Guys doesn't look good, TJ is hoping it was a meat punch and the deer is back at the plot once everything calms down. Blood was next to nothing and two dogs couldn't really find much at all...pray that his little girl's fire to hunt isn't squelched even a little by this and that in the coming days she connects!
The first deer my daughter lost was tough, both for her and me. I felt like a failure and was pretty sure the deer was dead somewhere as the shot would have taken out at least one lung and liver. We talked about it before we even hunted that it was a possibility and she understood to some degree that it likely would happen at some point in her hunting career. The biggest thing you can do is reassure her that it will never go to waste, even if it was meant to be that you guys did not find it. There are all kinds of animals out there that will benefit from that deer, it's the circle of life and even though it hurts to think about it she may have contributed to that circle. That is even if the deer died from it. Last year my daughter hit a small buck and the thing came unglued at the shot. It hit the deer high in the shoulder and buried to the fletchings. We had ok blood to track and went a long ways before we could find no more. Late in the winter we started doing trail camera surveys to see which deer survived and sure enough, there he was and still had what looked like the broadhead end sticking out of his opposite shoulder. Soon the bolt must have worked it's way out and now that buck is a decent 8 point running around the property. Nothing is for certain but one thing is for sure, as hunters we are part of a circle of life. Something we all have to accept and understand that things don't always happen the way we hope.
Thanks Ty sorry guys after another search into the dark last night I was pooped. We spent LITERALLY 16 hours or so with five guys total and brought in two different guys with tracking dogs. All I can figure is the shot was a touch higher than I thought and the angle didn't compensate enough and lodged high in the opposite shoulder. Tough pill to swallow, super proud of my daughter though. She has been through quite a roller coaster of emotion in the last day but she has turned her dissapointment into determination! She has insisted to hunt that deer the rest of the season, she wants to finish what she started. We are going to take at least tonight off and let the area settle back down some, although amazingly with all the traffic there were still deer everywhere last night. Just hoping now that he will go back to his normal routine and offer another shot for her soon. Note: The deer never really went that far. He went about a 1/4mi south then back east a couple hundred yds and then appeared to go back north. Almost a circle...... I owe a HUGE thank you to all the fellas that dropped EVERYTHING yesterday to come help her!!! Two guys I didn't even know from 2 other forums immediatley loaded their tracking dogs and came to assist in the recovery. Both had hour drives each way. The bowhunting and QDM groups are filled with some truly stand up individuals!
I will add this, watching a good dog work even a BAD blood trail is really quite impressive! I am quite certain that if that deer had died we would have found him. Super glad that KS finally passed the law, and I know that many of the key players like Tim Donges (president of the Bluestem QDMA chapter) played great roles in making that happen. Certainly a great resource to have available when needed.
TJ sorry to hear it was unrecoverable.....im glad your daughter has the views she does on the situation....reflects a lot on you....good job....post up a teaser when that sucker hits the ground for the last time!
Sorry to hear it! Every hunter (no matter how good) is going to have to go through that feeling so at least she gets that feeling over with and knows how to deal with it. I hope she gets a booner next time!
I hope she gets the chance to finish the job. At a minimum, it would be nice to see the buck on his feet sometime this season. Glad to hear that she is not throwing in the towel. Good luck!
I just saw this post bummer about the deer. I miss hunting with my daughter. Good luck the rest of the season.
This is what I fear for my first deer - but awesome she is not giving up! Hopefully you can see the deer again and she will get a shot. My husband lost a deer two years ago - had a great blood trail that just stopped. Searched for two days. His uncle found it under a tree top that was logged in his woods a couple months later. Still had the (broken) arrow in it - just got into a spot noone would see him. Best of luck to her (and your nerves) for the rest of the season! How old is your daughter?
My first two deer I stuck in 7th grade I did not find. One was a liver shot and the other was quartering too me and I think it was too far forward. coyotes drug both deer where we could see them weeks later not too far from where we quit looking for them. Its good that she is not quitting. I killed one the very next yr and im sure she will get one very soon just be patient and shoot straight!
