Hello. Bow (recurve) hunting this evening. Buck comes by and I shoot at 7 yds. Immediately I notice it is a little far back but doesn't seem real far. Arrow passed through. He jumped/kicked, ran 30 yds., tucked his tail, walked 15 yds to get into the woods, stood for less than a minute, then laid down. Watched him for 20 min. His head was partly up, didn't move other than his ears and slight head. I'm thinking obviously not heart/lungs but it's looking good. Next he gets up so now to watch him as long as I can. Tail is tucked, he can't walk well at all, looks like he is going to fall over, back end low, tail tucked, walks about 10 yards and goes down on his front knees and immediately his back end goes down too. Good sign I think. I can't see him but can see the brush area he is in. Keep watching that spot, look away and hear some leaves. He is up, lightly bounds then heads down hill at a slow run. I only see him for about 20 yards. Well that isn't as promising. The only thing that could have spooked him was if he saw me which I doubt. Wind completely in my favor. Stay in the stand 25 more minutes until dark and head home. Will hit the woods in the morning. Arrow had blood on it. I can't smell well but intestinal smell to the feathers. Any thoughts for a Sunday PM?

you're doing it right by waiting til morning

… liver…. He’s dead

… maroon colored blood on the arrow?

Yeah I would say(maroon color). Kind of baffled me why he just get up and take off seemingly better than his first get up and bad walk/not far.

Likely that was the final adrenaline fueled attempt to go, probably find him within 100yds of where you last saw him

Smart move backing out any time there is a questionable hit
u
Probably be froze solid when you find hime

He did all of the behavior which you observed because he had no idea what happened. He has no idea you were ever there. If he had any clue that you were there he would have ran away even if you had missed him.
Start where you last saw him and I will bet that where ever he piled up dead is in a strait line from where you last saw him.

Liver, I agree he will not be far in the morning.

Sounds like a liver hit.
Give him a couple hours.

This^^^^

What you described TT is exactly how a liver hit deer reacts. If coyotes don't find him tonight you should be able to recover him in the morning.

Liver 200 yards top

Look for water. They go to water alot to expire for some reason.

Liver hit deer don't seem to take to water.
They will often bed up, get up move,bed ect.
Until their last bed.

Noted, thanks.

Smart hunter. If I absolutely have to be at work the next day, I set the alarm for 8hrs after the shot and go retrieve. Things happen sometimes we can’t control, but waiting is one thing we can do. I’d bet he’s within 75-100yds from your last sighting and rigor will have set in when you find him. Good luck and keep us posted.

As luck has it I am at home tomorrow.

Good deal! Post pics or give and update when you recover him and where exactly it was hit.

Sounds like a gut shot to me. Liver shots I usually find expire fairly quickly. Still a lethal shot, give it time and don’t push and should be an easy recovery

.

You'll find it

If you lose the trail.
Check the bedding area he came from,
if you know the location.