I've got good news and bad news.

[Troutfisher]

First, the good news.  I went deer hunting for the 3rd time on Saturday evening with my dad on our property behind our house.  We ditched our normal spot and headed on down below it to catch deer coming on the path near our old spot.  Sure enough, it was just getting dark when two does headed by on the path.  I aimed for the vital area on the larger of the two with my 30.30 on open sight.  I shot, and it fell.  I finally had my first deer.

Now, the bad news.

After the deer sat for about 5 seconds, it slowly got up and slid down the hill and laid.  After sitting again for about 15 seconds, it raised it's head.  I cocked my gun for the second shot to finish it off.  It spotted me, raised up, and took off.  No blood trail to follow, only hair where I initially shot it.  It must have been a gut shot.  Anyway, darkness fell, and we decided to track it the next morning.

On Sunday, we got up and looked for almost 3 hours, all over the hollow, way on over to the next, through thick brush and everything.  Nothing.  

I am counting this as a kill, even though I couldn't find it.  I decided to go get some hair from where I shot it and tie it into a fly or something.

[senile1]

Bummer, Troutfisher.  I hate it when my quarry escapes to die a slow, painful death.  Fortunately, I have not experienced this with deer.  

[Troutfisher]

Yeah, I'm thinking that if I hit it with a gut shot, it will have ran a long way and then died quickly. I really wish I would have found it.

[Sam]

There should be some blood that leaves a trail, on plants, trees or the ground.

They are also hard to spot in the brush so you could have walked right by her.

Sorry that happened.  I know it is a bummer.

[Troutfisher]

Thanks Sam.  Yeah, I wish there would have at least been a little blood. My dad has got 5 deer up there, and all have left blood trails or have died within his view. I just wish it would have been the same with me. Unfortunately, there was only a little hair where I shot it.

[turkeyhunter2112]

I read something about how deer that have been gut shot would go to water. I would go take a look if you think a coyote hasnt already found it.

[Troutfisher]

There isn't really any water there, except for a small creek down at the very bottom of the hollow, which we searched thoroughly.  Thanks anyway.  

[basspro48]

I hear ya man, I wounded a doe over thanksgiving. I shot her a little to high above the shoulder with a .308 and we never found her. Think she might have hid on some big rocks on the other side of the mountain but it was way to steep to go search for her

[Troutfisher]

Well, I guess me and you both feel the same thing.  I'm going to go out again next week and try for another doe during doe season.  This one's not getting away.  

[Gatorbassman]

How long was the hair, and what color was it, white or brown. I can usually tell where the shot was by looking at the type of hair that is left on the ground.

Just by the deer's reaction, it sounds like either a low liver shot or a shot that went low and clipped both front legs without hitting the bone too much.

With a liver shot you should have found blood. But with the leg shot he is in the next county.

[Troutfisher]

It is white with brown tips, roughly 2 inches long; I took some down earlier. There was no blood whatsoever. I'm guessing it is the gut shot, or the leg shot, as you just mentioned.