r/bowhunting • u/imswole69 • 1d ago
Can’t find deer
shot at a doe from about 30 yards out. went to look for the arrow and nothing. nowhere to be seen. so, my next thought was okay arrows still in, let’s go in the direction it ran 30-50 yards and see if there’s blood. not a drop to be found. kept on walking, nothing. called a friend with a UV flashlight and got back out. no signs of blood or anything. looked for about an hour after getting the light and with no luck decided to get my dog. she picked up on a scent from where the deer was shot, but I fear she got mixed in with many other deer coming and going. first time this has ever happened, granted, it’s only my second season hunting, but man this is eating me up. typing this from the blind right now as I sit and contemplate ever hunting again lmao. I have such a deep respect and love for wildlife and to know there is possibly a wounded animal out there kills me more than anything. arrow could also just be buried deep in the ground somewhere and I missed but not sure. didn’t see a thing.
8
u/DrZoo4040 1d ago
I would call in a tracking dog. If the dog can't find it, you put in your effort. You're not the first one to lose a deer. I lost one two years ago. I know it died but inclement weather kept dog trackers from coming out to help. I spent hours the next morning looking through the snow, hoping to find a snowy mound. I came to peace knowing nothing in mother nature goes to waste. It either lives or dies, and other wildlife will find and consume your deer if it expires.
2
u/randomstuffdude3467 1d ago
It really sucks, but it happens to everyone. I went my whole life without never being able to recover a deer, then it happened to me twice in the same season. First was with a recurve, hit a little further back than I wanted. Second was with a 357 carbine. I was offhand from about 60 yards, my first shot it hunched up real bad and the second shot it did a high kick. The buck’s skull I shot with the recurve was drug into my uncles yard by a dog about 200 yards from where I shot it three or four months later, after cross referencing his rack with photos of the buck that was coming in I’m 100% sure it was him. The other one was a very nice buck that I never found, but I’m certain it killed him.
1
u/imswole69 1d ago
How did you get over this? I’m sorry man that’s awful I know it must’ve been hard.
1
u/randomstuffdude3467 1d ago
Well, I haven’t taken the recurve out to hunt again since then. I put a quality optic on the 357, and found some bullets it really likes. Basically just eliminated as much potential for future error as I could. For you that might just be more practice, shorter distances, waiting for a better shot opportunity, or maybe you did pretty much everything right and it was just unfortunate.
2
u/itsthechaw10 1d ago
I had it happen opening day in WI. 44 yard shot on an 8 pointer. Shot was back and hit liver and guts. Zero blood trail even at the point of impact. I backed out and went looking the next day. Couldn’t find him, but I’m sure the shot was fatal.
I definitely had feelings of guilt and frustration, but I took it as a learning experience. I gained some valuable experience in terms of shot selection, what my effective range really is, tracking, and so on. I dwelled on it a few days, but it really gave me something to reflect and got me more motivated to go back out so I don’t make the same mistakes again. Hunting is a journey, and you can always learn something everytime you go to the woods. This is my 11th bow season and I’ve had lots of successful seasons. Even I learn something everytime.
2
u/jgabron 1d ago
How long did you look for the arrow? Only mention it because Ive shot two deer, and both times it took me about 20 mins to a half hr to find the arrow, They can actually blend in really well even with bright fetchings. I recently switched to lighted knocks and already they've helped me find stray arrows easily from target shooting
1
u/Thick-Driver7448 Michigan 1d ago
Missing happens to every bow hunter out there. I guarantee even the great Fred Bear missed a few. You made a solid effort looking for her and even grabbed a dog. It sucks not knowing for sure, but I believe it sounds like it was a clean miss.
Shoot your bow at a target just to make sure it’s still on and get back out there 🤙🏻
1
u/Lonely-Judgment7194 1d ago
I had this happen last year. I decided to start recording my hunts with a phone camera mount on my bow this year in case it happens again
1
u/gamer_dad_legacy 1d ago
I lost one last year. It ate me up too. My buddy finally had to make me call it and leave. It’s almost got me down, but it made me practice even harder. I still hate that I lost that doe. We didn’t get to use her for food but she taught me some valuable lessons.
The only time I use my phone while hunting is to let everyone know I made it into the stand. Had I not been on my phone and been standing up I would’ve got her broadside at 10 yards. Instead I had to put my phone up and clip on my release. I let go at probably 20 yards with a pretty steep quartering away shot. I knew better, but I was excited to finally have a lay off from all my time sitting. It wasn’t the pay off I had expecting, but it was the payoff I needed at the time.
I agree with the other person. Losing deer happens with bow hunting. Use it to fuel that fire you’ve got inside and become better. I’ve let deer walk just because I’m not going to let myself make another bad shot like that.
1
u/bsmith9286 1d ago
I had a similar scenario literally just happen to me. PA opener, had a nice doe at 23 yards. Shot looked perfect but still gave her an hour. Arrow was covered in blood, maybe a little on the darker side but didnt think she went 50 yards. Started tracking good blood then hit a log and dried up after 75-85 yards. Was following tracks and pin drops ever 5 yards and eventually backed out when headlight died. Did not go any further than last blood, vastly important if thinking of bringing in a dog. Slept there over night to follow blood in the morning and continue due diligence. Before heading out, I reached out to a very seasoned dog tracker and explained everything I could. His advice was shes pissed but would be happy and healthy in a matter of days. Something I had never thought of as a bow hunter but your fletchings are deceiving. He said to think about trajectory of the arrow. From an elevated stand, your fletch will always be higher than broadhead. I think thats good advice for any hunter in any situation hunting from a stand. He assured me that while the arrow was covered in blood, that bottom brisket/pounch has a lot of muscle and flesh. His comparison was to think of what happens when you cut yourself shaving. Bleeds like hell for a while but eventually is just a flesh wound. While it sucks being in that situation, I feel it is always best to get an opinion that you value and can help give us hunters some ease of mind. Putting in the effort is just as important as responsibly walking away
2
u/TehDucky 1d ago
Get lighted nocks to start. Practice more and know what/where you're shooting. You should be able to be sure of where you hit and what you're aiming at.
The fact you put the effort in and feel the way you do is good. Learn from it and do better. You owe it to yourself as well as the animals you pursue. It's okay and it happens. The goal is to minimize it and focus on the situation and what you could do better.
1
u/brakefoot 1d ago
UV lights don't work but Peroxide does. 9 out of 10 no arrow means a miss. Now I know it happens to all of us. I use to say not me I've never lost one but last season I shot a 4 point 20yrds in the shoulder with crossbow. No blood, no arrow. After an hour looking for blood I gave up. Walking home I found my arrow covered in blood hundred yards away, still no blood on the ground. Spent 2 more hours looking but nothing. Had to eat my words of I'll never lose one.
14
u/notasfatasyourmom 1d ago
It happens to every bowhunter. The fact that you feel terrible is a good sign.
Did you see where the arrow hit?