Wasted my first buck last night (literally). Still salvageable?

Not sure where you are but by this time, I'd only have to look for the crows to find what is left.

 

That's not always true. U always have to give the game animal time to expire. Even if ud arrow a deer in both lungs. To me I'd give the deer and hour. If it rains. I'd wait the next day.

 

Depending on the temperature or other circumstances you cant always wait till the next day.

 

I did everything I could last night short of pulling an all nighter. Tracked from 6:30 to midnight and got up at 4am for work. The guys I was with have the same schedule but had to leave my place and drive back into town. I could've called in sick and after the way I was feeling all day I wish I had but what's more important to me than anything in the world, even finding a dead animal, is providing for my family and that's the end of that. I told my boss first thing in the morning the situation and asked if he needed me and he did for an important project, ended up letting me go at noon. I've been tracking for the past 2 hours, friends are back on their way now and we aren't stopping until I find it. Also yes I now realize it definitely wasn't a double lung. I thought it was because he was 20 yards broadside but there's no way he would've made it this far had I double lunged him. Plus I found a couple spots today of what looks like dark arterial blood. Much darker than the pink blood that was on my fletching and the initial trail. Tracking is difficult because of the rain last night but the daylight is helping. here is a pic of my arrow I know it doesn't look like much but that picture was taken after some heavy rain

 

Good luck hope you find him.

 

Buddy I was in the same boat last season and when I say I shot the biggest six point I've ever seen I mean it. Never found that bruiser but guess what you learn from your mistakes and I know since then up until now Ive grown as a bowhunter. It wasn't my first buck yeah that one dropped dead 30 yards in front of me but it was definitely my biggest. Sounds like u caught liver or worse no way you hit double lung and he made it that far but who knows. Deer are tough and it takes the right shot placement with a bow to put them down quick man you will get another chance and I hope you find him good luck on the track and best of luck rest of season.

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Have you checked any and all water ways and creek beds around your area? Take your binos and check the banks of water might find him there.

 

Keep at it, brother. I think you're gonna find him.

 

Hope you find him! Good luck!

 

I realize you need to give the animal time. I was just saying that if it was a double lung shot the deer would be dead before he even had time to get down.

 

I didn't mean to imply that the OP should quit looking. If he has a reasonable opportunity to continue the search than that is what he should do and I really hope he finds it.

However, if his options are limited due to work, weather, property restrictions, man power or something else, he has already done more some hunters will do.

Also, it's my opinion that searching for a dead animal that has zero chance of providing any good meat is a complete waste of time. What's the point in such an endeavor? Unless you want to find the trophy antlers. Give it everything you can, but also know when it's time to walk away and review the lessons learned.

Best of luck to the OP. I hope you find your deer and the meat is still usable. Maybe the rain helped out with that and bought you some more time.

 

Can you call your buddies to go back out while you work to continue the search

 

There's times that u have to if you don't want to screw up. If it doesn't rain I'd track him down. If there's rain and it's pouring hard. It's not wise to track it down. You'll most likely bump him from expiring. Next day is better choice.

 

If weather threatens a hunting worst case scenario, whether it be from heat or rain and you can not overcome the threats with time then don't go.

 

^THIS^ Good luck with finding him!

 

I know what you are feeling. Hit a really big 8 point last season, blood all over, jumped him, looked for that buck for 3 days, still sick over it!! Best of luck in your search

 

With the rain getting close it was NOT a mistake to take up the trail as soon as you did. Also, I have seen double lung shot deer go "amazingly long" distances after being shot. I hope you find him but if you don't beating yourself up over it isn't gonna help. Your not gonna find many bowhunter out there that haven't lost a deer.


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This happens. Good luck finding him. If you can't find him in the next few days may want to start watching for buzzards

 

Good luck, hope you find the deer

 

Good luck with your search. Lot of good advice already given on the search strategy. Most of us have already been in a similar situation so we feel your pain.