Bad shot, dead buck

[TooManyHobbies]

Nice morning, 27* and not much wind. Set up on the ground about 60 yards from my stand. Last two times out to this spot I saw deer crossing the cart path to the SW. Cleared a spot under some pines and sat behind a tri-trunk oak. Got comfy around 6:20, at 6:45 a big doe walked by to the South about 35-40 yards. She walked away offering no shot. At 7:10 I hear trotting coming towards me, a coyote pops out on the other side of path, crosses and hits my trail. He turned inside out and took off back where he came from. From then on it was watching birds and squirrels. At 9:45, I saw movement and to my left across the trail is a deer. Thought it was a doe, but it turned out to be a spike. His head was blocked by the tri-trunk and no shot. As he started to walk again, I came to full draw, but he wasn't stopping and there was some thick hemlock branches in the way. As I let down, he stopped again broadside. I found a hole which seemed huge, back to full draw and arrow away. Before I could even say "OH CRAP", He ran off with my arrow in his side....THE SIDE OF HIS BUTT. I saw the arrow curve like a whiffle ball to the right. Not sure if I hit a twig in the shadows or if it was the arrow. As the sun moved above while I was waiting, it showed some vines that were hanging in the 'huge hole' I shot through, so I suspect I hit those.
As he bolted off, I could see plenty of blood coming out of his hip and I just hoped I caught an artery somewhere. I didn't hear him crash, so I waited an hour to start looking. I called my wife to let her know I would be quite a while, all the time expecting a loooooong tracking job and no animal to show for it.
I had a good splatter of blood at the impact site, and got good spatter for the whole trail. Found the arrow in one piece at about 50 yards, it backed out of the wound. I could tell he was bleeding from both sides, so that gave me hope. I'd find blood, look up and scan, and repeat. I almost stepped on him, dead as can be. He made it about 80 yards. Entry was left hip, exit on his flank. I either caught the femoral or the artery along his spine. I'm thankful he died quick and I found him, but I'd rather never do that again.
First deer with my Kohannah Longbow that I got on the St. Judes auction from Stickhorse, I believe, a few years back. My second kill with it, a turkey in 2014 I think.
125gr Zwickey Eskimo on doug fir shaft.

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[Wudstix]

Congratulations on your persistence, and luck of the Irish.  Hit a small 18 month old 6-pt like that once same result.

[Kopper1013]

Congratulations glad it worked out, always a gut wrencher after a poor shot but I've found that artery a couple times and boy dose it finish them quick

[GCook]

Luck is always a good companion on a hunt.  Congratulations.

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[UrsusNil]

Congrats and whew!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Congrats glad it worked out for you

[Zwickey-Fever]

Dead is dead,,,great job on the follow up!!

[Friend]

Can Murphy work in our favor?

If he does, then I want some of that.

[SlowBowinMO]

Though I'd not do it on purpose, a "ham shot" can be extremely lethal.  My first deer ever jumped the string badly, and I hit it smack in the middle of the haunch.  I was just sick, I wanted to puke, but to my amazement the deer didn't even make it out of sight. 

That was my only one, but I have seen similar stories posted many times over the years.

[The-Crow]

Congrats!!! And a nod to Lady Luck 

[SlowBowKing]

Had the exact same hit on a buck this past Saturday, with same result. Not a spot you want to aim for, but it does get the job done quickly. Congratulations on your harvest—now the real work begins if you process your own! 

[Bisch]

Glad it worked out!!!

Congrats!

Bisch


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[Captain*Kirk]

All's well that ends well. Congrats!

[H1tman7]

I'll echo what was said above... I've tracked plenty of ham shot deer, a few of my own doing. All were recovered in short order.

[Dave Lay]

Thanks for sharing. Glad it worked out as well as it did. Last year I hit my bottom bow limb on my stand seat when shooting to the side,  that resulted in a very similar hit, my results were not as positive as yours

[TooManyHobbies]

Thanks all for the replies. I was very fortunate. I've since shot every one of my broadhead arrows. The results were not good. I was hoping my arrow hit a twig, but sadly, not the case. None of my arrows shot true. All have been dismantled and I'm starting anew. My LB is retired until I learn more about tuning correctly.

[rastaman]

Way to go sir!  Get tuned up and get back out there!