Worst start of the season so far it makes me sick

[Wac M Trac M]

Next time do broadside or nothing. You should be thankful you are seeing deer and you got one already

[Tx.Fisher]

Bow hunting is an extremely humbling sport to pursue, just when you think you have it mastered it can bring you back down earth. Things will get better for you though.

[txtrophy85]

ive seen a lot of bad shots with a rifle too. after guiding for 8 years and a well over 100 kills by my hunters I've seen the good, bad and the ugly. I've seen jaws shot off, deer get spined, front legs shot off, deer hit in the hind foot, antlers shot off, deer shot thru the hip, deer get eviscerated from the shot etc.


Gotta remember this is a blood sport and as much as we can possibly try to make it so not every kill is going to be nice and pretty

[miket]

Bow hunting is an extremely humbling sport to pursue, just when you think you have it mastered it can bring you back down earth. Things will get better for you though.

Thats a fact!

[Slick8]

That buck will live. I'm almost positive from your description you centered the joint in the shoulder. I've hit the same spot with a slick trick and it did the exact same and I killed that deer later in the year at the same stand. Hang in there

He was quartering away do i don't know how it coulda hit the shoulder. I'm sure he's still alive hope to get him later on this season

I agree with bp, there's no way a rib stopped that arrow, you had to have caught shoulder...It happens.

As to the doe, IMO 40 yards is just too far to shoot and here's why. For some reason she wouldn't jump in the pen which meant she's already on edge. No matter how good you shoot, at 40 yards a doe can do nothing, be on the ground or twisted 45 deg. while dropping.

I'm not trying to judge you or you abilities but we have all season, don't push things just let them happen on their own. I personally only shoot does in the morning and less than 25 yards, again not judging but I feel like I have all season to kill two or three does so why track one in the dark.

Don't let these two poor experience's get you down, it's happed to all of us in one form or another. And good luck with the rest of the season.

[Daniel75]

Did the same thing in 2012, spined a doe at 15 yards. Luckily her 2 front legs worked and she did a 360 and gave me a broadside shot to finish her off. It was a reminder, as I watched her flail about and watched the life go out of her, how hardcore this sport we love is. Even a quick kill is bloody as heck.

Spined a doe with a rifle in 2010 and she was bleating for her mama who ran off. Wow, I will never get that sound out of my head. Do this long enough and its gonna happen.

[breese]

I agree with bp, there's no way a rib stopped that arrow, you had to have caught shoulder...It happens.

As to the doe, IMO 40 yards is just too far to shoot and here's why. For some reason she wouldn't jump in the pen which meant she's already on edge. No matter how good you shoot, at 40 yards a doe can do nothing, be on the ground or twisted 45 deg. while dropping.

I'm not trying to judge you or you abilities but we have all season, don't push things just let them happen on their own. I personally only shoot does in the morning and less than 25 yards, again not judging but I feel like I have all season to kill two or three does so why track one in the dark.

Don't let these two poor experience's get you down, it's happed to all of us in one form or another. And good luck with the rest of the season.

This is my strategy as well as far as the does go.
I never take a shot over 20 yds on a doe and only hunt them in the mornings unless one shows up early afternoon.

[arrowsonly88]

Man the first 3 does i shot with my bow all were spined. It was a graphic ordeal for my 13 yr old self but I would always just rack up another arrow and finish them off. It was defiantly some good learning experiences on how to aim a little lower for when the deer is going to duck the string.

On the buck I would say he is fine man. I had a buddy stick a 150" 9 pt a few years back and the broadhead did the same thing. Found meat and no blood. We went and dumped 50 pDs of corn in front of the trail cam and had pics of him at the same spot a week later! Good luck bud and things will start Lookin up!

[Jayt22]

Live and learn. It happens

[cbd10pt]

It happens! But you know you love to bow hunt.
Find equipment you believe in- no new gimmicks!
I am on a 100% streak for 3 years now 4 critters already this year all pass through .

Good arrow choice btw gold tips rock!
Aluminum furel heads will bend on shoulder blades or other heavy bone!A large cutting width with thick blades will stop on a shoulder!
Key Features for a much higher return
1.Steel or titanium furel
2.moderate cutting with
3.point extends well past blades
I regularly shoot big pigs square in the shoulder and still get pass throughs. My favorite head is a rocket steel head 125 grain.

Sorry you're having a rough season; your 8 is alive and well educated!
I had a season like this about 4 years ago I tried gimmicky heads once on a true trophy, switched to fixed blade without proper time to retune and grazed a nice buck the next day.

I am crazy deadly and honesty very confident now, makes bowhunting much more fun

[dodgeman]

That buck is alive and will be back for a second chance. As for the doe, i feel your pain on that, been there done that. One good part is that she didnt run off in the trees and die where you could not enjoy the taste of her wonderful meat. I had one about 6 years ago get spined and managed to get into thick mesquite trees, after getting the tractor and chainsaw out we got her, thankfully. Get back out there and get that buck.

[fox1]

has happen to me personally and makes you feel sick. in my humble opinion the fact that you feel bad about it makes you a hunter. In other words you are not out fulfilling your urge to kill something, you are about the hunt and the harvesting. For them to suffer is not your goal and you do everything to avoid it. it will turn around blessings

^^^^This X2

[kspike]

Thanks everybody, I'm back at it as we speak with the grim reaper screwed in trying to see if that big eight will come to the corn.

[APDBrad]

That's exactly why I can't bring myself to try expandable broad heads. It's a mechanical device and there is always that chance of failure. I will stick w/ my Muzzys and Magnus. Fixed blades. The deer will prob live. Spine shooting anything is never pleasant, those screams will make you sick for sure. It happens

[ddcainjr]

has happen to me personally and makes you feel sick. in my humble opinion the fact that you feel bad about it makes you a hunter. In other words you are not out fulfilling your urge to kill something, you are about the hunt and the harvesting. For them to suffer is not your goal and you do everything to avoid it. it will turn around blessings

Well said!