I took a 6 yd shot at my target buck on Friday evening. When I shot I did not see where the arrow hit, but the buck did the high hind leg kick and ran. I watched him run onto the top of a tank dam, stand there for 30 seconds, then he walked down the opposite side out of sight. I waited 10 minutes, then got down and walked the opposite direction back to the house. I grilled some steaks, grabbed the spot light then returned to my hunting area. Found my arrow soaked in blood whith a good blood trail. I trailed him for about 200 yds until he arrived at an opening. Once in the opening, the blood thinned down and turnned to pin head size drops. The drops spaced out to 10 ft, then vanished. I returned the next morning and found 5 more drops of blood that were smaller than a pin head. I searched the fence line to see if he may have crossed the fence, but found nothing. I returned to the scene of the shot and found one longer white hair. The blood did not look like a lung or heart shot. Here is a picture of one of the spots of blood that I found. Where do you think I hit?

What did the arrow look like

Don't know what you hit, but I'd be incredibly surprised to hear that deer didn't die. That is a too much blood to be a survivable hit imo.

Blood trail sound like a low brisket hit. Bleed a lot for about 200 yrds then turns to drops and then quits all together.

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If he is dead the buzzards should let you know where in the next couple days, unless the yotes and hogs have beat them to it. We found one last year that was shot in the rear leg and gut about 150 yards from where the blood ended for finding anything. Would have never found him without the dog.

I suspect a low shot like STX said. Try a shot from your bow at 6 yards and see how low you hit, it might surprise you

Why do you think it thinned out in the field? My guess is that it began to run, but that is a guess. I have had that happen too.

wouldnt the white hair tell you it was a low shot?

i am not expert by any means, but the white hair is usally found on the belly of the deer

if you hit him in the side like a normal shot would be, the hair wouldnt be white would it?

A low hit is what I was thinking, like brisket or possibly rear part of the leg. I do have confirmation that the deer is still alive and looking at the picture I hit no where close to what we are thinking. What I think happened is the arrow deflected off of the very top of a small cedar tree that I was shooting over. The arrow entered and exited on the same side. I never would have thought that I hit him in the neck.

yup

Here is a little closer picture. I was shooting a rage two blade and you can see the entry slit in the lower part of his neck and the exit right below his jaw.

wow

I can not even imagine how that could happen on a shot

Wow, that's crazy. Looks like it should have gone through his throat and killed him. Are you sure he's not a zombie deer?

Wow. Now that is a head scratcher. Atleast you know he is still out there.

Maybe u will get another shot..good he has made it tho.

Or miles on an elk

Good news!!! Now go put him down!!! We need some good on the grill pics!!

Weird

Good to see he came back

How was the deer positioned when you shot?

You said shooting over a tree were you in a pop up or tripod?

I was in a ladder stand 12 feet off of the ground. The deer was broad side looking to my right.
He might of dropped and turned to get out of the way of the arrow and that is how it hit his neck????
In my 24 years of bow hunting, this is only the second deer that I have hit and not killed. I was totally bummed out until I got the pics of him this morning.

Perhaps he turned to look at you on the shot and it entered in the top and came lower or he turned away and you punched it entering low but seems strange to come out high...

He had his down eating when I shot that's why I am thinking that the top hole is the exit. I could be wrong.