SWThomas

At least you can make a European mount...

rafsob

I got one better then that. How about knowing you clobbered the buck and he has left large amounts of blood, but no deer.

What happened was the dogs kicked him out towards my friend and he got a good shot. The buck sent about 40 yds. and laid down. Well the dogs finally caught up to the buck and got him back up on his feet again and chased him him out of the area. We tracked him for a long distance, but he ended up going on to another property that we had no rights to.

That hurts and I felt sorry for my buddy. Never had this happen to me, but I hope it never does in the future.

bronko22000

This happens sometimes. But I hope you learned from experience. Best to follow the tracks as far as possible. I had a friend hit a deer with a PRB with snow on the ground. The shot was about 65 yds. From his elevate position he watched that deer run through the woods about 100 yds and stop, then fall over. He went where the deer was standing when he shot. There was no blood all the way to the deer.

Gotbuck

I would still go and get the antlers and use them for rattling horns as a reminder of what happened. Some things happen and we learn from them, it makes us better hunters. Hard lesson but one learned well.

gregrn43

Like many have said here its a shame but it does happen