Lost my first deer...

H

horseshoe

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Downwind of Winnipeg
Well, I guess it was bound to happen sometime.

Drew on a nice 6 pointer this week. Just as I was about to release an accompanying doe winded me and snorted putting the buck on guard. When I released, the buck jumped the string and I hit high shoulder. When he ran, I could see that only about 3 inches of arrow penetrated. He ran into the quarter south of me which is THICK bush. No blood trail that I could find.

I spent 2 days searching, came up empty handed. This is the first one I have ever lost.

Anyone ever use those lights that are supposed to show up tiny amounts of blood? Do they work, or are they just more snake oil?
 
I think they're snake oil.

The fact that stuff happens is just a fact that all hunters have to deal with sooner or later. It is experiences like this one that make older hunters far less willing to take any chances; even if you think you never take any chances, stuff will still happen. The more "iffy" you allow yourself to be, the more bad experiences you will have. It's just the facts. Anyone who says it has never happened to him is a liar, or has very little experience. No one of any quality finds those experiences easy to ignore.

If you have done all you can to find it, then you have done all you can. The deer will suffer, unfortunately.
 
Is it legal in your area to use a dog to blood trail?

My dog recovered a wounded deer last year in rifle season. Worth his weight in steak, that's for sure!

Cheers
Jay
 
Well horse, I too know very well how you are feeling ... Lost a big bull moose, long long ago. Two days of tracking, the odd speckle's of nostril blown blood on the snow, the blotches when he lay down showed the hit to be too far forward, low neck just in front of the shoulder. All searching was to no avail. The tracking was good, he led a long merry chase, and pulled many crafty tricks to throw us off. Never did catch up to him. The hell of it?, it it didn't appear to be a risky shot, 100 yards and broadside, fast walking L to R, and all did feel correct when that .30/06 200g. Nosler PT launched.
Later, I recalled the last conscious thought while pressing trigger ... "better give him a little leade".
That is where it all went south for Bullwinkle, ... I know squat-all of leading moving targets, but pulled the trigger anyways. Stupid.

Felt so bad about it all, never have I hunted since.

rral22 pegged it.
 
happened to me a couple of days ago. nice doe at 30 yards quartering away from me to i aimed for the opposite leg so i would double lung her. she droped my arrow and it went in high and smacked the sholder. no blood at all and i have no clue were she went as i coule only see here for about 100 yards after she ran off.
 
Sux, but happens..Just so long as you put every effort into finding it, there is nothing else you can do....Hunt long enough, it will happen!
 
I lost a deer 2 years ago. I had made what I still believe to be a good shot. There was a lot of blood initially but the trail just seemed to immediately dry up. I looked and looked and looked for 2 days and on the 3rd day my camp drove the bush. He just vanished. With the amount and color of blood, I have that sickening feeling that he laid up and passed away without me finding him, although I still hope he somehow made it. It's tough, but as said before, we will all go through it unfortunately.

I would still take the same shot if I have the opportunity to again.
 
Thanks guys. Without a trace of blood, it was like seaching blindfolded. But, we walked just about every square inch of that quarter with no sign. I don't think it was an immediate mortal wound, so who knows where he made it to.
 
Did you give it some time before you went off looking for it? Usualy they don't go far and will just lie down somewhere close by if they know they arnt being chased.
 
I gave it 1/2 hour before I checked where it entered the bush, as it was starting to get dark already. When I didn't see it there, and knew it went into the thick sh!t, I waited overnight until daylight.
 
horseshoe said:
Dogs may not be used in Manitoba. I would have had much better luck if I could have run the dogs out there I think.

I did all I think I could do, but still feel terrible...
Click to expand...

you could use a dog, but not while packing a rifle. empty handed or shotgun maybe.
 
Did you give it some time before you went off looking for it? Usualy they don't go far and will just lie down somewhere close by if they know they arnt being chased.
 
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