking in the morning, but rain tonight. The only other animal I have ever hut and lost was a doe with my recurve the first year I switched to trad. I have taken a turkey and two bears but deer hunting just has not worked out yet. I have missed animals cleanly but never injured one that did not come home. I know everyone says it happens to us all, but is making me doubt my choice of trad gear. Hopefully a happy ending and pictures of my first trad deer in the morning. Will try to get some sleep but....

Good luck bud  

Don't give up, you'll find him!

Keep us updated.

Good Luck!!
GLENN

Was it a 2 blade? From the ground? One of the deer I shot last year, 2 blade/ground stand, was high double lung. But there was literally like 3 specks of blood about 20 yards from the shot and nothing more. Luckily I found it thru sweeps, and it only went like 100 yards, but the blood was beyond poor.

If you hit both lungs or liver, you'll almost certainly find the deer tomorrow. It's a good thing you didn't push it.

If you hit high shoulder/no lung, maybe you'll see him again chasing doe's.

Hope you find him buddy!

I double lunged my buck last year and got very minimal blood, but he made it less than 100 yards. The hit was with a two blade, a complete pass through, but centered the lungs up and down and almost front to back. The chest cavity was full! He was 91 steps from the shot.

If you got through the chest, even if it was high, he is dead! Don't blame the trad gear. Plenty of bucks are lost with wheels too. I found one last weekend, and I know the guys who hunt the area only use wheels.

I'd bet your buck isn't more than 100 yards from the shot. Good luck in the morning!

I was in a treestand but only about 10 feet up. I shoot 2 blade 225 grain Steelforce Phatheads. 53 lbs and same setup went right through my black beat. Just feeling sick right now. I work 12.5 hour night shifts and have to work wed- fri nights so hope I find him early. I will have the morning to look so keep your fingers crossed. Time for bed, but will update when I get home. Let's hope for some grip & grin shots.

As 30 stated, if you hit both lungs high, there may not be any decent blood, especially with a 2 blade, but the deer is dead. That's assuming the hit was exactly as you think and described. But by how you describe the hit, I bet you find him in 20 minutes. Keep us posted.

Hope you find him Dan, good luck!

remember to put some pictures up -youll find him.
-Tommy

Good luck. Hap

Hoping you find good news in the morning.  I know what you mean about the doubts.  I had a string where I hit two mule deer bucks in consecutive years...first one never found and second one had to finish him off.  But the fact is I took shots I knew I could make and the first one, well, I have no idea what happened, slightly forward and dead center up and down.  Only about eight inches of penetration, good blood for about 250 yards, then petered out and nothing!  Second one was slightly uphill and hit right in the crease just about 4 inches above where I was staring and good penetration.  After recovering (having to put another shot into) him I found out during autopsy that the first arrow struck a rib dead center and as far as I could tell deflected up the rib and did enter the chest cavity but just above the lungs and stuck into the off side of the buck just below the spine.  For the record I was shooting very heavy arrows tipped with very high quality tanto tip single bevel heads that were scary sharp...Just goes to show, STUFF happens.
Like you I wondered about my choice of tackle and the whole ethics of it all, but came to the realization that sometimes it just happens and all you can do is the best that you can do.  Shoot to the best of your abilities and take shots that you are confident in and it WILL come together for you!

Please keep us posted regardless of what the outcome may be in the morning.

Good luck to you Dan

Travis

Last year I found a dead elk with a compound arrow still in it,rotting in the mountains.That was the 3rd time it happened to me.This season I have killed a bear and a wild hog,pass through heart shots,with a 3 blade bh;no a single drop of blood was found but they were 40 and 70 yards from my spots.Good luck.

Good Luck!!

I work 12 hour nights now so I feel your pain.

I agree with everyone else, if its thru the lungs, even high, he's dead.  If you got just the offside lung he'll be dead as well just took a little longer.

Huck

When you shoot through the lungs, because of the systemics, you can hit very little vasculature. Its a crap game. One small artery though and the animal will bleed internally. They get a hemathorax , have difficulty breathing and lay down. For this reason, I have been thinking about getting a dog for a couple of years. I think you will find your deer. I can't wait for the details.

good luck bro!!!!! i would think the dog would definitly improve chances even through all the rain. email me if i can help at all.

God luck,  If you saw the arrow out both sides through the chest cavity the buck is dead.  The rain will throw a wrench in the plan, but you will hopefully find him.

Best of luck!