BigDaddy12t

To start off with, this will be my fourth year bow hunting. Last year I took my first shot at a deer with my bow, I made a good hit on her but it wasnt a pass through, and she ran off with my arrow sticking right in her boiler room. I gave her about half an hour and then got down to look for blood but found nothing at all. It was getting dark so I went home and went back out in the mornig. ( I did look for about an hour that night.) I looked for most of the day the next day and found nothing, no blood, no arrow and no deer. I would look a little bit every time I went back out but never found her, until gun seasen about a month later. I know it was her becouse my arrow was laying there. I felt like crap!!!!!! Now back to my question, I dont know what to say when people ask me if I have ever got one with my bow. What do you all think?????

rebel wolf

I would have to say you need to be honest with yourself do you consider it a kill. unfortunately this is something that sometimes happens when we hunt whether with gun or bow I say you need to feel disappointment but don' t be embarassed about shoting an animal and not recovering it. Last year a friend of mine shot a huge buck ( as he says) we find blood right away and his arrow cover in bright red blood signifying a muscle hit we looked for 5 hours that night and 9 hours the next day and continuously the rest of the season and no buck did he feel bad yes he did did he tell the guys about that experience yes he did do we use it as a learning experience yes we will. we all feel bad but we also realize we tried our best and that is what is important. Good luck on your NEXT kill....

davidmil

That' s up to you. It' s a bumber and it hurts even when you know it can happen... no matter if it' s the first or the 100th. I guess it' s your decision. Me, I say I' m a failure if the meat goes to waste. I' ve failed a couple times over the years. As far as when someone ask you.... well I guess that depends on who it is. If it' s a friend or fellow hunter I think you tell them the short version of the story and let them decide. Maybe it' s an " ALMOST" . They' ll see the hurt in your story and the hurt in your heart. If it' s someone who doesn' t hunt or there are others around that don' t.... I think I' d just give a NO, or NOT YET... but almost with a smile. Better luck next time. We have to learn to walk before we can run. I guess the analogy of " If it was the hundreth deer what would you say" applies. Sometimes people in the goal to appear successful will brag on things they should feel bad about. I say failure is a part of this sport. Being proud or boasting about failure is discraceful. I' d rather miss 10 than wound one. It never feels good when you get blood on the arrow and no deer at the end of a trail.

Rob/PA Bowyer

In my honest opinion, I don' t consider it successful unless you recover the animal.

BigDaddy12t

Thanks guys, thats the I feel too.