So, I finally get it all together today - good wind, doe comes in...quartering away. Stand up, draw, pick a spot behind her left leg and release. Felt good, she jumps and limps off left leg in the air. Watched her go as far as I could, she was moving slowly - not running hard, figured she was going to drop in sight. Waited a half hour, climb down and recover my arrow - pass thru. Found point of impact and it appears I gut shot her. Spent about 2 hours scouring the ground for any sign of blood not a drop. Found white hair and brown liquid at the point of impact. Nothing else. Not a drop of blood, no more liquid - nothing. Had a guy who is a dog tracker helping me. He told me based on the sign, chance of recovery was about nil. This would have been my first deer...third season hunting. I feel horrible.
Don't quit. Run a grid...works most of the time. Laborious yes but necessary and the rewards of recovery make it worthwhile. A lazy hunter is a bad hunter. There's a dead deer out there with your name on it.
