No need for that now.
We ALL need to remember. Nothing goes to waste in nature.
Many other animals will benefit.
And good chance it was just a fringe hit and will be just fine.

Don't let it beat you up kid.
Lots of deer out there.

Yep. Go find another one. If it was hit hard, something will eat it. It just won’t be you.

While I am somewhat new to trapping and wet behind the ears in a lot of stuff, I really don’t think this shot connected. Chuckie has tracked many deer and his eyesight is much better than mine. If there is any question in regards to our effort, sorry that anyone is losing sleep. We really tried. And yes it is frustrating and worrisome that an animal may be out there suffering. But like many said; worse things have happened to animals. I take no light Attitude towards this and most of my afternoon was spent with a migraine due to the stress.
Thanks to all who advised and also talked me down from this wacky adventure! I hope I can see this same deer and I hope she sticks her tongue out at me while I’m peeing in the woods!

Good attitude.
But alway look around for game cams before dropping your pants!
They are everywhere.

Well then someone is gonna get an eyeful!
When you gotta go, you gotta go!!!

I don’t like being uncomfortable EVER!

You did your best and that is all you can do. Deer are INCREDIBLY tough. Back when it was legal to feed them here it was amazing how many had 3 legs or obvious wounds from rifle season, yet survived the winter. I had one old 3 legged doe that had twins for 3 years in a row. I would venture a guess that there are far more wounded by cars than by hunters in a years time.

When buck and doe season were separate,
a skinner might see 4-600 buck in the season.
I was amazed how many were banged up and
not from hunters.
It's not Disney world in their turf.

Edit. Doe season was 2 bays,
that skinning floor was a cluster...

Sorry you lost your deer, but you and Chuck put in your best efforts to recover it. Y'all are to be commended for your effort. You both are ethical hunters and not ever time turns out in the hunters favor. On a happier note the doe may only nicked and by this time is healing and getting around just fine. If a fatal wound, that doe won't go to waste.

Take what you have learned and put your best foot forward. Stressing over it won't change the past.

That's right. Chin up little buckaroo. It's time to put it behind and go get one. It makes all ethical hunters sick to their stomach losing one. You are no exception my dear. Good for you guys going back and looking so hard.
I look forward to another post with the outcome of your smiling face with a nice deer. Take care and good hunting

Just about every ball , bullet, or broadhead strike is it's own , singular event. It happens.

Don’t stress it Ashley my granddaughter connected with one on Saturday and it ran off we found small amount of blood we trailed for 500 plus yards and lost all sign gave up went home but I got a call back his morning of a deer in lady’s yard laying down it was over half mile from our property and low and behold it was the deer she connected with Saturday still alive just mending its wounds till I put it down so life is life it all crosses

'You haven't deer hunted until you've missed'

You are right about that! I’m still kind of a newbie!!

Elsmasho,
I haven't killed just shy of 400 deer. I have shot tractor trailer loads of them.
Try to recall the details of where the muzzle was when it finally touched off. When serious shooters are taking shots at targets where they cannot see where the bullet hits the target, they develop the ability to "call the shot" based on where the muzzle ended up being as the recoil occurs. "High right" or "Low left", they will say to themselves. They will often be dead right on these calls. If you do not recall the muzzle being significantly off target when it finally touched off, you may very well have made a lethal hit. Many lethal hits which don't pass through won't bleed much, especially a high chest shot. The entirety of the deer's blood will fill the chest cavity and you will have a huge bucket of red jello inside the deer.
I have found that a mortally wounded deer will very often respond by running in a straight line to get to its place of death as soon as possible. They tend not to have their wits about them and their most basic instincts kick in and don't do anything crafty to throw you off the trail. They are relying on shear distance to escape.
I wouldn't do concentric circles right away. I would first go in the direction that it went and stay in a straight line until you come across an established trail, preferably a straight one and follow it. They take advantage of those established trails more times than not.

….i hate it for you Smash…. Has to be tough to deal with … imagine you almost feel like shooting yourself but know you’d probably just miss lol


… in all seriousness.. get back out there and put some meat in the freezer lady

Love,

Savell

Some additional thoughts - smell. Several deer I have seen hit left almost no blood trail but it was possible to smell them especially at this time of the year when the rut should be kicking off. Also, there may be people in your area who have heat seeking drones and / or dogs. Both of them have changed the game for finding wounded game. Might not need it now but good to have the phone number in your wallet.

Forget about it. Plenty deer out there most will be hit by cars. Sucks not to find one but keep hunting and it will happen again in time.