Bad day in the field

[MuleyFever]

Lost a deer today. I haven't lost an animal in over 15 years. I made a stupid mistake and made a bad shot, at short range, too far back. So pissed off at myself. I sentenced that animal to a slow painful death. Not sure why I feel the need to share other than to chastise myself. I won't make the same mistake again.

 

[180ls1]

I'm guessing you were on limited time? All of my bad shots were rushed.

 

[MuleyFever]

I don't want to make excuses. I screwed up. Made a bad decision.

 

[justin davis]

Things happen

 

[MTtrout]

Been there and so hasn’t every hunter that has time behind them. Those situations are never easy though

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Sucks man, but don't beat yourself up over the past. All you can do is be sure you don't repeat it in the future.

 

[MuleyFever]

This was on a landowner tag and he was with me. I felt like an ass wounding a deer. He just said lets move and shoot another one. I told him my tag was punched and went home. I need to beat myself up for a bit so I remember what not to do.

 

[Matt5266]

If you did what you could to recover the animal and learned from it there is nothing more to do. Ethical move on punching the tag. I understand still sucks. Been there.

 

[Scoot]

MuleyFever- sounds like you and I handle this scenario similarly. I beat the hell outta myself for this kind of mistake. I'm pretty darn selective on the shots I take (and I bet you are too based on this post) but it certainly has happened a few times in my 41 years of bowhunting big game. I hate it. I feel absolutely terrible. I struggle to forgive myself.

Kudos to you for not taking it lightly. Good luck letting it go.

 

[tmwtrfwler]

We’ve all been there. Every hunter I’d imagine has lost an animal at some point.

I screwed one up during our muzzleloader season this year. High spine shot that stunned him. Couldn’t see the vitals to get another in him as he laid on the edge of a corn field. Rushed my decision and got down to go put another in him and bumped him. I didn’t want to shoot him in the hind quarters and in hindsight should have (pardon the pun). Tracked for 2 miles on the farm and never found him. Luckily have him on trail camera a few days later.

Eats at me every day. Hope I get a chance at him again. Hate that I wounded a deer.

 

[HuntHarder]

What was your gun set up? Were you able to get a second shot off? Losing animals is unfortunately part of hunting. There are always a few guys who bat 1000, but the vast majority will have lost an animal or 2. Eating the tag is a personal choice and I do not judge either way. To each their own.

 

[Szwampdonkey]

What did you do after the shot????? Gut shot (if that’s what ya mean by too far back) animals are of course dead animals and fully recoverable if you go about it right. Of course if pushed too early recovery is almost impossible.

 

[PA farmboy]

Have never lost a gut shot deer with a rifle. They don’t seem to make it too far before bedding down. Be worth a look around.

 

[def90]

Yeah, hope you went in a couple hours later and did a search.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Unfortunately I know the feeling. I lost a cow Elk I shot at 250 yards. Sick feeling for sure. That was five years ago and I still relive the shot.

 

[KurtR]

Tracking dog. Seems lots of states have a group that will get you in contact with some one. Most will come out run the track for nothing just to get the dog some work

 

[Bluumoon]

It’s how I found Rokslide, beating my self up for a bad outcome. Poor shooting/poor rifle setup/poor bullet choice. Still bothers me 4 years later, you already know what to do better next time.

 

[slvrslngr]

Happens. I second getting back out there with a tracking dog.

 

[Yoder]

One thing to consider is that even a gut shot is way more humane than the way most of these animals die. I know it sucks, but it's better than starving to death or getting eaten alive.

 

[Maxhunter]

Can you use a tracking dog? It looks like you’re from Utah and it’s allowed. I would call one they do a great job.

Utah - United Blood Trackers

“R657-5-15. Party Hunting and Use of Dogs. (2) A person may not use the aid of a dog to take, chase, harm or harass big game. The use of one blood-trailing dog controlled by leash during lawful hunting hours within 72 hours of shooting a big game animal is allowed to track wounded animals and...

www.unitedbloodtrackers.org