First archery deer: the good, the bad. And the ugly.

[jdubb]

I completely shot over a doe last Sunday that jumped the string, been bowhunting for several years with a pretty good success rate, but every animal is different. Some have very ninja like reflexes, and I prob didn't take enough time kinda trigger happy, haven't got a kill since 2010

[Bluesman]

Too bad on the late recovery.
A priceless learning experience though.

[Sleepy]

I concur with the grid search if there is a lack of blood. Maybe you should get some lighted nocks or reflective wraps. Sure does help making an arrows recovery a lot easier.

On your shot...it may or may not have been you. Your shot may have been picture perfect. She may have been broad side. The way these deer **** and git at the sound of an unfamiliar noise, it's easy for a shot to appear bad if they get a good jump and turn. Don't beat yourself up over thinking it was a terrible shot.

Last light is fine to take a shot. A lot of times, that's your only chance at the big boys. Don't give up on last light shots withing 20-25 yards.

Always remember to keep a good close eye on the track the deer is running in. It's easy to forget that part in the midst of all the excitement. I try to pick trees or bushes, or anything that I know the deer ran next to or over.

All in all, congrats on your first archery kill and kudos for sticking with the recovery!! Keep after it and it will all play out!

[B Littleton]

I concur with the grid search if there is a lack of blood. Maybe you should get some lighted nocks or reflective wraps. Sure does help making an arrows recovery a lot easier.

On your shot...it may or may not have been you. Your shot may have been picture perfect. She may have been broad side. The way these deer **** and git at the sound of an unfamiliar noise, it's easy for a shot to appear bad if they get a good jump and turn. Don't beat yourself up over thinking it was a terrible shot.

Last light is fine to take a shot. A lot of times, that's your only chance at the big boys. Don't give up on last light shots withing 20-25 yards.

Always remember to keep a good close eye on the track the deer is running in. It's easy to forget that part in the midst of all the excitement. I try to pick trees or bushes, or anything that I know the deer ran next to or over.

All in all, congrats on your first archery kill and kudos for sticking with the recovery!! Keep after it and it will all play out!

Thanks. That's the part that's driving me crazy, if I had just spent more time doing a grid in the area I saw her crash into, I'd have a full freezer right now. It's gonna stick with me until I get another one. Can't shoot another doe at my lease, so it's LBJ for me until November. Then I'll be going after a buck.

[B Littleton]

Keep replaying everything over in my head, it's driving me crazy. Wish I had just gone with my gut after the shot and looked where I saw her crash. I need to get another deer down and chew on some backstrap to wash this bad taste out of my mouth. the weekend can't get here soon enough.

[B Littleton]

heading out for a short hunt at LBJ tonight after work to try and redeem myself. Wish me luck.

[ZenDaddy]

Had the same thing happen with my first doe. Only difference is it took me close to 4 hours the next morning to find her. A tiny shiny spot in a grassy patch caught my attention. And there was my doe - with the penetration point just about where yours was. The only difference? A bobcat was eating on mine all night, and then covered it with grass (for later, I guess.) That was one of the reasons it took me so long to find!

It's all part of hunting.

[MQ32Shooter]

You might not have made a bad shot. When they duck, dive and jump, they get hit in crazy places. Don't beat yourself up. And 90% of the deer I see show up at dark, so hard to pass up an evening shot when you've been sitting there for 2-3 hours just waiting on that magic moment.

[robbyreneeward]

heading out for a short hunt at LBJ tonight after work to try and redeem myself. Wish me luck.

Is your lease here MLD land? Because if not you can kill 2 does here in RRC.

[Horitexan]

A live animal is totally different than a target

This X1000!^^

I've seen many a client (gun and bow) that could tack-drive at a target but that fell apart like a 10cent hamburger when an animal walked out. Shooting targets is great but there's no substitute for time killing animals with your chosen weapon.