Great site for what to look for after the shot!

[MUSKY18]

Realtree Shot Placement on a Deer

Just came across this and thought it is something that every hunter should look at, especially the young/inexperienced hunters. Click on a vital area of the deer and it will tell you what your arrow should look like, how the deer mannerisms will be when running away, etc. Definitely worth a look!

[Summett]

Good info Musky! In addition to that information I found a video years ago called Shot Placement 101 by Closing the Distance that is VERY informative! They use their prior footage to discuss various scenarios about shot placement with a bow at ALL different angles.

I find myself watching it prior to every season as a great refresher. And, when my son is old enough to bow hunt, I already have it in my mind that we will be watching this together because i think it's a fantastic video for those new to bow hunting.

They have it in a 4 part series on Youtube, but the whole thing is only 1/2 hr.

[snoozebutton]

Thanks for putting that up Musky. Hit an 8 pointer yesterday morning a little far back and thought I might have hit the liver. After checking out a liver hit from that page I concentrated my search on the distance from the shot that they said he'd go and after almost giving up, I found him. He'd crawled under a deadfall and died there. If I wouldn't have concentrated my search in that narrower area, I might not have found him.

[bottomdweller]

Very interesting! I hit a ten ptr monday night high I am thinking right under the spine, little chunks on the arrow, thinking I did not get the lungs since there was no bubbles. I lost the blood trial after a hundred yards due to pouring rain. Was not raining when I hit him. I have looked everywhere in that chunk of woods, still having a hard time getting over it. The arrow did pass through it came out in the brush after about seventy yards. I am feeling he is dead somewhere, do you think this deer could make it far being hit straight above the vitals right under the spine.

[InTheNorthwoods]

Very interesting! I hit a ten ptr monday night high I am thinking right under the spine, little chunks on the arrow, thinking I did not get the lungs since there was no bubbles. I lost the blood trial after a hundred yards due to pouring rain. Was not raining when I hit him. I have looked everywhere in that chunk of woods, still having a hard time getting over it. The arrow did pass through it came out in the brush after about seventy yards. I am feeling he is dead somewhere, do you think this deer could make it far being hit straight above the vitals right under the spine.

It is impossible to not hit vitals/internal organs (the internal body cavity) if you are under the spine. I am guessing you are above the spine based on your description - the spine is not as high up on the body as many believe, and that there is a pretty good chance that the deer is still alive and will be fine. They are tough critters and can withstand a lot.

[bottomdweller]

That is what I was kind of thinking. I thought I hit him high but didnt think that high, At least he should still be running around hopefully. This would be the second deer I have lost in twenty some years of bowhunting and its an awful feeling.