Hit a doe

[brock ratcliff]

Like the others, I think she may be dead. That's a lot of arrow in her, and to break the shaft at that point, she probably sheared it off with her shoulder or leg when she took off. With this being your first, you need to understand that as a bowhunter, sometimes deer are HARD to find. Don't give up! I too have lost 'em, but its never been because I gave up after only a few hours. Its our job to find what we shoot...sometimes it takes a lot of boot leather.

 

["J"]

Don't forget too look not only on the ground but also on the saplings and trees around thigh high as well.... They tend too gravitate towards water and will take the path of least resistance unless pushed..... I'd concentrate on the thick stuff in the area if you can't find blood.... Slow down and scan every in h of the thickets..... Hopefully you'll have some luck and find her.....

 

[rooster85]

Here's what i found. The rest of the shaft minus the broad head. The rain quit but it washed away any blood i would have found and used. Ive shoulder shot hogs that weren't this hard to find.

 

[rooster85]

Don't forget too look not only on the ground but also on the saplings and trees around thigh high as well.... They tend too gravitate towards water and will take the path of least resistance unless pushed..... I'd concentrate on the thick stuff in the area if you can't find blood.... Slow down and scan every in h of the thickets..... Hopefully you'll have some luck and find her.....

Been looking in the nastiest thickets i cam find and every tree looking for blood. Of course, every downed tree out here looks like a body. Lol. I shot a buck last year north or santa Barbara, watched him go down and every thing and it still took me 30 minutes to find him. They blend in so well.

 

[rooster85]

Shit If I woulda been hunting this morning I coulda swung over there, that's an hourish from my place probably. Good luck! Keep us posted.

You're taking the day off TJ? We coulda slimmed out some of these damn squirrels man.

 

[teej89]

You're taking the day off TJ? We coulda slimmed out some of these damn squirrels man.

I didn't get till midnight last night after driving back from the property haha but shit we gotta get out and chase some bushy tails

 

[hickslawns]

Solid advice so far. I wouldn't be giving up after a few hours either. Good luck Rooster.

 

[yotehunter]

If water is near check around it creek pond anything like that. She may be there.

 

[rooster85]

Still no luck guys. Time for dry socks and something to eat.

 

[Mike]

You should be commended for searching this long. Many would have given up.

 

[finelyshedded]

Good luck rooster85. Some great advice already offered!

 

[RedCloud]

I agree with Brock. Dante was telling me about this thread while we sat in the blind and I told him the samething Brock said about the arrow was broken off as the doe took the first couple strides. I think you got 3/4 passthru and she broke that sucker off as she took off running. The BH end just finished working itself out the other side as she ran off. The white hair tells me the angle she was hit the arrow exited the offside just below the line of white to brown. That doe is dead and will have circled back in like a horseshoe about 40 yards or so out. Every deer I have shot run about 30-40 yards and hook back the way they came from to start with.

She is dead. Good luck finding her man.

 

[rooster85]

I appreciate the help guys, i had to call it though. Ten hours of looking and my wife has an ultrasound in the morning so hopefully that will put a smile on my face. I feel pretty bummed out right now, i gave it my all and looked all over for her. I wish it had ended differently but i'll keep my head up and continue. Thanks TOOzers, you have a lot of knowledgeable and helpful folks here.

 

["J"]

That's bow hunting.... If you do it long enough this kind of stuff happens.... You put an honest effort into it hold your head high and get back on that horse and try it again.....

 

[Mike]

This will happen to every bow hunter. You gave it your all and that is all you can do. Go back out there and try again.

 

[at1010]

I appreciate the help guys, i had to call it though. Ten hours of looking and my wife has an ultrasound in the morning so hopefully that will put a smile on my face. I feel pretty bummed out right now, i gave it my all and looked all over for her. I wish it had ended differently but i'll keep my head up and continue. Thanks TOOzers, you have a lot of knowledgeable and helpful folks here.

It sucks but it happens man. I shot a doe last year, found the BH side of the arrow, blood everywhere found where she layed down next to the crick. Found yote tracks by the bed, and never found anymore blood or her. I figured she got run off by yotes that night. This was with 3 guys searching too. It was something else! Keep your head up, and Congrats on the baby!

 

[JD Boyd]

Sorry to hear you didn't find it. It happens...

 

[teej89]

Ah man sorry it didn't work out in your favor. I was checking in on this thread all day hoping to see a hero pic posted. It happens, I've done it before.

 

[finelyshedded]

Sorry to hear you couldn't find her. Good luck with the up and coming birth of your baby and congrats! It'll be here before you know it.

 

[RedCloud]

I would look around the area again in the daylight tomorrow if you can. She has to be around there and the darkness will play games with your eyes and make it very hard to find. Shed some daylight on the same area and things change quick. If you still don't find her then you have done all you can and things like this will happen. Just have to learn from it.