I lost a doe

[Hock3y24]

On October 1st I shot a doe at 0701, and then a second at 0706. First shot was quartering away hard, second was quartering towards slightly. Quartering away ran uphill with arrow in her, second ran downhill arrow came out after 20 feet and hit a tree. Was confident both were good shots and I heard one crash. Sat until 9 am and went and got friend out of his stand to track. We started following the second deers trail that the arrow came out of and it led us down hill and I spotted her white belly so we abandoned the trail to retrieve her.(bad idea) it turn out to be the deer that ran up hill and must of ran back downhil because the arrow was still in her. Confused, we marked the trail and walked back up the hill to track again. We ended up 5 feet over from the first trail tracking and went well over 500 yards with little blood but there was bubbles. Despite a few hours of tracking the last blood we found was a bed with blood then not a drop after and we did a grid search after.

Now for what I learned. Stay on the bloodtrail even if you see the deer (if you shot 2).Really think about your shot. This must have been a one lung hit that was high on entry and clipped top of the lung. This deers bed was 500 yards from the hit sight and she did not slow down once. Still sick about it but I do believe we did the best we could have.

[aspen_00]

It happens, bow hunting is very challenging

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[phade]

Single lung hits are hard to deal with.

 

If that deer went 500 yards before bedding once, it's likely a single lung based on that and the bubbles.

 

Sounds like you did what you could. Might want to keep an eye out for birds, but being a doe, probably past the timeslot to retrieve and consume.

[outdoorstom]

If she was hit high in one lung, there's a good chance she survived.

[SCbklyn]

Don't beat yourself . It happens. It was a learning experience and I bet you will never let it happen again.

[NFA-ADK]

​It does sound like a high hit.  Good luck the rest of the season and let us know if you see her again. 

[Kot2B]

You shot 2 different deer within minutes during bow and opening day?

[Hock3y24]

Yes a group of 5 came up the hill, shot one they ran off. Then a group of two came up 5 minutes after, shot one. Other one just stood there snorting but didn't see me. Then I had another 2 sneak behind me less than a hour later. All does.

[ELMER J. FUDD]

"Best we could have"... that's all you can do. You'll get 'em next time.

[HuntOrBeHunted]

Happens to the best of us. Good luck on the rest of your season.