I would also suggest that not many newbies post about a doe they didn't find but will more than likely post about a "good buck" they shot and couldn't find.

I agree strongly with many taking shots at a buck they wouldn't take with a doe. Nothing wrong with that, just keep looking til you find it. Don't go 25 yards and assume a miss because you found nothing. One of the most important things is to sit tight and mark your spot well before climbing down or going looking for it. I have spent a few hours trying to find one an inexperienced hunter shot looking 20-40 yArds from where it was actually standing when they shot.

Not pointing fingers at anyone, just an observation:

It seems like there are many more Bucks that run off and get found the next day. There seem to be many less Does that do this? Why?

1) Buck Fever = bad shots
2) People take riskier/longer shots on Bucks, and will wait for a Doe to get closer?
3) Bucks just tougher and harder to kill

Maybe my observation is completely off base, but it seems this way from reading the posts on aldeer over the years.

Bad shot placement. I've read it on here 100 times (CANT BELIEVE HE RAN, I HIT HIM RIGHT BEHIND THE SHOULDER) Behind the shoulder is great with a bow but a bullet needs to hit bone.

And the moral of the story is: THIS AIN'T REALITY TV. POP THEM LUNGS AND WAVE TO EM AS THEY RUN OFF.

People lose their minds when they see antlers. They forget what they're doing and make bad decisions. A lot of people can not tell you any details about a buck encounter. It's ok to get excited, and when I stop getting excited, I'll go home, BUT you have to slow down and think about what's going on. Pick a shot, make it count, mark your spot. If the deer drops upon impact I always get very nervous. I'd rather see him run. I generally keep my gun ready with crosshairs on his vitals for at least 10-15 minutes before climbing down. It's rare I intentionally try to bring one down by hitting the CNS, because you have the smallest margin of error as any shot you can take. A double lung is ideal. Generally creates a pass through, leaves a lot of blood, and a dead deer within 50 yards. Knowing how to expect a deer to act after impact is critical, and a lot of folks have no idea what to expect out of a fatally wounded deer. I wish I had a penny every time somebody has told me they "missed" because they're deer ran after they shot. I always ask,"How do you know you missed?" Standard response,"Because I shoot a 300 super duper Winchester magnum knock em dead in their tracks, and he should have dropped." That drives me insane!!!!!!!!!!! The only reason a deer drops ever is a direct hit to the CNS, and those shots are extremely risky. How many posts have we had already about deer dropping in their tracks, to get up moments later, run off, and never be seen again? A properly hit double lung or heart shot deer is going to run, as it should, and knowing what to do after a deer runs is a totally lost concept to hunters today.