I've lost deer before, and my son (11 at the time) misseda couple of spikes last year, but my daughter (15) wanted to go hunting for the first time this year. I took her this afternoon on our farm. We've had the back part of the place for 7 or 8 years now and I've been deer farming since then. I have not shot a buck on this place ever. There are very few deer around and since I got in a club I have just left our farm as a preserve of sorts.

I have taken the kids shooting enough that they know how to handle a gun, but due to letting work get in the way, not as much as I should have.

This afternoon at 4:50 a nice (for our area) 3 or 4 years old 8 point walked out into the green field. He was followed by 3 spikes. The deer was broadside and I tried to keep my daughter more calm than I was able to keep myself. I was coaching her up, telling her to breathe, etc.... She was propped on the window opening of the shooting house. I told her if she felt confident in the shot (150 yards) to take it. She did. The deer bowed up, kicked and his chest hit the ground. He bulldozed his way out of the food plot, never getting his front feet back under him. I was pretty certain that I saw him go down as he entered the woods.

We waited 20 minutes or so before getting down. I found no hair, no blood, nothing but skid marks in the dirt where the deer pushed his way out of the food plot.

I called Tom Munoz but I'm a little far out of his area but he said he'd call me in the morning. I could tell that the part about it being a 15 year old girl was weighing on him too.

I don't know guys, I've lost deer before, but there is a knot in the pit of my stomach that I'd just soon not be there. I feel like my daughter made a good shot but dang I should have taken her shooting more.......

Blood?

Might not be anyone's fault! Sometimes deer just run. From your description it was hit hard. Good luck finding it!

You'll find it in the morning.

You can blame yourself all you want, but she may have made a perfect shot. Too many what ifs. If he was bull dozing, his running gear was locked up. I don't think he will be too far.

I have put good shots on a couple deer and never found blood or hair, but found them later the next day.

Dont stress. (Easier said than done, I know).

not that I found tonight

X2 Sounds like she drilled it right through the front shoulders, but maybe just a little low. They normally won't bleed a lot with that shot(especially for a small caliber), but I'd bet that deer is laying just outside the field.

3x. Never seen one doing the bulldozer go far. He's prob just in the woods.

Could definitely still work out...a dog in the morning would be nice. Hope it'll be piled up 75 yards in, but I'd be mindful of the possibility that she shot low, and through the front legs. If she did...you'll probably find him...but I'd consider having some buckshot in my squirrel gun, if you catch my drift

Almost sounds gut shot. Hope you find him.

I shot one last year that did the same thing, I just followed the marks in the ground/leaves/pine straw pushed up. He made it about 150 yards all downhill. It was a perfect shot. I think she ten ringed him!!! Good luck in the search tomorrow.

Don't give up man. Yall are still in this hunt.

He didn't go far.

Yep, he dead.

Iv never seen a deer bulldoze like you described ever going over 200 yards or so. He's dead .. Buried underneath brush if it's a brushy area

Stop worrying.

Dead deer.

You will find him in the am.

Look forward to the pictures

God Bless,
David B.

5 years ago I shot my biggest alabama buck to date. I shot it with my 308 and 165gr fusions. Did the same thing, plowed up a logging road pushing fis front end. I went to the location of shot and found the ground all tore up and not a drop of blood to be found anywhere. It got dark and decided to back out and go look the next morning. Next morning I go look and found him about 40yrds in the thick briars. I was standing 20yds from him the night before. Perfect shot and bullet was lodged against skin on off side. Not a drop of blood to be found anywhere. He's not very far and you will find him.

He dead. It ain't a gut shot with him pushing his front half off the field. She got shoulder and he didn't go far. Can't wait to see the pics.

Thanks for all the well wishes. It does help my feelings some, but I have a bad track record for finding deer that run off....

I agree yekrut, that deer is dead. Had she hit leg, you'd found blood and bone. Sounds like shoulders with no exit.

I'd go look again in the morning but don't tromp it up if you can't find blood easily. It will be easier for Tom's dog if you stay out of it. I've seen her in action, and if the deer is dead, she will find it. I'd keep a gun handy. The shot may have been low thru the front legs and he may still be alive. He won't be far though. Good luck. CD.