From high to very low, just like that...

[John Scifres]

Sorry you didn't find her.  I hope your low turns back around.  They usually do.

[VA Elite]

me too John, and thanks for the encouragement.

[tracker12]

I really hate the feeling I get when I hit a deer and it is not recovered.  But if you hunt long enough it will most likely happen.

[MAW]

VA Elite, I just want to affirm the alignment of your priorities, and let you know how much I appreciate and respect your attitude towards the doe you shot. You clearly understand our relationship with the animals as defined by God, and the sanctity of taking life in hunting. To me, that defines a real hunter. Good on you brother. Keep your head up, it happens to us all.

[VA Elite]

maw you don't know how much that just lifted my spirits .... thank you sir.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Better luck next time.

[VA Elite]

Charlie thank you. this season has been way more than i could ever expect. I have learned a lot of things about myself as a bowhunter.

[bear bowman]

I know you've been working hard to get to this point. It sucks that you didn't find her but it sounds like you learned something from her. Now you'll be more prepared for the next one.
Hang in there brother.

[VA Elite]

bear, this whole experience has taught me a ton. It is baffling and humbling how much a seasoned 25 year bow hunter can learn in less than 24 hours from an incident like this. It wasn't until yesterday afternoon that I learned how dependent i had become on the technology of modern bows and broadheads. There is no telling how many deer I have killed with what i thought were double lung hits..in reality they were probably marginal at best. using huge 2" mech heads and high speed bows and sophisticated sights really diminishes the skills of a woodsman. I shoot em and find em quickly and never gave it a second thought, thinking I was a killing machine....now traditional bowhunting showed me what I am NOT. it was my modern equipment that aided in many kills, not my woodsmanship. I am humbled, i am NOT the hunter I thought i was. Is it a hard pill to swallow? you bet, but it is just the medicine I needed...

[Bud B.]

Originally posted by VA Elite:
bear, this whole experience has taught me a ton. It is baffling and humbling how much a seasoned 25 year bow hunter can learn in less than 24 hours from an incident like this. It wasn't until yesterday afternoon that I learned how dependent i had become on the technology of modern bows and broadheads. There is no telling how many deer I have killed with what i thought were double lung hits..in reality they were probably marginal at best. using huge 2" mech heads and high speed bows and sophisticated sights really diminishes the skills of a woodsman. I shoot em and find em quickly and never gave it a second thought, thinking I was a killing machine....now traditional bowhunting showed me what I am NOT. it was my modern equipment that aided in many kills, not my woodsmanship. I am humbled, i am NOT the hunter I thought i was. Is it a hard pill to swallow? you bet, but it is just the medicine I needed...

If you hunt with trad equipment it'll happen eventually. We each need to try to diminish those chances with each shot, and learn at every opportunity. I have been there more than once. I hate each one. I remember each one. They still teach me. Move on but don't forget. I am quite choosy in each shot, but even in each shot carefully chosen, the deer, or any game animal, can change the outcome, and humble us once again.

[woodchucker]

Food for thought... A Whitetail Deer, has an INCREDIBLE survival instinct!!!!!

Years ago, late in the gun season, I shot a 4point buck. He had a bunch of "goop" on the left side of his ribcage. Dressing him out, I found a Razorback5 broadhead & 10' of aluminium shaft... The "goop" was pine pitch!!!!! He'd plugged the hole to avoid it "sucking air" and was running fine, a month after the close of bow season. If I hadn't of shot him, he definitely would have made it through the season!!!!!

[VA Elite]

it never ceases to amaze me with their will to live...

[DanielB89]

Reading through this post, I feel like i'm reading about my life! lol.  I have 1 day a week to hunt.  It makes for a long and short season; there is a long time between sits and the sits are usually short.  Ultimately, my commitment to wife, children and the Lord trump my desire to hunt.  But it would be nice to be able to hunt more.  the best part is we get big breaks for the holidays.  but then again, aren't the holidays really about family time?  

[VA Elite]

Thank you daniel for understanding.