Spining a deer

[Hamshire]

I thought about posting this in the Bowhunting Report section, but this isn't so much a report about my hunt.

I've killed enough deer with my bow to know I'm a pretty good shot. This past Saturday evening I had a doe at 15 yards - she was clueless. I did not take enough time and aim low enough, and I hit the bottom of her spine and she drops. I couldn't get my 2nd arrow in her fast enough - which thankfully ended up being a heart shot.

After all the great shots I've made in my life, it's the screw-ups that stick with me. I took no joy in the kill - I wasn't happy at all because of how she died. I've wrestled with it for the last 3 1/2 days. It sickens me that much more when I see hunting shows where someone will do the same thing I did, but it's followed up by high-fives while the deer is merely paralyzed.

Now, the reality is she died in about a minute - probably the same amount of time if I would have hit her 3 inches lower in the lungs. Maybe that's my way of reconciling things. Point of this post is am I alone in feeling terrible? Anyone else feel this way?

[AntlerCollector]

I hate to let any animal suffer. Kill em quick!

[HoustonHunter]

Natural feeling but you ended it quick. Bounce right back up and make a better shot next time--this could happen to anyone.

[bowhunternate]

Its hunting, your gonna do it, but I do agree with you on the fact that no one likes a spine shot. I do my best not to shoot them in the spine but eventually its gonna happen. but im glad you shot her as fast as possible, that's very good of you to do

[froghunter]

a dead animal means a fed family. no remorse here.

[Slick8]

I completely agree, I did the same thing last year on a late season hayfield hunt.

I spined a doe and had good video of a icey rainy day but take no pride in the kill so I've never edited or loaded video.

I understand your pain and feelings, it's one of the risk we take on when deciding to hunt.

[bulltx50]

Its a part of hunting and most of us do our best to have a quick and humane harvest of the animal. You hunt long enough it will happen whether its with a bow or rifle. You recovered and dispatched the animal as quickly as possible. I would say to you that if it didn't bother you I would be worried and it would be time to stop hunting. Good Job and thanks for keeping it real.

[Puggy625]

I did the exact same thing you described on a doe about 2 years ago except the shot was at 30 yards. Didn't take my time and aim low enough and spined her. I hurried up and tried to get a second arrow in her but she was laying in some taller grass and flopping around so I hit under her. I hurried up to climb down and finish her quickly but she was expired by the time I go to her. Like you, I didn't feel good about it, but it wasn't much more than a minute or two. The difference in the feelings is that most times, you may not see the animal die (at least it is for me). I've watched many expire in front of me but I knew the shot was quickly fatal (no suffering).

Look at it this way. First, you are not alone for having those emotions. Second, know that you are doing your best to make an ethical shot, sometimes things happen. Third, by having those emotions, it shows that you're a compassionate/ethical person. If you didn't have those emotions, I might tend to say otherwise. Dust it off and keep on hunting.

[J-Bob]

I have been in that exact situation. Spine shot followed by a heart shot. Maybe I am heartless but I did not feel bad about it. Second shot put her down in about a minute or two. I would much rather have this situation than a gut shot where the animal suffers a long time.

And it is much better than the fate that most whitetails meet when they die in the wild.

[skeeter]

it sux, but it happens.

[M.E.B.]

It is good that most of us are not the heartless killers that the anti-hunter crowd believes us to be. All of us should try to kill our prey in the fastest and most humane manner that is possible.

A paralyzed deer probably feels more fear than pain but I guess that could be pain in itself.

With all of that said that deer probably died a quicker, more noble and more humane death than many of us here have seen our loved ones die or will experience ourselves. Life and death are not for the meek of heart.

[jkelbe]

I just remember that my intent is to kill that animal. I too have done it, and much worse. But I did feel really bad in that moment but after a week I felt better. I felt worse because it was a button buck, and I missed so many times I had to get down out of my tree pick up an arrow and shoot it 2 feet in front of me. It was horrible. But now I take pride in my pass throughs and short blood trails. I was young and now I try and pass on my mistakes to my brother has he takes his first deer. He has taken 2 and now short blood trails.

Mistakes suck and it can be painful but they are teaching moments. But the end game is to kill that animal.

[BigThicketBoy]

You paralyzed her she didn't feel any pain, confusion maybe but no pain.
How do you think they feel when a deadly 150 grain Win Mag hits them? That internal shock wave has to hurt much more than a clear cut .
It happens to the best of us, beck maybe she ducked the arrow and it wasn't your fault at all.

[bowhunterchris]

Never spined a deer but thought I had on a couple. My avatar buck dropped in his tracks but my arrow hit I such a way that his front legs couldn't move same thing on a doe last year.

[rjtkdplus]

I'm pretty sure if the spine is severed to the point of complete paralysis, the heart and lungs would be affected too, resulting in a quick, humane kill. I'm not a doctor though.