Blood trails

[Benu]

The only game I ever witnessed being harvested was a doe with a 300 mag and no trailing req. As novice hunter I have not found any info on tracking. Do you have any advice? Also does anyone have pics of a blood trail? How much blood is left on the ground to follow (I am using 3 head Spitfire mechanical braodheads) on my Phoenix. I already plan on taking a compass bearing on either the sound of the buck falling or the sight if I can see him. I will do this immediately. Any other tips? This is a big concern of mine, as I will be pretty dense bush.

Also I might be north of a marsh. Is it true that they will often run to water and die there. If so should I avoid that hunting ground. It was just so ripe with trails, last years scrapes, recent tracks and scat. It was the best area I scouted period.

Any advice on this matter is greatly appreciated.

[Sandman]

Benu,

Try a search here on the forum as I know there have been many discussions in the past. My memory is not what it use to be but one of our members posted a nice thread on BT.

I have a whole series of photographs showing the BT from the big buck I shot a few years back.

Anybody have any reservations about me posting them??

Cheers,
Robin

[mikej]

none from me robin.

benu it is true that they will head for water sometimes and i wouldn't say you should avoid that spot because of it. just keep that in mind and be sure to check the water and remember if its a lung hit that the possibility is there that in could be below the surface of the water. with the blood trailing the blood on the ground could be anywhere from big puddles to small drops the size of your pinky . remember also that you will not only find blood on the ground but quite possibly on trees as well. the 3 blade spitfires work well thats what i use and they usually leave a good trail but that mostly depends on the hit. i'm sure you will receive more experienced replys from more members here but this combined with robins pics should get you started. you could also look into getting one of those blood trailing lights to try for tracking at night . i have found that a good flashlight works better for me but thats a matter of personal preference.

[cdup]

After every shot regards of what you are using allow the animal a period of time to bleed out. I usually don't leave my stand until a min. of a hour before I start the tracking. Just make sure it's a well place shot and you will have plenty of success. When you are tracking, It's a good idea to mark your last blood spot so you don't lose the trail.(especially at night)Be sure to keep your eyes peel even on the hard to see areas as in ex. under lying limbs and back side of plant leafs. It's amazing where the blood can be found at times . If you do lose the blood I try to find tracks or disturb and broken branches. It helps me pick the blood trail back up when all else fails. Take your time and comb the area good. At last resort I get fellow huntin buddies and we make circles to try to find it. Not a good feelin when you lose a harvest, but we all have experience it at one time or another.Good luck and Happy huntin.

[crazyfarmer]

from experience, deer bleed more form a well placed bhead hit than any gun ive seen. Once you see the hole from a bhead, then you will know why;)

trackings simple.. make a good shot, listen to the deer run off if he does. Stay calm. Mark the last spot you saw him by memory. Wait a little while before climbing down in case he's close by. Can vary from 10mins to 1-2 hours depending on light. If its getting dark, ill get down after 10-15mins and wlak over to the hit site to look for blood. If I know he's down, ill track or if bad weathers coming. Usually, ill back out and come back a hour or so later with plenty light. If its morning, ill sit and wait a hour or so since you never know what else might stroll by.

Just track slow.. if you loose blood, mark the spot and sweep around. I love tracking as much as hunting lol. Its kinda like CSI and putting together a crime scene

but on a well placed shot, you shouldnt have any tracking issue at all. You can bascially walk right down the path and see the blood.

as for water, most deer will head towards it if its there. Deer 95% of the time will head downhill after a shot also. Faster escape and easier to travel if they are hurt. Ground or treestand it doesnt matter. Just focus on a good shot

[xboman]

If you can find them on the internet (see used books), I recommend these following two books.

1.Tracking Wounded Deer by Smith, Richard P.
Harrisburg: Stackpole Books, 1988. 159 pages.
A sound introduction to a very important subject.

2. Finding Wounded Deer by Trout, John
Woods N Water Inc. 2001 163 pages.
This practical guide is based on years of knowledge & actual tracking events.
Loaded with illustrations, photos and charts.


I leave you with this:
Although both books provide a wide variety of information and examples, just like deer hunting itself, nothing compares to getting on your own hands & knees and physically searching & learning by yourself or with a partner.

Good Luck.
xboman

[bob1961]

every shot, every animal, every tracking jog will be different....i've seen wounded animals run uphill when it's said they will go down hill, head away from water when said they will go to it....ya can kinda say murphys law rears his ugly head when tracking an animal....a sure killing shot that animal can and i've seen run a long way....animals that thought were marigly hit have ran just out of sight and dropped there within 30 yards....so each is a case in it'self that will be different from the rest, but..................bob

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[dutchhunter]

I think the most importan thinks are giving the animal time ti die and realy watch for drastic changes in direction wounded deer will double back on there own track and run in a large circle most of the time . many times well tracking and loosing the blood trail i mfound the deer had just turned around and whent back the sams way and then vered off look for the thickest dirtyest spots when all else fails good luck all DUTCH

[sumner4991]

First thing that needs to be done is to make a hole that bleeds, a lot. Start with the broadhead; the wider, the better. Personally, I'll not shoot anything less than a 2" wide cut, three blade broadhead. If you want plenty of blood to track, then you need a big hole.

Next, study deer anatomy until you can "see through" deer. Know where your "kill zone" is from every angle. http://mr-whitetail.com/killzone.jpg This isn't the best because it doesn't show the skeleton . . .you need to know that information too. I had another link that was better, but, the page has been terminated.
There's a good game on matthias72's website that deals with the kill zone.

Shot selection and placement is the next step. You got to take your time on this step and that's hard to do with the deer standing in front of you. Especially with the unknown . . .when the deer will bolt. Don't be afraid of not getting a shot . . .be afraid of not getting the right shot.

Practicing goes without mention because it should be a given. However, it doesn't prepare you for having the deer in front of you. If you get too excited with a deer in front of you, then go out during the Summer months and take pictures with a short range camera. Oddly enough . . .shooting with a camera is good practice in this regard.

If these steps are taken . . .the blood trail will be short and sweet.
However, just like everyone has said here, every blood trail is different. You will do just fine.

This deer was 25 yards away. You don't get a good picture if you don't concentrate on taking the picture. So, it teaches you how to focus your attention away from the deer and to the shot. Same goes for using a weapon, focus on the shot/POI, not the deer.


Shoot! Shoot!

[bob1961]

here ya go................bob






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[sumner4991]

Thanks Bob . . .that's perfect. What I think a lot of guys miss is the fact that the front leg bone takes a hard angle forward and exposes the kill zone in the heart area. Knowing how the heart/lungs lay in the cavity sure helps. Especially at the different angles.

If shooting at the deer I took a picture of . . .I'd shoot over the front leg, not just behind it. I've known guys to shoot just behind the leg thinking the leg bone would block the shot. When in reality, the leg bone isn't even there. Just more rib cage.

[bob1961]

i always shoot for a spot inline with the front leg 1/3 up from chest line....the red dot is where i dropped one in it's tracks with a .50 PRB at 30 yards............bob



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[Grizzly Adam]

Get an experienced bowhunter who is a good blood-trailer to help you. Have him get together an empty dish soap bottle, an old paintbrush, and some cheap red finger-paint (like kids use in kindergarten). Go to the woods together, and get him to make fake blood-trails and then help you track. If he's experienced and capable, he'll know exactly what to do and how to lay the trails ... and how to coach you.

When season comes, help everyone you can on every blood-trail you can get in on.

Experience pays off.

I'd advise you to look for solid double-lung shots. Good blood trails and they don't go far.

Good luck!

[sumner4991]

Bob . . .I like that shot best too, regardless of the weapon. . .well, unless the deer is quartering away. That's where being able to "see through" deer helps. Different angles pose different problems in need of good solutions. Anyway, it's certainly worth the time it takes to learn the anatomy.

Here is the link to that deer shooting game . . .

http://www.cacciaebalestra.altervista.o ... Main0.html

[mikej]

that addicting the best i could do was 98