So, I'm new to bow hunting, but have put in a lot of time practicing. I've taken rabbits and other small game and am confident in my aim and technique. This morning I took a shot at a deer at 20yds, the same shot I have practiced from the same tree into my Block numerous times before. The shot looked good, right behind the shoulder, foot forward while standing broadside. I got complete pass through but this deer took off running like I've never seen. As this would be my first deer taken with a bow, I waited nearly an hour before going to take a look. I found the arrow at an awkward angle nearly parallel with the ground. The wet grass had removed all but the blood on the fletching and knock. It smelled like meat, not foul. Before I had a chance to get a good look around, it began to pour down rain. I found a couple of specs of blood, but not the amount I expected to find. Of course, minutes later, even the blood I had found was gone. I went to the last place I had seen the deer and began searching accordian style. My search covered and area approximately 500yds from my stand by 500yds wide and took about an hour and a half, but to no avail. I can't remember not recovering an animal I was sure I'd hit. Conditions couldn't have been more ideal which makes me wonder if I should continue to explore bow hunting or stick to long guns...

keep bow hunting the first deer is the worst. i had to shoot at mine 3 times before i hit it! so keep at it and it will all come together

Instead of talking to us you should be out looking for that deer. He's down somewhere and it's your responsibility to find it.

KEEP LOOKING!!

Good luck!

stick with it. I'd also recommend using Rage 2 blade broadheads, there will be less than a 50 yd track with them.

Keep looking. He will probably head toward water if you have any, especially a creek. Losing them is part of it. The worst thing you can do is be scared to shoot again. It is completly different than shooting the block. I have personally let my biggest deer to date go with a bow so that I could shoot him with a rifle. The reason is an hour before or morning before I lost a doe with a "good hit" I thought.
Good luckk

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I came in for a quick cup of coffee and am heading back out with a friend to help. We'll see...

well, i lost a hog this morning. it's nothing like losing a deer (i've lost 2 the past 2 years). it still sucks though. good luck on finding your deer.

Keep your head up. We all have done that and those that haven'y will. At least you had a shot. That is more then the rest that didn't.

Had pretty much the same thing happen to me this afternoon, only with a hog. It sucks.

stick with it,

IMO I have had bad shots over the years some I have found and some I have not found. I have hit deer behind the shoulder 1/4 away and have had no blood but was able to recover by not giving up and doing a grid search. I have shot deer with my rifle and lost a few as well. I have been hunting for 20 years and considered my self a ethical hunter. Loosing game will be apart of hunting forever. always give 150% trying to recover even if it is looking for buzzards a week later. onething I do know I know people that have made there hunting worse by always worrying about will they make a bad shot again so as long as you pratice and make good choice on your shot trust yourself and the deer will come. good luck

It is always an awful feeling when you loose a deer, hog or anything else. It does happen from time to time. I own a bowhunting ranch and I have seen just about everything. Everything can be perfect and you still may not find the animal. We use a dog (Jack Beagle) now, and have had a 100% success on our ranch in finding our animals. Many times animals will bleed inside and not leave a good blood trail. They can be tough to find and many times they will be in clumps of grass or brush piles when you find them.

This is a good read!
I lost a sow last Saturday and I am still bummed about it!