I got into hunting whitetails just last year. Last year was almost comical with all the mistakes I made. This year however, I was prepared. I spent the off season having fun target shooting with my crossbow, upgraded my arrows and broadheads (after 1 point blank lung shot last year that only penetrated a couple inches), and got my shooting lanes all cleared out.

I went out to a promising spot this morning. A nice buck with some gnarly antlers has been showing up on the trail cam pretty consistently in the mornings. After sitting on the ground for 3 hours in rain and hellashish wind, I decided to take a walk and do some scouting. The area appeared empty and I was growing impatient. So I headed back home to hit the treestand. At the very least, I could call it a day knowing for sure there was nothing moving near by.

The tree stand looked promising, immediately. I jumped 2 doe on my way, and seen a buck coming and going from an area near by. I was happy just to see fur at that point. But just as I was about to get down and head back up to the house, a tiny doe came walking in. She browsed for at least 15 minutes and I didn't want to scare anymore deer out of the area. So I waited her out.

In the meantime I catch a glimpse of antlers in the distance. And he was heading my way. He was what I'd call the perfect buck. Nice, girthy 8 - 10 point rack but he was definitely young with a small body. Awesome trophy on a deer that would be easy to drag to the house. I assumed he was going to follow the doe, so I repositioned in my stand while he was still in the brush and couldn't see me. It would've been an awkward shot...but doable. But he had other plans in mind. This unicorn of a first deer ended up 15 yards straight in front of me. Broadside. And stopping often to browse. I put my crosshairs right behind his front elbow, and as soon as he stopped I squeezed the trigger. He bucked and ran straight under my treestand off behind me. I stood up to see him standing dead still with blood slowly pooling underneath him.

I kept waiting for him to fold. He just kept standing. A good minute he stood there, just looking for what bit him. Eventually he slowly walked back behind a big brush pile, and I thought I heard him lay down. The wind was whipping pretty good still. So I waited a half hour then snuck back up to the house. I checked for my arrow on my way up and was pretty fuckin excited to see it was a clean pass, covered in blood.

4 hours later, the trailing began. I went to the big blood pool....but within 5 yards I realized he wasn't bleeding much at all. I followed the trail until it just....stopped. I went every direction looking for more blood. Nothing. Climbed the neighbors tree stand for a birds eye view. No body in sight.

My best guess is I didn't account for the angle I needed to take being up in the stand. On the ground, it would've went straight through his pumper. I should've aimed a little higher. My best guess is it passed through muscle, maybe only nicking the heart. I'm sick to my stomach right now. I spent the 4 hour wait to go track imaging the european mount on my new wood panel mudroom wall. A 6 month supply of jerky. And cast iron seared backstraps. But no deer in sight.

But the sun will rise tomorrow and more deer will be moving. And I'll be up first thing in the morning to try again.