Disgusted with myself

**nhbowhunter** · 11-05-2002, 06:12 PM

I am not sure but if it was me I would still be looking. You took the shot, you hit him, he responded (staggering and what not). Especially if you feel it was a good shot you are, in my opinion, obligated to continue looking. Transects that parallel the river bank for 300 yards both upstream and down stream (working your way back to the field) would be in order. Is it possible that he crossed the river? You should do the same on the other side if the answer is "Yes".

You feel bad now but how much worse will you feel when 3 weeks from now you go to setup in another stand near there and you find him 50 yards from the last spot you looked???

I would feel obligated to continue looking. You owe it not only to the deer but to yourself as well. With that said there is also the difficult decision of knowing when to finally quite.

Good Luck...

[size="1"][ 11-05-2002, 05:14 PM: Message edited by: nhbowhunter ][/size]

**RTF** · 11-05-2002, 06:17 PM

wtnhunt , did you go out today and look ?

**RTF** · 11-06-2002, 04:59 AM

That is ashame. I have been there and done that in my 20 years of deer hunting. You should see, if next time if there are any deer trackers in your area. They are people who own specail deer tracking dogs that can find a needle in a hay stack when it comes to it. NY has an organization that does this (along with the specail DEC license) and its donation only. Not available to everyone since there is not enough of them to go around,....but a ways back when I first started bowhunting, my first bow kill was tracked down at night with one of these dogs. Found the deer dead and it went far and across water.

**Tony** · 11-06-2002, 10:20 AM

thats a tough break.
i know you have doubts but if he went that far he might live .
Tony

**nhbowhunter** · 11-06-2002, 11:39 AM

I would highly recommend buying a few rolls of flagging tape and putting them to use next time you get into a situation like this.

If I don't see my deer drop in front of me I mark every blood spot... even if I heard the deer drop 30 yds away in some brush. If that deer goes out of sight the first thing I do is start marking the trail no if's and's or but's about it.

Don't beat yourself up over this wtn... you have gained new knowledge here. Your job is to apply that knowledge moving forward. If you do that no one can fault you in this situation.

Keep your chin up... There is still a lot of season left.