What do I do now?

concordmountaineer · 10-20-2008, 08:17 PM

Well this evening was my third time out. Second evening hunt of the season. Got in the woods at 4:30 and sat until dark. Didn't see a darn thing until about 6:30 when the biggest freakin mama jama Doe came strolling in to my corn pile. She walked up and stood perfectly broadside at 20 yards.I drawed my bow back and she kept her head down. I let the arrow fly and guess what - THUMP THUMP! I waited until dark and got down and walked over and there it was, a spew a bright, bright red blood. I followed the trail of blood for about 45 yards and then it vanished. About 15 yards from that was a huge puddle of blood. I couldn't find my arrow so I thought she still had the arrow in her. I kept walking, drip here, drip there, then another little small puddle. Another drip, spew, but I noticed that the blood was getting thinner and a little more pinkish. By now I'm several hundred yards from where I hit her at. The blood trail vanished. No deer in sight. I walked around the area for about an hour looking to make sure she didn't change directions. On the way back, I found my arrow laying about 5 yards away from my corn pile. No blood on the tip or shaft, with some blood on the veins.

I think I hit her about 3 inches below the kill zone.

What should I do? Stay out of the area to let it settle back down or go back and try to track her during the daytime when its bright out or what?

Matt / PA · 10-20-2008, 08:26 PM

3 inches below the kill zone is a miss.

Go back and look tomorrow.

GMMAT · 10-20-2008, 08:37 PM

You got spewing blood.....blood on your feltchings.....but none on your shaft?

Hows that happen?

Wouldn't be the first time a deer backtracked. You should go in at first light and find your deer. Good luck. Pink blood is good.

Spearchucker · 10-20-2008, 08:42 PM

Yah go find your deer tomorrow, likely you walked right by her and didn't see her. I was 5ft from my Buck this year in the dark and didn't see him, my brother picked him out, I would have walked on him

OKbowhunter20 · 10-20-2008, 09:13 PM

I agree with the others, go out in the morning and find your deer

concordmountaineer · 10-20-2008, 11:34 PM

Yes. It looked like a perfect shot. I heard a thump when it hit. The deer kinda dipped downward and then ran off maybe 30 yards and stood there for a minute behind some trees. It then kinda walked off really slowly up the trail. I waited about a half an hour before I went to search for it.

Yes, the arrow had some blood on one of the fletchings, but no blood or fur was on the tip or shaft.

There was a thick, bright red blood trail for about 150 yards, and then it kindagot smallerand turned pinkish then vanished.

jackflap · 10-20-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Yes. It looked like a perfect shot. I heard a thump when it hit. The deer kinda dipped downward and then ran off maybe 30 yards and stood there for a minute behind some trees. It then kinda walked off really slowly up the trail. I waited about a half an hour before I went to search for it.

I am not sure how that fits with pink blood and an almost clean arrowfrom a broadside shot, but the above description is a textbook reaction to adeer being gutshot. You likely bumped the deer after only 1 hour.

But it is a dead deer that most likely didn't go much beyond 300 yds even if bumped. Go back tomorrow and if you can't find a blood trail, do a thorough grid search. She's out there.

bhunter50 · 10-21-2008, 12:00 AM

Dude, no blood on the tip or shaft but blood on the fletchings?????? Did you shoot your arrow backwards?? Ha, I know not funny, but I agree with jackflap in that it could be a gut shot deer if it was walking very slowly....almost like it was sickly....they act this way with an arrow run through their gut. But, also could be a hit right below the spine as well. Give her plenty of time and when you go after her, look for her to head towards water.....thick pucker brush and possibly heading downhill. If you can't find any sign, go to the nearest water....gut shot forces them to want to hit water to rehydrate and clean wound. Also, they like to take easy path downhill and furtherly alot of times they will try to crawl up into/under the nastiest brush around. Good luck man, hope you find her.....keep us posted!

Grasshopper13 · 10-21-2008, 02:36 AM

Need a few more details...........

Was it wet while you were hunting? I'd say she's dead as a hammer and if you go back and look in the daylight you'll find her. Just remember to go slow. Pink blood usually indicates lungs which means she's dead. I asked about the wetness because sometimes an arrow can sort of get cleaned up while it's raining, after a rain or a heavy dew. Blood on your flecthings indicates good penetration. All good signs in my opinion. She may have just bled out or a lot internally.

Go get her!

GH

rybohunter · 10-21-2008, 05:05 AM

Go back out and keep looking for your deer.
Good luck