New hunter need some help

[xhunter]

I am inexperience! new, very new!

Although read some books and watch some TV or youtubes. I thought I know, but I don't know! Also I was by myself.

This year, I finally had a chance to shoot a buck with a shotgun. using OO buck shots.

In total, I fired three shots. First shot, I have some confident, second, maybe..... third.. I know I missed because it hits the tree.

During that time, I am so...... ! how do I say it? excited? nervous? I don't know how to say it. I just know my heart is pounding, and my blood is about to explode out of my neck!

That buck was facing me, like we are face to face, about 40 yards, I move up the gun and it notice me, and jump. I shot before it jump (or at the same time)

After the shots, it jump away. I am so exhausted!

I get down the tree stand and look for signs. no blood? I look further, no blood? or maybe there is but I just unaware of.

I search, about 40 to 60 yards, then is private property. I get in, for about 20 yard, get back out. surrounding are all trees.

Until now, I still don't know whether I shot the deer or not. I hope I miss. but if I don't, then lot of meats are wasted.

If you are me, what will you do? What should I do next time? how do you track deers? Do deer always leave blood sign at the spot?

Thanks

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[Doe Master]

Unless your gun is old and has a fixed choke .
PLEASE !!!! consider using slugs .
In the last 3 years where we hunt we have shot with bows after the shotgun season at least 5 deer that were buckshot victims . That had not died from their wounds but had broken legs .
My one doe this year had a pellet under the skin behind the front shoulder as well as two holes . One through the neck as well as one in the back bone .
In those same woods we come across every year at least one or two that ran off and died without recovery .
As for the blood issue . Sometimes there is blood right away and sometimes not . That is why when the game departs the area you watch what way they went . Pick out landmarks because it looks all different when you are on the ground .
As for losing the deer . IT HAPPENS . It is good to loose a nights sleep over it but don`t let it get you down too much . As you stated before you are new .
Rome was not built in a day . To become a proficient hunter you must learn from experiences be it yours or other peoples . This forum is a wealth of experiences .
There are a few people on here if they speak I listen to their advice .
Good luck

[vixenmaster]

Doe Master told you right. Abit more info most of the time Buckshot scatters wildly past 30 yds or so & you maynot have got a pellet into its vitals. I learned that lesson yrs ago when i shot 3 deer standing together at an est 35 yds. I shot each one once then reloaded & 2 were running one to me & one broadside. I shot the broadside one again & the one running to me again. I had 2 Doe's & a 5 pt on the ground with 5 shots of 00Buck from my 12 ga. Now the sad part only one pellet hit the 5 pt in its eye & into its brain. The 2 Doe's had only 4 or 5 pellets in them even after 2 shots. I went to slugs soon as i got all my deer loaded up. Never went back to buckshot, my shotgun just didn't shoot it well.

[xhunter]

Thanks for the information, I will switch to slug from now on.

Thanks for your replies that is very nice and helpful.

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