I found him not 25 yards where I stopped learned a valuable lesson today I hit him right above the should and it passed through clean then my second shot was a spine shot. Felt really bad since this was my first buck and he was still alive this morning. Had to kill him without my gun but I've learned a lot from this hunt and I will never let that happen again . I'm dragging him out now I'm 500 yards back and in some hilly thick stuff
Sounds like you went for the "high shoulder shot" and found out if your aim is a little off you don't hit the vitals. Aim at the crease just behind the shoulder and this will not happen. Much higher percentage shot.
Glad you found the deer v
