This was my hunting blind position yesterday. At twilight, I had a buck followed by a few doe walk in from the right in the slough. I moved too quickly and the buck froze looking at me. All I could see was his head and antlers. I took a guess about where the body was, lined up my iron sights as best I could, and pulled the trigger.  I’m shooting a 7.65x53 with soft points. The buck took off running from where he came. 

It was dark and I waited and listened to hear him fall. I heard nothing. I slowly got up and walked to the area I thought I shot him and got out my very bright headlamp and flashlights and started looking for blood. I even used a blacklight. I grid searched for an hour from where the shot was taken in the direction he ran for 100 yards. I couldn’t find a spot of blood anywhere. 

Eventually I just gave up because I’m on public land and had to be out by a certain time. I think I just missed the shot. Maybe he was sticking his head out further than I thought and I missed the body? I couldn’t see the body, only the head outline. 

It’s 60+ degrees F today and it’s about to rain real hard. Is it worth going back to look or did I have sufficient due diligence in checking to see if I hit him?

It was a decent looking buck for my area so I’d love to have taken him but I looked and looked and couldn’t find any blood. Do deer not bleed sometimes?

I shot (at?) a buck yesterday. Couldn’t find blood anywhere. Should I go back and look?