Worst feeling for a bowhunter

[BTLowry]

Not sure how many deer I have lost with a bow, 3 pops in my head. But I have also lost hogs
They all bother me
If I am going to shoot something I want it to have a quick death. I have shot pigs and followed blood trails you could jog only to have the blood suddenly stop and no sign
It happens and I think anyone who truly cares for the animals we hunt feels terrible when we wound or lose an animal

[RiverRat1]

OK RR1, that ain't right....

LOL You know I was joking. I saw deer out there years ago hog hunting.

What sucks worse IMO is looking the second day because then your brain is asking over and over "do I really want to find it now" because the meats bad but then something makes you want to find it, but then not find it. Then you hope it's still alive....but you want to find it!

[PondPopper]

It happens.. Hit them perfect and no blood.
Shooting high poundage and a heavy arrow with a big expandable helps greatly.

[quarterback]

Russ did you have any luck this morning?

[Russ79]

Spent some time this morning and no luck. Still can't find the arrow which would help me know if I made a good hit. Bummer.

[dustoffer]

One season, about 30+ years ago, my hunting buddy and I lost 3 deer in one season. One was because the adjoining landowner would not allow us to come on his place to follow the blood trail--

[Drycreek3189]

I've lost three deer since I shot my first one in 1978. I can remember vividly the circumstances. Buck or doe it sucks.

But.......flame if you will, I don't give a **** about losing a hog. To me, they are a pestilence. YMMV

[RiverRat1]

I've lost three deer since I shot my first one in 1978. I can remember vividly the circumstances. Buck or doe it sucks.

But.......flame if you will, I don't give a **** about losing a hog. To me, they are a pestilence. YMMV

It's not the lost meat, but when I lose a hog that means I lost. I want to win, if I use the meat or not.

[Draco]

Spent some time this morning and no luck. Still can't find the arrow which would help me know if I made a good hit. Bummer.

You should really look into string trackers. I almost never hunt with out one and I have a dam fine deer dog.

[Russ79]

I had a string tracker on my bow when I first started bow hunting. Had a malfunction when shooting at a buck- loop of string got around something and when I released the arrow it jerked the spool of string out of the holder. As soon as I got home it came off the bow and has been in the bow box since.

[Top Of Texas]

I feel ya. I lost a 150-ish buck at Hagerman NWR in early 90's. Totally devastated at the time. But knowing what I know now, buck should've survived (hit high poor penatration). Maybe you just gave her a heck of a boo-boo and she'll make it.