made horible shot deer lost

The standard procedure when you lose a blood trail, at least for me, is to mark where you last found the trail, and circle that spot intensely covering every inch of ground gradually increasing the circle until you pick it up again.
It's not perfect, but it usually works. If seen deer jump a long ways sideways, particularly when they know you are following.
Don't let one bad incident put you off hunting.
 
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I agree, s#!t happens. I have bow hunted a long time, I guess around 21 years now and lost a moose 3 years ago and it was the sickest feeling I ever had. I am ashamed but things just happen. I think keep trying and in archery practice does make perfect. Make sure you always have brand new broadheads for the hunt, I buy 2 sets one for practice and one for the hunt. I believe that at least with a brand new razor sharp blade it really increases your odds on a marginal shot. Just my 2 cents but keep on trying, this is a great sport we have.
 
I had never lost an animal until this summer on my trip to Africa when \i wounded an Eland bull. In that case it was made worse by the fact it cost me $1600 US and by the fact that the two bulls ran in front of me broadside about 30 seconds later, but I didn't know which one I had shot so I had to hold my fire. We looked for him for two days, no luck. I felt terrible and a bit poorer, mostly I felt I had let down my PH who worked so hard to get me a good shot.
 
@JITC- Lucky people are nice on here to tell you off nicely, I would have said worse.

If you shot the deer and gave no effort in finding it then people would flame you, but since your worried and still putting in effort, you did good. I hope you find it.
 
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Happens to the best of us. Don't beat yourself up over it. Once read that a very high percentage of animals hit and wounded with arrows survive. We have all seen pics in the newspapers of a deer with an arrow sticking out its back happily feeding with others of its kind. Great fodder for the anti's though.
 
I think the majority of us have the same incident in common with you, yes the $hit feeling in your guts sucks hard and your consciuos is eating away in the back of your mind. You did your best and made the extra effort to go back out and look again. Move on and don't lose faith. Bowhunting requires many tactics & disciplines not required with a rifle, which is why alot of hunters refrain it or simply don't have the time and of course there is nothing wrong with that, but one of the biggets things you have to control when bowhunting is the sudden urge to go after your animal after the shot. Sit back, take a breath or two, re-live that exciting moment and after 30 min. or longer take a easy walk to where you hit him and you'll be allright.
Cheers & Good luck next time, We've all been there!
 
Dont beat yourself up to bad. Im sure everyone of us has had a less-than stellar shot at an animal. This case especially doesnt sound like a major mistake, just bad timing on the animals part.
Just learn from it and move on.
You ever find it?
 
I have used my dog on a couple of occassions , he ussually gose in the opposite direction i would have tought , always finds them. One thing that i have learned is not to rush in as soon as i have shot , il usually give em 25 - 30 min , deer are very tough and even if mortally wounded thel suprise the hell out of ya .
 
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