Started out a great morning...

**turkeygirl** · 10-22-2009, 09:33 AM

This morning I got up and went hunting in our own woods. Yesterday I spent the afternoon building a ground blind across from the apple trees on our property that the deer have been hitting. I get into my blind this morning...I wasn't there 10 minutes and could hear the deer across from me! It's getting lighter out and I hear them then finally a doe pops out...she's munching away on apples. Then another one, may have been her fawn, pops out as well...and I can hear another moving around! Well I have her broadside about 20 yards out. They have no clue I'm there but I'm afraid if it gets more light out, they'll move off, or spot me. So I draw my bow, aim between my 15 and 25 yard pin and let it fly. I hear a THWUMP....not a thwack but a thwump....hmmm...she takes off and crosses a tractor path into an adjacent corn field...the others run deeper into our woods. I wait until it is nice and bright out and go over...can't find my arrow....can't find blow...I go up on to the path she crossed...I find a small pile of light colored hair with a little blood, and some brown stuff...oh no!

I find her tracks in the corn field...and rather than go into this little swamp right there or loop around into this farmers wood, she heads towards the road we live on! The only other sign I found was an apple she took with her, and a weed with some dark red/brown stuff on it....then 2 other drops of blood, way far apart. I look all over the corn field...she's not in it obviously...so she either crossed the road, ran across this other giant alfalfa field and is who knows where by now....or looped back and ran down the corn field into these big woods we can't hunt and could be anywhere.

I just got back in and am going to shower then take a dog and go for a walk in the field again. I don't think I'm going to find her but I'll give it what I can. I probably already put in like 1/2 to 3/4 mile looking for her in this field.

Never again....I got anxious, my adrenaline going...I should have let it get lighter...I should have concentrated on my shot more. I shot a few shots at the target when I got back...nothing is off...I need to focus on my anchor though...The biggest thing here is the light...I should have waited...and I will...

**Bowtech_archer07** · 10-22-2009, 09:51 AM

It happens to everybody Ruth. We all get anxious when the adrenaline gets going when we have a live animal standing in front of us. It's a lot different than just slingin arrows at a target. It's good that you realize what happened, and good that nothing on your bow is off, but I wouldn't beat yourself up too bad on this. At least you can admit you made a mistake. I know a lot of people who make a poor shot or a poor decision and claim it was a perfect shot opportunity and a perfect hit. I hope when you go back out to look for her you can find her

**redkneck** · 10-22-2009, 09:57 AM

Hope you find her Ruth, it's a bad feeling, but happens to everyone from time to time.

**DocMort** · 10-22-2009, 10:25 AM

good luck keep us posted

**turkeygirl** · 10-22-2009, 11:49 AM

Yeah...mom said hindsight is easy...but still...

Just got back in from looking...searched this thick little piece of shrubs and brush by the road where her last sign was....nothing...I think she probably ran across the road and way across this other field...I went through the corn field and searched by this swampy area...nothing there...They are now spreading like winter wheat seeds on the corn field...so that kind of messes up any trail I could find of her...but I think she's gone....

**c_lou** · 10-22-2009, 12:23 PM

Don't get too upset with yourself. It sounds like you have learned from the mistake.

**turkeygirl** · 10-22-2009, 02:19 PM

Just got in from a 3rd outing...deer is gone into who knows where...I searched the drainage ditch...so much goldenrod it's rediculous but nothing...searched that patch of brush by the road...nope...I'm pretty sure she ran across the road and made it the 1/2 mile across the field...Looked for my arrow...can't find it anywhere....it's either hidden or in her...but I find it hard to believe it'd still be in her...maybe...I gave it all I had...