Man, I didnt sleep very well last night. I shot a decent buck yesterday morning and could not find him. He came into my right walking right to me so I let him get to 10 yds and shot. The arrow went in tight behind the shoulder and exited. He turned and ran about 30 yds and stopped. I figured he was going to fall right there but after about a good minute he ran on across the gas line into some thinned out pines. I gave him a good hour and got down from my climber. I went to the spot and found the arrow with blood and meat on it. I walked his trail to where I last saw him and I had good bright bubbly blood. I stopped there and called for help since I just knew he was dead in the pines with signs of lung blood. Well help came (with a dog) and we started looking in the pines. We found two spots where the deer laid down so we figured we were pushing him. We stopped and waited another hour. Got back on the trail and the deer went to the creek, a deep wide creek. I looked around the bend and saw the buck swimming across the creek. At this point I was wishing I had a rifle! We eased back and waited and went back to the truck b/c we had to drive to the other side of the property since we couldnt cross the creek. We get over there and go to where we saw him cross and found no blood, no hair, no tracks and no scent for the dog to p/u on. We walked the thickets for hours and could not find him. I have someone who is able to look today so I am awaiting the word.

Sounds like he gave up the ghost in the creek. Sucks. Should have at least watch to see if he made it across and exited the creek.

i know how you feel. i shot a very nice buck on the second weekend and made a good shot. found lung blood and all. waited nearly 4 hours before looking for him. me 2 buddies and a tracking dog and we never found him....


makes me sick to think about it.


i hope you get good news!

Unless you seen him get out of the creek walk the banks on both sides. He should float or possibly doubled back to the same side.
Now for a question... If you find ur deer in the creek is it legal to get it out? Personaly I would but just asking because I dont understand the "cant retrieve a game animal from water" law.

He was almost out of the creek when I saw him and when I looked again, he was gone so I know he crossed the creek. I tried the double back on the same side, walked both banks for miles, etc.

Probly got just one lung being so close but hes got to be dead somewhere out there. I hope you find him. When I killed my best bow buck a few years ago in january, I went home & got my rifle before I tracked him just in case. Now I keep it in the truck for that reason during gun season.

And I will do that too from now on. Lesson learned. Thanks Breeze.

Any luck today?

Dang thats tough, hope you find him.

They searched all morning yesterday and no luck. The dog was all over the place picking up scent of other deer. Time to break out the cannon!