Im going to be sick

[NELS-BELLS]

The blue dot is where I first spotted the blood, the green line is where i found that good good spot and that is where the boot prints came in from. The red dot is where the drag marks first started and the pink is the direction it went.

First of all I want to commend you for the effort that you put into trying to find this deer.

Is it possible that someone was hunting either the same evening or sometime the next day, in the area that you saw the boot prints and put another arrow in the deer that you shot as it walked by their stand? You did say that the blood trail got better at that point.

Nels

[ZachD]

nofishfisherman

He had a exit wound he was just high and to the back and his stand is kind of in a valley so where the deer was it was not a steep shot.. so both the exit and entrance wound where about level.. weird but none the less the deer didn't go too far.

NELS-BELLS

While I wouldn't rule it out I don't think this is the case the trail got better before the boots came in but it is possible... when the trail got better the blood was right on top of his tracks and not just to the one side anymore. I think that he started to spit up blood, But it is possible I can only speculate. I am not entirely mad anymore things happen and that is part of life. Whatever did happen I am thankful that I got to have the hunting experience It was one of the most thrilling hunts I have been on and I was able to put a shot on the biggest deer I have had the opportunity to pull back on. I am glad that the deer did not go to waste and that it hopefully will provide someones family with meat. As much as I would love to add it to my wall with the others That is not what it is all about. I come to peace that the trophy is in my thoughts and that I will have a story to tell when I am older.

[Wanderer]

Zach,

I've been keeping up with this thread also and have to say that I respect you as a fine hunter and a gentleman when all has been said and done. You made the most of a tough situation and you can at least be grateful the deer was not a complete loss.

To your buddy's deer: with a high chest cavity shot, the cavity has to fill up with blood before blood will really start to make it to the ground. It's the same as putting a hole in a bucket. The lower it is, the more makes it out and faster.

Like your doe.

Good luck for the rest of the season.

[NELS-BELLS]

I am not entirely mad anymore things happen and that is part of life. Whatever did happen I am thankful that I got to have the hunting experience It was one of the most thrilling hunts I have been on and I was able to put a shot on the biggest deer I have had the opportunity to pull back on. I am glad that the deer did not go to waste and that it hopefully will provide someones family with meat. As much as I would love to add it to my wall with the others That is not what it is all about. I come to peace that the trophy is in my thoughts and that I will have a story to tell when I am older.

Well said! I admire your attitude.

Good luck in your future hunts!

Nels

[Bear55]

Too bad about the buck Zack, way to stick with it!

[FISHINGURU]

It will sting for awhile then you'll be over it, with experiences like this you'll appreciate it even more next time you get a nice buck. Even though the end result wasn't what you wanted I'm sure you have learned alot from it.

[eyeguy 54]

will get over it? 1996 messed up, still not over it. 2008 messed up. still not over it. LOL

[FISHINGURU]

I hear ya, will never forget, but they do make good conversation LOL