NH 2015 Struggles... New sets

[jkm97]

You got her. Just give her time, and you should find her within a couple hundred yards.

[John146]

Good luck. Good that you snuck out quietly. Hopefully she will lay down in one spot and expire. Hoping with you for a successful conclusion to the hunt.

[VA Elite]

well???

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Been out since dawn... Tracked for about 100 yards but can't figure out which way she went... Feeling pretty low right now






Hoping to find some sort of sign

[VA Elite]

I assume the blood stopped? most likely got clogged with stomach matter and internals. she should not be too much farther. guy shot deer don't run far as long as they are not pushed. However, it can take 12 hours sometimes before they expire. go back to the last bit of blood and get on your knees and do semi circles with each one getting larger until you find more blood. it could the size of pin drop.

[jonsimoneau]

It's a gut shot but that deer is dead. You did the right thing by backing out and waiting till morning to track. Keep after it. You'll find her.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Just found where she probably laid down... Now to figure out which way she went

[DanielB89]

Good luck, bud.  I hope you find her, I would bet almost anything that she is dead.  You just have to be patient and thorough and you should have your first trad kill under your belt!

[VA Elite]

how long did you give her before trailing?

If tracking dogs are legal where you are, this would be just the right time to find one and get it on your deer. A dog will find a gut shot deer easier than one hit in the vitals!!!! There is sooooooo much there for the dog to smell.

Good luck, and I hope you find her!

Bisch

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Well after being out there for 9 hours and covering 6 miles back and forth I came up empty handed. I feel do bad that I can not find my deer. I wish I knew what I did wrong. Did I not concentrate enough, did I have a bad release, was she too far?? All these questions plague my mind right now. I am going to practice practice practice this week and hopefully this will not happen for some time. I haven't lost a deer since I started hunting way back when. I guess this kind of is like starting over again. I know that I will figure things out and keep at it. I never give up... I loved last night and everything about the evening so I can't wait till I can get back out there at the end of the week. Thanks for the kind words guys.... The struggle continues!!!

[VA Elite]

nobody ever sets out to make a bad shot or have something go wrong. I have lost deer before and even though I hope it doesn't happen again, the only way to ensure that is to not ever shoot at one again. and that ain't an option. so take it all in and try for another one. as mike mitten says in his book, nothing in nature goes to waste, something will benefit from the events of last night.

Originally posted by bowhntineverythingnh03743:
Well after being out there for 9 hours and covering 6 miles back and forth I came up empty handed. I feel do bad that I can not find my deer. I wish I knew what I did wrong. Did I not concentrate enough, did I have a bad release, was she too far?? All these questions plague my mind right now. I am going to practice practice practice this week and hopefully this will not happen for some time. I haven't lost a deer since I started hunting way back when. I guess this kind of is like starting over again. I know that I will figure things out and keep at it. I never give up... I loved last night and everything about the evening so I can't wait till I can get back out there at the end of the week. Thanks for the kind words guys.... The struggle continues!!!

I can't begin to tell you what went wrong with your shot because I was not there. I can tell you that  have been doing this for quite a while and would not even consider taking a shot at a whitetail at 25yds.

My only piece of advice would be to get them as close as you can, and shoot the shot you KNOW you can make!

Good luck, and I'm sorry you lost this one.

Bisch

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Thanks guys I'm gonna have to range how far my shot was. I feel like it certainly wasn't that far maybe 22 at the most... I'm going to work on stand positions and try and get them in even closer. It's a learning lesson that I won't take for granted.. It will keep me striving for better. The journey continues Friday!

[Petrichor]

Good luck! You will get it.

[Vesty]

I have found after many moons of deer hunting that it is far better to be patient until a deer is much closer than you imagine they would get. My longest shot on a deer is 15yds. My closest is 5yds. Wind and patience pays off with a high percentage shot.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Yes I have learned that my extended range will only be 15-17 yards. I have been shooting every day and I think that my judgment of distance was off some. Tomorrow I am going out to scout and hang some new stands. I am excited to get back out there and really do my homework and make this happen for me this year. I am one that will never give up and will continue throughout the season to better myself and learn from my mistakes. It really is a different way of hunting that I need to get used to.
All of my shots with my wheel bow have been 20-25 yards. Now I must learn to get even closer to be successful with just a stick and string. Hoping that I can find some good looking spots tomorrow. I will post some pictures and a little story about the day when I return.

[jsweka]

Justin - I feel your pain buddy.  It really sucks to hit one and lose one.  I made a poor shot on a buck on our opening day with no recovery (shot it in the ass).  It has/had me pretty rattled and questioning my shooting ability. I even skipped a weekend of hunting because I've lost confidence in my shooting skills.  Your attitude is better than mine.  I'm starting to get over my self pitty-party and have been shooting in my yard and getting some confidence back.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

It's tough to lose a deer.  Keep after it and it will come together.  Remember this is a Journey and you will be learning as you go.

Usually little details like slight variation in terrain or wind eddies will make a spot be better than a tree 20 yards from that spot.  These are things guys who set up 30 yards or more never figure out.  As you become a  better hunter the Opportunities become more.

I usually obsess about hunting and typically I am thinking about how deer move through an area days after I am out of the stand.  I ask how and why to myself often.  Usually patterns and pieces of the puzzle come together. before I started hunting with the longbow, these are things I never thought about before. I feel like I am becoming a better hunter.  Remembering there is always something to learn will gain you more knowledge.

The bow you made is Beautiful. Good Luck.

[Roy from Pa]

Sorry, Justin... It happens sometimes, even though that doesn't make you feel any better. 25 yards at a live deer is a long shot in my opinion. Sure it can be done, but I would never attempt that shot. I set my maximum shot at 15 yards for live animals.