May have just hit her high enough that she filled up with blood...most likely dead

 

go back in the morning and find her. She is probably dead. Daylight is better than flashlights . Hope it's cool there and no yotes. Good luck , you'll find her. Think Positive .

 

If you hit anywhere below the spine, then you hit vitals. There is no space or "void" between the vitals and the spine. You may have hit above the spine which would account for good blood on the arrow and the lack of blood trail. The spine dips a lot lower than most people realize so if you are a few inches high, you may have just cut through muscle. Go give it another shot of trying to find that deer.. you never know when hunting. I've shot deer with a rifle before, made a great shot and watched it run about 50 yards and drop. I never found a drop of blood from where I shot him to where he dropped..... well there was actually blood on the ground right where I found him.

 

Actually if you hit between spine and heart there is a chance to hit nothing but nerves and muscle. The shot would have to be high and a little forward to miss lungs aswell. Or directly above and a little behind the scapula. Here is a link for deer anatomy http://www.deerhunting.ws/drawart.jpg

 

Get a coleman lantern, they are the best for finding blood at night. Put a piece of aluminum foil on the side that faces you so it will reflect the light forward

By the looks of your arrow the deer is dead, go back out and find her, just make sure to take pics for us back here

 

It's nice and cold here ~28 degrees. I'm going to go look for her tomorrow morning. Hopefully she's not too far! I'll keep you all updated.

 

find her in the morning

 

Dead deer. Easy find in the morning.

 

You could try going to last blood and grid search right 100yds if no blood come back and go left 100yds. Deer usually take a turn when hurt. Deer may run straight for a while but will probably turn. Had to do this twice this year on my wife's deer. One nice shot with black powder gun very little blood, did grid search right no deer, went left there he was 80 yds from last blood. Same with her crossbow deer no blood at all, hardly so I went right and picked up a buck run and there he was about 100yds from where he was shot. I hope this helps some. Good luck.

 

Is there snow there?

 

I've shot quite a few does on a high deer density area with lots of food in December and those Does are fat! I've actually seen fat on the ribcage partially block entry and exit holes making for a limited blood trail, snow sure does help and some of those trails would be mighty hard to follow if it wasn't for the snow. Maybe you made a perfect shot and she will be easy to find in the morning! In my experience massive blood isn't always the best indicator whether or not you made a good shot in the vitals, my worst nightmare is massive amounts of blood in the deers tracks and a quick taper of the blood in the first 50 yds, marginal hit likely- heavy bone, muscle in lower leg, or possibly a graze. Good luck! And that cold weather sure doesn't help the coyotes smell either!

 

It's sometimes difficult to find blood immediately when those deer bolt after the shot, especially in the dark. I shot a nice buck a few years ago and lost blood after a very short distance. I backed out, went back to that spot in the morning and immediately found blood that I had overlooked in the dark. I found the deer about 75 yards later. You'll find that deer in the morning! Good luck, and keep us updated!

 

Yep, if you can let her lie tonight she'll be there tomorrow morning, probably not too far from last sight

what guys said, lots of fat this time of year, plus their fur is thick and absorbs the blood

Keep us updated

 

Arrow indicates a good hit. Coleman lantern advice is very solid if you feel the need to continue trailing tonight. Otherwise you will have a good morning when you recover her. Good luck

 

The blood on that arrow would indicate a solid hit to me. If you had bluestar I bet you'd find a ton of blood. Anyhow, wait until light then take up the trail, I bet you find her.

 

Look for her in the morning, good luck!

 

I hit a deer in the liver once that left a nice bloody arrow, but very little blood sign. Thankfully, it was a fresh snow storm that had rolled in that evening and I could track the deers hoof prints when there was no blood. The deer made it maybe 100 yards or less total, but the blood was sparce until the last 20 yards. The deer was full of blood when I field dressed it.

Mark the place you hit the deer, and the last place you saw it/blood. Leave it and do a grid search in the daylight.

 

Subscribed...

 

Like already said it looks like a good hit .Sometime something will block the exit hole and they don't leave a good blood trail .I think you will find her this morning .Good luck

 

Dont forget to give us an update.....

 

its those slick tricks fault.... jk you will find her jusk keep lookin

 

I didn't like your no hope comment so I sure hope you truly give it your "all" in the morning. do not give up. That deer will be dead when you find it.

 

How high were you? At 8 yards the exit wound should be low and is SHOULD be an easy trail. Your arrow looks good.......there is a blood trail, maybe not much, but it is there.
Good luck!

 

best of luck keep us posted!!

 

I lost one this past season that I know I killed. I vowed to not lose another one. So I got this dude.

 

Sorry, here he is.